New IMG Olympic distance San Diego Triathlon for 2011

Posted by By Gary Roethenbaugh at 1 July, at 00 : 00 AM Print

Leading sports, entertainment and media company IMG Worldwide, has unveiled a new Olympic distance San Diego Triathlon, which is set to take place on Sunday 13 March 2011, in Mission Bay, the heart of San Diego. The weekend will also include a two-day health and fitness expo on Vacation Isle.

"San Diego is known as the birthplace of triathlon dating back to 1974 when the San Diego Track Club held the first ever ‘triathlon’ around Mission Bay," said James Leitz, Senior Vice President of IMG.

"We have been working very closely with the San Diego Sports Commission and City of San Diego for the past two years, to ensure that this race is not only successful in its inaugural year, but becomes an important annual event on the international triathlon calendar. The launch of the new San Diego Triathlon further underscores IMG’s commitment to growing the sport of triathlon on a global scale."

The new San Diego Triathlon will join IMG’s established worldwide portfolio of 14-plus endurance events which includes the London Triathlon, the world’s largest, Triathlon Alpe d’Huez, Ironman Australia, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, Abu Dhabi International Triathlon and more.

According to IMG, San Diego’s ideal climate and an Olympic distance course are sure to attract top professional and amateur athletes from around the world. The course will begin, transition and end at Ski Beach on Vacation Isle, in Mission Bay.

The 1.5K swim will take swimmers along the eastern coastline of Ski Beach in the protected, calm waters of Mission Bay; followed by a 40K single loop scenic bike ride with challenging hills through Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Clairemont, and back to Mission Bay; and end with a 10K single loop flat run on the sandy beaches around the perimeter of Sail Bay to finish back on Ski Beach.

"Working with a world-class company like IMG to host the all new San Diego Triathlon fits in perfectly with the City of San Diego’s overall campaign to brand the city as an international sports destination and the goals of the San Diego Sports Commission," said San Diego Sports Commission President Alan Kidd.

"IMG will successfully attract top professional and amateur athletes from around the world while the City of San Diego provides a picturesque backdrop for this prestigious race."

The new San Diego Triathlon will become part of the Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon Series, a series of qualifying races for participation in the world renowned Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, one of the hardest triathlons to get into and one of only a few triathlons to be nationally televised in the US. The top 50 men and women across age groups in each Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon Series event will each qualify to compete in the 2011 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.

The Escape to Alcatraz Triathlon Series races include: Triathlon de Gerardmer France, 5 September 2010; Jarden Westchester Triathlon, 26 September 2010; San Diego Triathlon, 13 March 2011; and the GateWay to the Bay Triathlon, held in April 2011.

The 31st annual Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon is scheduled to take place in June 2011. Triathletes may also gain entry to the iconic event by entering the random lottery beginning on 1 December 2010.

The Inaugural San Diego Triathlon itself will take place on Sunday 13 March 2011, at 7:30am, on Mission Bay, in San Diego, California. The public is invited to watch the race and attend the free two-day fitness festival and expo that will take place Saturday 12 March and Sunday 13 March, at the start/finish line on Vacation Isle.

Race registration opens on Wednesday 1 September on the official event website. The San Diego Triathlon is owned and produced by IMG with race direction provided, in part, by World Triathlon Corporation, in conjunction with event partner San Diego Sports Commission, and community partners Tri Club San Diego and GOTRIbal. Interested participants are encouraged to register online early as space is limited.

www.sandiegotriathlononline.com
www.imgworld.com

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