course all along and that body of water has been fine throughout this catastrophe.”
Because of Florida’s huge coastline and year-round warm climate, the state hosts more triathlons than any other, with a race season that begins in March and ends in December. Economic impact is difficult to determine, but the growing sport is a small economic bright spot in a state with 12 percent unemployment that has been hit especially hard by the collapse of the housing market.
A number of Florida triathlons take place between July and late October along a 100-mile stretch of shoreline along the west coast of the state between Crystal River and Sarasota. That area is hundreds of miles from the oil spill, but race directors still are making contingency plans.
Chris Mohling, whose DRC Sports company has the fourth of his annual sprint triathlons in Crystal River on Sept. 4, said that although his race will not be affected, he’s made contingency plans that he’ll keep in place going into 2011.
Crystal River, which is famous for attracting manatees to its warm waters in the winter months, is about an hour north of Clearwater. Race contingency plans include moving the swim portion from the Gulf of Mexico site to a freshwater spring at the head of Crystal River. The DRC Sports web site includes an oil spill update and a link to USA Today’s ongoing map of the oil progression.
“We’re keeping an eye on it,” Mohling says. “We feel confident we’re okay for September, but a hurricane could change all of that. At this point, it’s had a minimum effect on the races other than a couple dozen emails from people wondering if the oil has hit here yet.”
Many unfamiliar with Florida geography watch news reports and wrongly assume much of the state has been affected. That misperception has caused Florida government officials to lobby for advertising campaigns showing that the Sunshine State still is open for business.
Panhandle communities such as Destin and Fort Walton Beach, which have seen far fewer visitors this summer, have aggressively marketed themselves for the fall.
Triathlons tend to attract mostly locals paying close attention to how far the oil is from encroaching on their communities. That, race directors say, has kept registrations at or ahead of last year’s pace, mirroring the continued growth in the sport.
Though the oil disaster is unprecedented, Florida triathletes are accustomed to harsh storm conditions that can postpone events or turn triathlons into duathlons at the last moment.
Fred Rzymek, whose RPM Promotions company stages four triathlons in St. Petersburg at Fort De Soto Park, including the Suncoast Triathlon on Oct. 23, says he always has a weather-related backup date. The oil slick is nowhere near the Tampa Bay area, but like everyone else Rzymek is watching it.
“There’s a sense of relief that it looks like they’re stopping the flow, but you don’t know about the existing oil spill,” Rzymek says. “Everyone seems to be an expert on how it will flow and what the Gulf Stream will do, but it’s like listening to the weathermen. Nobody knows for sure.”
Even with the apparent containment of the oil, there are effects felt clear across the state.
Warren Benjamin, race director for the Key West Triathlon on Dec. 5, says he’s received tremendous early response from athletes and sponsors for his inaugural event, which features sprint and Olympic distances.
A few potential sponsors, however, are holding off on committing because of the oil spill situation.
“We’re watching it as the whole state is,” Benjamin said. “There was this national perception that Florida was covered with oil and we have seen some response to the oil slick in terms of selling sponsorships. The current is cooperating now and we’re confident that the race will go on as scheduled.”
Pete Williams is a triathlete, endurance sports journalist and co-author of Mark Verstegen’s best-selling Core Performance fitness book series. His website is
www.petewilliams.net.
46 USA TRIATHLON FALL 10
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