What is USA Triathlon all about?
USA Triathlon is the National Governing Body for triathlon and other multisport disciplines in the U.S. We work with athletes from ages 5 up through their 80s, from amateurs to professionals. We try to provide athletes of all ages and ability levels with the resources they need to reach their full potential in the sport, such as educational opportunities (like coaching or race-directing certification) and National Championship Events to member benefits (like our magazine and weekly e-newsletter).
We’re lucky in that we get to work with so many different people who all are passionate about triathlon and want to be involved as athletes, coaches, event organizers, club managers, volunteers and fans.
How popular are triathlons in the U.S.?
We’ve actually seen an explosion of events over the past decade. From 2004 to 2014, our number of sanctioned events has increased almost 200 percent.
In 2004, we sanctioned 1,510 events (total events – includes other multisport disciplines as well as camps and clinics). Just last year in 2014, we sanctioned 4,397 events around the nation.
What is your favorite USA Triathlon event?
My favorite event to put on is our Collegiate Nationals that takes place in April each year. To see the college teams come in and take over the local college town is a sight to behold, and the teams really get into the race with different themes and costumes throughout the week. They are also one of the most passionate groups of athletes I have ever been around, and it makes the race experience that much better.
What obstacles do you most commonly face and how do you overcome them regarding…
A. CVB/Sports Commissions? Since triathlon is not a mainstream sport, it can be tough sometimes working with CVBs or LOCs who do not have experience with the logistical requirements for triathlon and other multisport disciplines. This requires a bit of a learning curve, as we work to ensure all parties are well versed in all the logistical challenges.
B. Facilities/Venues? Finding a suitable venue with a body of water large enough to host an Olympic-distance swim—coupled with an open area that is big enough to accommodate a transition area—is one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. Taking those two items into account and having to work through various shoreline requirements and entry and exit points makes finding a suitable venue a common challenge.
C. Transportation? With the inherent nature of a triathlon and how spread out it is, transportation around the venue and into the venue can be very tough. With road closures all around, parking and any vehicle movements need to be thought about well in advance of the race, whether it’s for athletes, volunteers, race staff, media, or fans who come to enjoy the race.
What destination has exceeded expectations and makes you want to return for future events?
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where our Age Group Nationals will be this Aug. 8-9 and the host for the past two years, has been absolutely amazing to us and our athletes. Their relationships with venues and other city organizations allowed us to acquire one of the greatest venues to host a triathlon, and that translates into a first-rate experience for all our participants. They also go out of their way to make the athletes feel like they are taking over the town, whether it be hotel banners, light pole signs, or discounts to local restaurants all around the downtown area. They do a great job in making our athletes feel welcome.
