Believe it or not, every single age-grouper inter- viewed for this story said that watching WTS San Diego’s draft-legal pro race was one of the high-
lights of their weekend. “Watching the pro ITU men and women race is a must,” said Paul Brinkmann, who drove six hours from Flagstaff, Ariz., to race. “The draft-legal format with multiple loops in the swim, bike and run is the most exciting and spectator-friendly racing there is in triathlon.” Indeed, it’s what makes the WTS San Diego event special, age-groupers said.
“If you’re an age-grouper from out of town and also an ITU fan, this is a fantastic event,” said Pansing. “It’s a rare opportu- nity to be part of an exciting weekend of racing and to spectate at the fastest Olympic-distance race on U.S. soil, which was the best part, in my opinion, and what really set this race apart from others.”
THE ITU DIFFERENCE The ITU has a reputation for running a tight ship
and putting on seamless events.
“The first thing that really stood out to me about the ITU race was the scale and how well put together the transition and finish areas were,” said Jason Kara- vidas, a local triathlete who took part in the race last year and is already registered for this year. “Aside from the tough parking and an even tougher bike course, my age group experience was wonderful.”
Brinkmann also noticed the ITU’s polished approach. “You can really tell the difference with an ITU-organized event,” said Brinkmann, who also has competed in the ITU Age Group World Championships.
TOP COMPETITION
Top age-groupers tend to follow top pros, and the San Diego WTS event is no exception, meaning racers will have the opportunity to test their mettle against some of the fastest age-groupers around. “The competition in many of the age groups was world class,” said San Diegan Kim McDonald, who finished third in his age group last year. “The guy who won my age group, John Hellemans, is a former New Zealand pro and ITU coach who was in town coaching his athletes on the Netherlands Olympic squad. His buddy from New Zealand was also racing the 50-54 division and is a name you might recognize: Scott Molina.” Both McDonald and Paul Reback, who traveled all the way from Florida to race, pointed to the race’s tough competition as a reason to etch it on your calendar this year — and if anyone understands tough competition it’s McDonald and Reback. McDonald is a former sprint and Olympic-distance age group national champion and has qualified for the Ironman World Championships multiple times. Reback also has qualified for the age group and Ironman World Championships, and his daugh- ter, Laura Bennett, is a top ITU pro who raced the elite event last year, qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics in the process.
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NEW BIKE COURSE One of the only complaints about the event last
year was the bike course, which will include better roads and leave out last year’s climb up La Jolla Mesa Drive and a descent down Nautilus Road, which many age- groupers said got congested. The bike will now feature a loop around Fiesta Island, the site of the first-ever triathlon in 1974.
BARRIE SHEPLEY’S group coach in his own right.
He had this to say about San Diego: “By making one road trip, you get to race top American age group athletes, see the historic site of triathlon’s birth, and see top international athletes. There is no other place in North America where this occurs.” Enough said.
Courtney Baird is a journalist and triathlete who lives in Southern California.
MANNY’S PLEA I
WORDS OF WISDOM Canadian Barrie Shepley has been around the triathlon block — he’s worked as the ITU’s race announcer for more than 20 years and is a top age
F YOU’RE STILL LOOKING for reasons to stick around and watch the pro race, do it to support the American elites, who rarely experience a home-course advantage on the ITU circuit, which is based primarily in Europe and Asia. “For us it means a lot [if you stay and watch],” said MANNY HUERTA, who put in an inspiring and heartwarming performance in San Diego last year when he shocked the pun- dits and qualified for the Olympics by placing ninth overall. “Last year I remember that one of the things that kept me going strong was that I had so many people cheering me on. San Diego is the only place where we get this treatment.” While the 2012 pro race was especially meaningful because it also served as USA Triathlon’s second of two Olympic Trials, 2013 is the start of a new Olympic cycle, which is always an exciting time for the sport when fresh stars and faces begin to emerge.
Rich Cruse/ITU
“Last year I remember that one of the things that kept me going strong was that I had so many people cheering me on.” MANNY HUERTA