Skratch Labs: Hydration, Reimagined from Scratch
Founded by Dr. Allen Lim, Skratch Labs was developed with one simple goal in mind, and that was to create a better, healthier sports drink. Dr. Lim started from scratch, literally, by narrowing down the base of the drink to three vital factors: it had to have less sugar, more electrolytes, and real fruit for flavour. This gave way to a cleaner, more effective hydration solution that supports performance without the junk, and is now available at Kelowna’s Fresh Air stores, supplementing our sporting goods collection!
Real Ingredients - Real Hydration
Two main beliefs guide Skratch Labs’ mission: simple is better and real is best. So, their hydration mix is carefully formulated with the right ratio of electrolytes lost through sweat, the ideal amount of sugar to replenish energy, and real, clean ingredients your body can recognize for optimum performance.
Rooted in Pro Cycling. Backed by Science.
Born in the heart of professional cycling, Scratch Labs was formed when sports scientist and coach Dr. Allen Lim began playing around with homemade nutrition for elite athletes. He was tired of sports drinks that overpromised and underdelivered, and that were packed with artificial ingredients that made riders feel uneasy. So he set out to create a clean, science-backed alternative using only real food and functional hydration, designed to support peak performance with none of the side effects. Just like a proper bike fitting makes all the difference in comfort and performance, real hydration tailored to your body’s needs can transform how you feel on every ride.
The Origins of the "Secret Drink Mix"
To solve the hydration problems athletes faced, Dr. Allen Lim began reworking traditional sports drinks by cutting down the sugar, increasing the sodium, and ditching anything artificial. What started as a fix slowly became a movement of its own. In his kitchen, he created what became known as the “Secret Drink Mix”, a cleaner, better-tasting sports drink made with real fruit, no artificial sweeteners, and the perfect balance of sugar and electrolytes to replace what’s actually lost through sweat.
Word about the “Secret Drink Mix” spread quickly, and it wasn’t just pro cyclists taking notice. Race car drivers, rock climbers, concerned parents, Peace Corps volunteers, and everyday active individuals began turning to their all-natural hydration mix as a healthier alternative to sugary, artificial drinks. It became clear that the demand for clean, real-ingredient sports nutrition extended far beyond the endurance world.
From Kitchen Experiment to Boulder-Based Brand
As demand for the “Secret Drink Mix” grew, Dr. Allen Lim brought together a team of close friends and officially launched Skratch Labs in Boulder, Colorado. What started as a DIY solution for pro athletes became a mission-driven company to create great-tasting, real-ingredient nutrition that solves real problems for active people. Whether you’re spinning out of a Kelowna bike shop or grinding through a climb, Skratch fuels you with purpose.
Skratch Labs is committed to more than just hydration; they aim to educate, grow, and evolve alongside the sports community. As a small, independently owned brand fueled by a passion for helping people move, perform, and feel better, they know they’re not perfect, but they're in it for the long haul, constantly learning, improving, and working to support your active life.