The appointment as Official Travel Partner means Sports Tours International will be able to offer guaranteed entries to a number of the TriStar events and give all levels of triathletes the chance to take part in a sporting format that has gained momentum in the world of triathlon.

Sports Tours International Chief Executive Chris Bird said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for us; Star Events is continually introducing new events to their calendar and is becoming increasingly popular amongst the tri community.”

A number of the TriStar events consist of the new 111 Triathlon format – 1K swim, 100K bike and 10K run – and are seen as a good way to introduce triathlon beginners to the sport.

Bird added, “Over the last few years we have seen many cyclists, both amateur and ex professional, that have tried their hand at triathlon. With the heavy emphasis on biking, the 111 format is a perfect introduction for any cyclist wanting a new challenge.”

www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk
www.starevents.cc

The first-ever Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote will take place in and around internationally renowned sports resort Club La Santa, located on the north-west side of the island. The race will lead athletes on a 1.2-mile (1.9K) swim, 56-mile (90.1K) bike and 13.1-mile (21.1K) run in and around one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, boasting year-round sunshine and a diverse and extraordinary landscape.

Club La Santa has been developing the Ironman Lanzarote race as an athlete favourite for the last 20 years and is now utilising its experience and enthusiasm to create the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote. The race is fully supported by the Canarian and local government.

Registration for the 2012 Ironman Lanzarote was full within two months of opening registration. Niels Feerup, General Manager of Club La Santa said, “We are very pleased with the continued success of Ironman Lanzarote and look forward to the addition of this new race. We will work hard to ensure athletes will have the best possible race experience while racing in this fantastic environment and are honoured to organise a second Ironman race on the island.”

All athletes who register for the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote will be offered the opportunity of a guaranteed slot for the 2013 Ironman Lanzarote race with a discounted registration price. Athletes must register for the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote before 1 June 2012, to be eligible for this offer.

One of nearly 60 events in the global Ironman 70.3 Series, Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote will award 30 age group qualifying slots for the 2013 Ironman World Championship 70.3, taking place at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. Professional athletes will compete for a prize purse of US$25,000.

Registration for the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote is now open online at www.ironmanlanzarote.com.

www.ironman.com

The successful bidding cities will join London, already named as host of the 2013 ITU Triathlon World Championship Grand Final scheduled for September 2013, on the 2012 Olympic venue in Hyde Park. Current and past host cities include Sydney, Madrid, Hamburg, Seoul, San Diego and Washington DC.

Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, said ”Thanks to the world class cities having hosted ITU World Triathlon Series events in the past, triathlon is now more visible and exposed to global audiences. With the growing worldwide television coverage, the events have a tremendous impact on a city’s image, regional economy and social legacy.”

The ITU World Triathlon Series is the world’s premier Olympic distance triathlon series and features top triathletes racing head-to-head in iconic cities around the globe. In addition to competing for the title of World Champion, athletes vie for a total prize purse of approximately US$2 million, billed as ‘the greatest cumulative prize money in triathlon’.

Hosting the ITU World Triathlon Series offers cities the opportunity to showcase themselves to millions of worldwide television audiences while attracting thousands of international guests and race participants. Spectator attendance across the entire 2011 Series doubled on 2010.

International television will consist of live broadcasts of each event, a customised 52-minute highlight show as well as international news distribution and live Internet coverage. In 2011, the ever growing series was broadcast in 160 countries with a record of 917 hours of airtime, up from 556 hours in 2010.

Cities wishing to host are required to submit bid documents in conjunction with their respective National Federations by 13 April 2012. Host cities are expected to be announced on 15 May 2012.

www.triathlon.org

Named after one of triathlon’s earliest pioneers, the Ron Smith Triathlete of the Year award recognizes a male and female triathlete who best demonstrates a combination of strong moral character, athletic performance and professionalism in the sport of triathlon.

This year, winners of the prestigious Ron Smith Triathlete of the Year award are:

• Ron Smith Female Athlete of the Year – Chrissie Wellington
• Ron Smith Male Athlete of the Year – Craig Alexander

Most Innovative Triathlon Products in 2011
Winner

• Quintana Roo QR Illicito

Finalists

• Campagnolo TT Components
• Garmin Forerunner 910XT
• Look KeoBlade
• Salt Stick Caps PLUS

Top 10 US Retailers of 2011 (listed in alphabetical order)

• All3Sports, Atlanta, Georgia
• Athletes Lounge, Portland, Oregon
• Austin Tri-Cyclist, Austin, Texas
• Gear West Bike & Triathlon, Long Lake, Minnesota
• JackRabbit Sports, New York, NY
• Nytro Multisport, Encinitas, California
• Running Away Multisport, Deerfield, Illinois
• Tri on the Run, Houston, Texas
• TriSports.com, Tucson, Arizona
• Triathlon Lab Inc, Santa Monica, California

Best Published Triathlon Photograph of 2011 (print or online)
Winner

• XTERRA Buffelspoort, South Africa – Photo by Jacky McClean and published in Triathlete Magazine

Finalists

• Ironman World Championship – Photo by Bob Kupbens and published in Triathlete Magazine
• Leadman Triathlon – Photo by Jeff Botari and published in Triathlete Magazine

Best Published Written Triathlon Article of 2011
Winner

• ‘Me and the King’, written by Scott Tinley and published in 3GO Magazine

Finalists

• ‘Back to His Roots’, written by Julia Beeson Polloreno and published in Triathlete Magazine
• ‘Kona Confidential’, written by Holly Bennett and published in Triathlete Magazine

All rankings were determined by a National Voting Panel (NVP) consisting of all Triathlon America founding members and additional award panel members prominent within the industry.

www.triathlon-america.com

Assistant Buyer
Sigma is now looking to recruit an assistant buyer to work at its small but very busy buying team in West Molesey, Surrey. Working closely with Sigma’s Head Buyer, the successful candidate will be involved with all aspects of the buying process including ranging, price negotiation and stock planning; so a good head for figures and knowledge of the cycle industry are essential.

Skills and interests:

• Excellent communication and people skills
• Initiative and enthusiasm
• Good business sense
• The ability to work under pressure
• Good planning and organisational skills
• Good IT and data entry skills
• Experienced in using MS Office suite of programs
• Keen cyclist or triathlete
• Salary based on experience.

Working hours 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. Those interested in this position should email a CV and a brief cover letter to dan.duguid[at]sigmasport.co.uk.

Sigma also has vacancies for a full time Administrator based at its head office in Molesey, Surrey, and positions for full- and part-time sales staff at the retailer’s Specialized Concept Store. For further details on these positions visit Sigma’s jobs page online.

www.sigmasport.co.uk

The events have attracted top flight pros from around the world including Tim DeBoom (USA), Olivier Marceau (SUI), Branden Rakita (USA), Ben Allen (AUS), Cedric Lassonde (FRA), Graham Wadsworth (GBR), Jacqui Slack (GBR), Takahiro Ogasawara (JPN), Renata Bucher (SUI), Carina Wasle (AUT), Daz Parker (GBR) and a cast of others.

The off-road triathlon adventures start in Guam on 10 March, with a 1.5K ocean swim, followed by a 31K mountain bike and a memorable 8.2K trail run that has athletes navigating through jungle rivers and down slippery waterfalls. The Guam run has been described as a ‘signature test of courage’ by Inside Triathlon and the race has been dubbed one of the ‘Top 5 Off-Road Triathlons in the World’ by Triathlete Magazine.

Next up is the Philippines on 18 March. Last year’s inaugural event had the largest spectator crowd in XTERRA history with thousands lining the bike and run courses, and high school cheerleaders in uniform waving the athletes on.

“You got so much energy from the cheering of the community,” said women’s winner Shonny Vanlandingham, the 2010 XTERRA World Champ. “The kids who watched the bike and run part of the race were chanting and cheering. It’s great to come to a place like the Philippines and feel the warm reception.”

New this year will by a half-distance XTERRA Lite race and 5K, 10K, and 21K trail runs to go along with the championship.

“What a place, what a day, what a race. The province of Cebu put on one hell of a show,” said XTERRA Managing Director ‘Kahuna Dave’ Nicholas said after last year’s inaugural event. “Saturday night Cebu put on a State dinner for the competitors that was beyond spectacular. We were met by hundreds of local dancers in costumes representing their cities, music playing, fabulous colours in a festival for the eyes.”

Last, but certainly not least on the list, is the XTERRA Saipan Championship, aka the ‘Crown Jewel of XTERRA’, on 24 March. Athletes can also stick around for a week, training and having fun with the visiting internationals and locals, and then race the Tagaman road tri on 31 March.

As XTERRA points out, the entire Asian series ‘provides a wonderful opportunity to kick an athletes’ season in style with warm weather, warm people, and great races.’

www.xterraplanet.com

One of the largest triathlons in the United States, the Nation’s Triathlon To Benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is known as the premier multisport event in the mid-Atlantic region, and the only triathlon in the country dedicated to building awareness and raising money for the treatment of leukemia and blood-related cancers. The 2012 race is set for Sunday 9 September.

“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of the Nation’s Triathlon and our partnership with WSEM,” said Scott Dickey, President of CGI and advisory board member of Triathlon America, the industry organization dedicated to promoting the sport and the business of triathlon. “The Nation’s Triathlon represents another flagship event that CGI will operate in our nation’s capital and reaffirms our position as a leader at the forefront of the growth and popularity of the sport of triathlon.

“Combined with our recent acquisition of the Austin Triathlon, the Land Rover TriRock Triathlon Series will become one of the world’s largest and most prestigious triathlon series in 2013 and beyond.”

WSEM and CGI have formed a multi-year partnership in which WSEM will continue to assist with the event’s operations and local governmental affairs. As part of the agreement, WSEM, which also organizes The Washington DC Triathlon and the ACHIEVE Kids Tri Inc summer camp series, will leverage CGI’s award winning media assets including Triathlete, Inside Triathlon and Triathlete.com, to promote its other events and initiatives.

“Washington DC is the ultimate venue for a triathlon. There is no other race like the Nation’s Triathlon, with a very unique combination of resources that you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the country,” said Charles Brodsky, CEO of WSEM. “It has been a true pleasure to watch the growth of the event over the past six years and we are delighted to work with Competitor Group, not only to enhance Nation’s Tri but also in partnering with their media assets to promote the growing list of endurance events in our portfolio.”

The Nation’s Triathlon has grown from a competition with less than 500 finishers in 2006 to being recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest International distance triathlon event in the US. The race has sold-out for the past four years and has attracted participation from competitors from around the world.

The event features a spectacular course that winds through Washington DC’s monument corridor adjacent to the nation’s best known memorials and historical landmarks.

“The Nation’s Triathlon is a sensational event enjoyed each year by our Team In Training participants,” added Nancy Klein, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, “We look forward to continuing and expanding our partnership with the Competitor Group.”

With the announcement, CGI now owns two of the largest endurance events in the Washington DC market, home to an abundant number of affluent participants in the endurance sector. The inaugural SunTrust Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Marathon & CareFirst Rock ‘n’ Roll USA Half Marathon will take place on Saturday 17 March and has sold out with 24,000 runners. It is the only marathon run entirely within the District of Columbia.

The latest Washington DC acquisition follows CGI’s recent announcement that the Austin Triathlon will join the Land Rover TriRock Triathlon Series in 2012, expanding to the series of entertainment themed triathlons to six markets in 2012. The Nation’s Triathlon is scheduled to join the series in 2013.

Created by the organizers of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, the unique format features a rocking competition, complete with live bands along the swim, bike and run courses, followed by a post-race party and concert. The series expanded to four markets in 2011, adding events in Annapolis, Seattle and New York. With 2,000 entrants, TriRock San Diego became the largest triathlon in the City of San Diego in its second year.

Each event features a consumer expo prior to and during the event, with unique divisions, including Military, Athena & Clydesdale and a Beach Cruiser competition in San Diego. All race participants receive a finisher’s medal, technical t-shirt, red carpet finish, post-race breakfast and access to the finish line concert and beer garden. Participants just testing the waters of the triathlon experience can also sign up as a 3-person relay team, taking on either the swim, bike or run component.

www.competitor.com
www.TriRockSeries.com
www.nationstri.com

Key findings of the study include the identification of four groups of triathlon participants based on experience and motivations – the newcomer, the practitioner, the veteran and the lapsed triathlete. These segments define a triathlete’s willingness to travel, the types of races they prefer, what keeps them in the sport and what they hope to get out of their participation.

“We believe this report will provide race organizations better direction into how to re-engage lapsed athletes, support the growing segment of female participants, and involve a triathlete’s friends and family in the triathlon experience in order to increase participation,” said Dave Alberga, Chief Executive Officer at Active Network. “Additionally, it will provide brands targeting this growing audience with information not readily available until now.”

Alberga will discuss more detailed findings in a presentation today at the Triathlon America conference. Highlights of this discussion will include:

• Women continue to be a key growth component in the sport – 55% of newcomers identified in the study are female
• Triathlons are addictive – 96% of current triathletes indicate they plan on participating in another triathlon
• Triathletes are well-educated – 90% of triathletes have attained some level of higher education
• Family support is important – 43% of all triathletes travel with their family
• There is a ‘tribe’ mentality – triathlon appeals to a core group of consumers with common motivations and beliefs

Active Network surveyed more than 1,700 members of its Active.com Lifestyle Panel to better understand the behaviours, attitudes and motivations of both new and experienced triathletes. The Active Lifestyle Panel is comprised of a representative pool of fitness-minded, influential consumers recruited exclusively from Active.com and provides Active Network and its partners valuable insight into the mind of the active consumer.

“This report will provide additional intelligence for organizations interested in reaching this active consumer audience, as well as provide insight into how event directors can increase participation through acquiring new participants, maintaining current triathletes and engaging lapsed triathletes by understanding their respective needs,” said Jack Caress, President of Triathlon America.

For more information or to purchase the report, email ConsumerResearch[at]ActiveNetwork.com.

www.triathlon-america.com
www.Active.com

Since 2010, ITU has published the technical officials’ certification lists according to the ITU Technical Officials’ Certification procedure. All the technical officials’ activities (assigned events, education seminars and more) are recorded in the ITU Technical Officials’ database. Currently, there are more than 3000 technical officials from 90 countries, included on these lists.

Overall, taking 2011 certifications and comparing to the previous certification round in 2010, there was a 14% increase in the number of annual certified ITU Technical Officials year on year, which rose from 717 to 815 worldwide. The European Triathlon Union (ETU) accounted for the majority of these gains, up 24% from 252 in 2010 to 313 in 2011.

The ITU Technical Officials’ Certification programme is based on previous education programs. It was re-established in 2009 to develop technical officials and defines the needed requirements to officiate on different levels of ITU events. The purpose of this program is:

1. To identify and make transparent the criteria needed to be gained by technical officials
2. To establish the level of certification required to manage ITU events
3. To identify the role & responsibilities of every one include in the process
4. To establish the criteria to accredit National Federations to certificate ITU Level 1 officials (NTO)

www.triathlon.org

According to the association, specialty stores recognized as Triathlon America Certified Retailers have demonstrated their ability to serve the US nation’s rapidly growing number of triathletes by providing a wide selection of triathlon products and services; hiring knowledgeable, well-trained staff; and playing an active role in their local triathlon communities.

“The Triathlon America Certified Retailer program is a badge of honor for specialty stores dedicated to the sport of triathlon,” said Jack Caress, President of Triathlon America. “In addition to recognizing the best triathlon retailers, we also hope to encourage other stores to begin offering more products and services for triathletes so that we can collectively grow the sport and businesses serving the market.”

In order to acknowledge the many triathlon retailers continuously striving to serve its customers, Triathlon America will award three levels of certification: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Stores that earn Triathlon America Certified Retailer status will receive certified retailer decals for the store and a certification logo that can be used in marketing materials.

Certified triathlon retailers will also be recognized on the Triathlon America website, in press releases announcing their certified retailer status, and at the annual Triathlon America Conference.

Triathlon stores interested in receiving certification will be required to fill out a detailed questionnaire evaluating a wide range of products and services, provide photos of the store and complete a short essay. Certification status is good for two years.

The application process is free to Triathlon America members. There is a US$100 application fee for non-members. Membership information is available at www.triathlon-america.com. For questions about the application and the certification process, interested retailers can contact Paul Banta, General Manager, Triathlon America at paul[at]triathlon-america.com or 503-969-4147.

www.triathlon-america.com