Utah Tri Buzz

Thursday, March 14, 2019

What's up with RaceTri??

It's now RaceTri's turn for an update... support the local scene, get out and race!

What’s new with you guys, and how is the Alaskan winter treating you? Aaron, do you have a sense for how long you’ll be in Alaska and/or whether or not you’ll return to Utah?

The newest thing with RaceTri is the biennial and triennial schedules for half of our events now. Some events [Black Ridge, ULO and Yuba] will only take place every 2 or 3 years. Heber & Alaskan Winter's are probably very similar and are like most of our triathletes; adventurous, unpredictable, and earth shaking (did you hear about the 7.0 earthquake?)! We take Aaron's return to Utah one year at a time.

Has it been difficult to run RaceTri with one of you out of state for much of the year, or no big deal?

We are both eating more salmon than before but other than that we don’t think much has changed.

By being in the Top 10 in participation in 2018, Icebreaker, The Utah Half, and Salem [chosen by 2019 host RaceTri as the State Champs race] all qualified once again for the Utah Triathlon Championship Series in 2019. What’s your favorite thing about each of these races?

Ice Breaker: March 30, 2019

Our favorite thing about this event is the camaraderie before and during the event as friends are seeing each other again after the long cold winter. Such genuine feelings of being happy to see one another. Also it seems to attract the most newbies as friends and family can convince their loved ones to try a triathlon because of the pool swim. I love that it is a time trial start, everyone gets their one personal start time and spectators can cheer them on like they are the star of their own event!

The Utah Half: June 22, 2019

This is an event that every triathlete and newbie should attend! It’s awesome! Sprint, Olympic and Half distances. So something available for everyone. But the things we love most about this event are:

The Date! By June it’s starting to get hot in the valleys. So athletes can cool off by getting up into the mountains. The Jordanelle state park is an amazing destination triathlon venue that is less than 1 hour away for almost everybody in the Salt Lake and Utah valleys.

The Course! We swim near the head waters of Jordanelle where the water is fresh and clean. The bike offers a challenge with a gradual incline for half of the event and a steady decline for the other half, so it favors those who get tired as the race marches on. And the run through the state park on those board walks makes one want to pause and just enjoy the moment. Lots of mental pictures worth taking or bring your GoPro and take actual pictures.

Salem: September 7, 2019 (all experience levels and abilities are welcome to join this State Champs party!)

The wonderful city of Salem was so good to work with us to find one special weekend this fall where the TRIATHLON State Championships could be hosted! It seems that this event acts as a rite of passage for most Utah Triathletes. It has been around for so long and has a unique vibe to it. Like a family afternoon at the park kind of vibe where friendship, good times, and helping others is more important than performance. That doesn’t mean that athletes don’t show up to throw down a PR or strive for the podium. If I have to pick some favorite moments from this event as an athlete it is either swimming under the Salem bridge, or running over the knoll and through the Fireman’s shower, or the final bridge sprint into the finish. Just a perfect visual setting!

The thought of a sprint distance State Championship race is exciting, and Salem is an awesome venue – what do you hope to see on race day?

We hope to see many people there. Those experiencing triathlon for the first time and the best in the state coming out to test their fitness! We hope to see smiles, sweat, flying bike mounts, finish line sprints, cheering crowds, and an all-around good time had by all!

With Ice Breaker being the unofficial kickoff to the local tri season (and first race of the UTCS), once this last gasp of snow melts we can’t think of any reasons why a local triathlete would sit this one out… can you??

Yes, the only reason one might potentially miss out on this event would be if they had a major medical episode and was hospitalized the night before… and even then, I can think of some Ice Breaker die-hards who would drag themselves there come hell or high water.

All of your races grew last year, pretty significantly, so why the decision to change things up with Black Ridge, ULO, and Yuba? Is it just too tough logistically to fly here that many times?

There are many factors that led us to apply the Bi & Triennial model to some of our events. The short answer is we want to be able to continue to provide these events for years to come to our wonderful triathlon community and we think this will enable us to do that.

How can athletes best support our local RD’s, and why should people sign up for your races in 2019?

Keep racing and keep after it. Your example inspires more people than you can possibly imagine!

Learn more and register for all RaceTri races here: racetri.com

UTAH TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2019 DETAILS --> SEE POST HERE !!

Below are links to all the races in the 2019 Championship Series:

Ice Breaker

St. George 70.3

Sand Hollow
Daybreak
East Canyon
The Utah Half

Echo

Jordanelle
Salem State Champs

Brineman

Kokopelli

Below are links to all Challenger Races:

DinoTri

Topaz Tri

San Rafael Classic

Southern Utah Triathlon

We started a Patreon account (link below) with the hope of raising a few bucks towards awards & swag for athletes of all abilities in our tri community. We've given out a lot over the past 2 years, but would like to continue to expand our offerings & the volume we can do.

If you enjoy Utah Tri Buzz and would like to pitch in, any amount would be greatly appreciated... (there may be something in it for you as well!)

https://www.patreon.com/utahtribuzz

We're also always grateful for talented people who contribute in terms of time... let us know if you'd like to be part of the Utah Tri Buzz team.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Daybreak Breaking News!

Checking in with Cody Ford of USTriSports, we discuss the iconic Daybreak triathlon, the status of our local tri scene in 2019, and break a little news going down in 2020!

Daybreak has been a mainstay on the local calendar for a decade now – in your opinion what is it that consistently draws people to this race?

I think there are a few things that set Daybreak apart from most other races and draws athletes to this event.

1) The venue is the most spectator friendly venue in the state, allowing spectators to view their athletes from the swim start, along the swim course (point to point swim), while they transition, along the run course and then at the finish line. Athletes love to race with family and friend support and this venue is exceptionally accommodating for that.

2) Daybreak is in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, making it very convenient for athletes to get to along with spectators.

3) The race is well organized and the finish line environment is electric.

4) Here is an event overview video covering more details about why The Daybreak Tri is so popular.

By being in the top 10 in participation (#7), once again Daybreak has earned a spot in the Utah Triathlon Championship Series (UTCS), with the Daybreak Olympic being the distance you chose as the official series race. What are your thoughts on the UTCS now that it’s entering year 2?

It is great to see the local triathlon scene embrace the idea of a state championship and have an additional level of competition and bragging rights. I see this growing each year and will be something that a lot of athletes talk about throughout the season.

Participation at Daybreak was up close to 10% in 2018 vs. 2017 and is approaching the 400 mark. Do you think there’s still potential for this race in terms of size, or is there a limit to how many the course can support?

There is still potential to grow this race and get it back to levels we consistently saw in the early years. Over the last decade, we have seen more triathlons and other fad races pop up that all competed for athletes and their money. We are starting to see these races lose popularity and even discontinue and I think some of the established races will benefit as a result.

The Daybreak area continues to expand… do you foresee this causing additional changes to the course in future years?

I don't anticipate a lot of changes in the future. Some development may change a couple of small sections of the bike but for the most part, the course should remain consistent.

You were an early supporter of the UTCS, and following TriUtah in 2018 (Brineman - Olympic) and RaceTri this year (Salem - Sprint), Daybreak will be hosting the 2020 state championship race – that’s a ways away, but is there anything you’d like to say about it now?

We are super excited about this. There are still some details to be worked out, but we are looking forward to hosting the state championship!

Your TriathaMom event is also very popular – anything you’d like to say about it for people not in the know?

I love TriathaMom. This is an event where we welcome triathlon experts but definitely encourage beginners. Our goal is to take the intimidation out of doing a triathlon and introduce the sport to new and aspiring athletes. This event turns into a celebration (complete with a carnival-type atmosphere for spectators and kids) and is used by so many of our TriathaMoms to prove to themselves that they can do hard things. As athletes cross the finish line, we celebrate all who do and share some of the stories of overcoming challenges that the athletes shared. So inspiring! Here are a few more things to love about TriathaMom:

It was great to see participation up virtually across the board last year. From your perspective what’s the current status of triathlon in our state?

I think we are starting to get back to a healthy number of races in our state. As I mentioned previously, I think we had too many races over the last number of years which provided a lot of scheduling flexibility for triathletes but ultimately watered down the race experience because of limited participation. I think everyone enjoys participating in events that are well run and that have an energy and excitement about them that is a natural byproduct of participant volume. We have the luxury of having multiple clubs here locally (SLTC, BAM, SUTC) that do a great job of supporting their athletes and really helping to expand the sport. It is awesome being able to partner with these clubs through volunteer efforts, clinics, and general participation.

How can local triathletes best support RD’s?

I strongly encourage local triathletes to join a tri club. Even for the casual athletes who only participate in 1-2 races a year, a tri club membership can be so beneficial, not only for the social/community aspect, but also for race discounts. These clubs do a great job of volunteering their time to give back to race directors and also building up the triathlon community.

Anything else you’d like to share?

As a triathlete myself, I understand what the expectations of athletes are and we work hard to try and produce high quality, exciting events. We would love to have you come out and race with us at Daybreak or TriathaMom and see what all of the buzz is about. You can register for Daybreak here and TriathaMom here.

Related Posts

Results Breakdown - Daybreak 2018

Respect the RD! Interview with USTriSports

UTAH TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2019 DETAILS --> SEE POST HERE !!

Below are links to all the races in the 2019 Championship Series:

Icebreaker

St. George 70.3

Sand Hollow
Daybreak
East Canyon
The Utah Half

Echo

Jordanelle
Salem State Champs

Brineman

Kokopelli

Below are links to all Challenger Races:

DinoTri

Topaz Tri

San Rafael Classic

Southern Utah Triathlon

If you enjoy Utah Tri Buzz and would like to pitch in, any amount would be greatly appreciated... (there may be something in it for you as well!)

https://www.patreon.com/utahtribuzz

We're also always grateful for talented people who contribute in terms of time... let us know if you'd like to be part of the Utah Tri Buzz team.

Friday, March 1, 2019

Ice Breaker: Prelim Start List

March is here, and the Ice Breaker is now only 4 weeks away... we thought we'd inject a little pre-season hype into the air with a verrry preliminary look at the start list. We're a month out and yet it's already looking like a great party. Get out and race!

Register Here

In case you missed it, here are the Top 10 Reasons to Break the Ice !

“It is not the critic who counts; not the wo/man who points out how the strong wo/man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the wo/man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends her/himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if s/he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her/his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

UTAH TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2019 DETAILS --> SEE POST HERE !

Below are links to all the races in the 2019 Championship Series:

Icebreaker

St. George 70.3

Sand Hollow

Daybreak

East Canyon

The Utah Half

Echo

Jordanelle

Salem State Champs

Brineman

Kokopelli

Below are links to all Challenger Races:

DinoTri

Topaz Tri

San Rafael Classic

Southern Utah Triathlon

If you enjoy Utah Tri Buzz and would like to pitch in, any amount would be greatly appreciated... (there may be something in it for you as well!)

https://www.patreon.com/utahtribuzz

We're also always grateful for talented people who contribute in terms of time... let us know if you'd like to be part of the Utah Tri Buzz team.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

What's up with BBSC??

Get to know Cedric Keppler, the awesome race director behind BBSC Endurance Sports.
St. George races Sand Hollow (May 18) and Kokopelli (Sep 21) have once again earned spots in the Utah Triathlon Championship Series, which welcomes triathletes from all states.

In addition to Utah, BBSC also puts on fantastic races in Colorado & Nevada, which you can check out here.

Thanks for the time, Cedric!

People (at least up north) may not know you as well as some other RD’s in our state – what’s your personal athletic background and what got you started with race directing?

I have been a racer since I was very young. I grew up as a runner, swimmer and slalom skier in Switzerland, competing in various races in Lausanne, Geneva and the Alps. When my family moved to the States, I quickly joined the track and field team and raced for my High School in Michigan, competing in the 400m and 800m. In 2003, I moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado which is where I met Brent Herron, the owner of BBSC and founder of Your Cause Sports. My passion for race production came from volunteering at Your Cause Sports events at the Boulder Reservoir while in College. I started off as an aid station volunteer at the Boulder Sunset Triathlon in 2007, trying to nail down a successful hand-off of a Gatorade bottle to an athlete riding by going 20+ mph. I absolutely loved it, and quickly became obsessed with the intensity of race production. It wasn’t long until I had tried out every volunteer position at a race.

Seeing the accomplishment and emotion of athletes crossing the finish line sold it for me, and I had to try it for myself. My first triathlon was actually a Utah race! It was the San Rafael Classic Tri that BBSC was contracted to time. In 2011, I continued my involvement with BBSC and was the bike course coordinator of the SG Tri and then the transition coordinator at the Pumpkinman Triathlon in Las Vegas. In 2012, I was the assistant race director for the Boulder Sunrise Triathlon and at the end of 2012, Brent asked me if I was interested in being the Race Director of all BBSC and Your Cause Sports events. That is when I quit my fulltime job in IT sales, and dedicated my life to producing events and promoting health. Fast forward to the present, and my team and I have produced over 95 races together! It has been the most fulfilling and amazing adventure one could ask for.

What would you say was the highlight and lowlight of the tri season for you as an RD last year?

2018 was a great year for me as an RD. Not only was overall participation up, but BBSC celebrated two weddings! My wife and I were married in June, and owner Brent Herron married BBSC’s Michelle Lund in August. As you can expect from a BBSC wedding, both weddings started on time, the weather was perfect, and all attendees were safe!

Jokes aside, we partnered with amazing groups/clubs in 2018 with the intention to expand the sport of triathlon. We introduced the Nevada Senior Games to the Las Vegas Triathlon to increase participation for athletes 50+ years old. We partnered up with USAT to host the High School Nevada State Championship to increase participation for athletes 19&U. We also introduced the USAT Mountain Collegiate Conference Race to Kokopelli to increase Utah’s collegiate presence. And last but not least, we partnered up with you guys to include the Sand Hollow Triathlon and Kokopelli to the Utah Triathlon Championship Series.

Cedric's 1st tri as RD

As for a lowlight, we said good-bye to long-time Park Manager at Sand Hollow State Park, Laura Melling. As an RD, you get a peace of mind when you work with managers who are familiar with your events. I’m sure the new manager will do a fantastic job, but they have big shoes to fill!

SG Tri 2011

From your perspective has the entrance of the Ironman brand in St. George helped or hurt your UT races?

Unfortunately, it has hurt us quite a bit. The SG Tri (now known as the Sand Hollow Triathlon) used to be in early May and would attract close to 1,400 participants. When Ironman came to St. George, we were forced out of our early May date. There is only a small window in the Spring in Southern Utah that is prime for putting on a triathlon before we travel to Colorado in June, so we had no choice but to move our race back to mid-May. Our participation numbers just haven’t been the same since.

We’re hesitant to ask this because Colorado is considered such a gold standard for triathlon… but how would you compare CO races and triathletes in general to UT?

That’s a tough question. Both states produce an enormous amount of races. I think Colorado athletes are a little bit more likely to travel to race. We have a very large following of athletes at our CO races who drive over 3-4 hours to race in our events. I also see a lot more beginners or first-timers at our CO events. Although I do not see as many beginners in UT, the local scene in Southern Utah is absolutely amazing. We work closely with the Southern Utah Tri Club whose members have been coordinators at our races, volunteers at aid stations, and athletes in our races. As I walk down transition on race morning at the Sand Hollow Triathlon, every athlete seems to know one another which I love seeing.

Brent & Michelle

Participation has been down a bit for Sand Hollow in general over the last several years, although it was up close to 10% in 2018 vs. 2017. Do you think we’ve turned a corner for participation or is there still work to be done?

I certainly hope so! It has been an uphill battle for us for several years, but we will never stop working on getting this race back to its full potential. In addition to the BOGO 50% off deal we have had for a few years on UT races, we are going to be doubling down on advertisement and marketing in the SLC and Las Vegas Area to get more traveling athletes to Southern Utah. Afterall, Sand Hollow State Park is one of BBSC’s most spectacular and beautiful destination venues so these are the races to travel to! We are also teaming up with USAT to bring the Mountain Collegiate Conference Race to Kokopelli, so you should start seeing an increase in participation from CO, NM, UT, AZ and WY.

Cedric (& Chris White?) @ San Rafael Classic

What are your thoughts on the Utah Triathlon Championship Series (Sand Hollow at #6 and Kokopelli at #3 both earning spots again this year)? BTW, this is open to out of staters as well... anyone who races 3+ UTCS races is eligible for rankings and awards.

I love what you have done with it. I appreciate all efforts to increase statewide participation, especially since our goal is to get more UT athletes down to Southern Utah. We are ready and look forward to hosting the State Champs race in the next few years!

When it’s your turn to host (with the rotating venue format), we’d imagine the state championship race would be Kokopelli in September. Is that a fair assumption?

You read my mind. Late-September climate in Southern Utah makes for an amazing race experience. Did I mention that Sand Hollow Reservoir is one of the most spectacular venues to host a race? Athletes will enjoy views of this turquoise oasis engulfed in the sandstone mountain ranges in which it is surrounded. The Olympic bike course will test its participants as they conquer ‘The Beast”, but they will fall in love with the flat run course that lays alongside the red sandstone beaches of Sand Hollow Reservoir.

the BBSC team

What BBSC races previously existed in UT, and have you considered adding another race or sticking with St. George?

We used to produce the Women Rock Tri, Scofield Tri, Park City Tri and Mountain Tropic Tri. As of now, our schedule is pretty full with 18 races/year so we are not planning on adding more races in the near future.

What are the hardest aspects of putting on a race, and do you have any pet peeves as an RD that maybe us triathletes can work on?

One of the hardest part of race production is dealing with factors that are out of our control like bad weather, construction, and government shutdowns. When we have no choice but to modify parts of an event due to these factors, we hope that athletes can understand that it is out of our control, and that our foremost priority is athlete safety. I also really appreciate it when an athlete comes to a race prepared. We send out Athlete Guide emails and all of the information about the race can easily be found on our website. Athletes who have looked at the course maps and race details in advance are more likely to have a great race experience than the ones who arrive on race morning with many questions about the race.

Check out all BBSC races and register at bbsctri.com !