WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – Registration is now open for 25th annual Whidbey Island Triathlon. After a challenging year, where the annual event was converted to a Virtual Triathlon, the race director and triathlon committee are looking forward to welcoming our athletes back and hosting an in-person event.
The Whidbey Island
Triathlon, staged in the heart of the southern portion of breathtaking Whidbey
Island, attracts all ages and abilities and is open to individual participants
as well as relay team competition. It is popular in the Northwest as a
first-time challenge for novice and rookie triathletes.
The swim-bike-run course starts with a half-mile swim in beautiful, clean, and clear Goss Lake. Leaving the lake on bike, participants begin the 19-mile ride through along tree-lined country roads. The bike course is hilly with views of Saratoga Passage and the North Cascades. Athletes finish with a 3.75 mile run on the lovely groomed forest trails at Community Park and the Sports Complex.
New to triathlons? Those new to triathlons are encouraged to test the waters by gathering a relay team. Many beginners are intimidated by the swim, so the South Whidbey Parks & Aquatics Foundation is providing open water swim clinics this summer. Details http://swparks.org/event/7634/.
Why do folks return
to the Whidbey Island Triathlon year after year? Folks love our incredibly
scenic course; we have the best volunteers; participants appreciate the fun,
small-town feel of our community cheering them on, whether they’re first or
last; our distances are suitable for beginners while still challenging for
experienced triathletes.
The competition includes age group categories, as well as “King Salmon” (men 220+ lbs. and women 165+ lbs.) and relay team divisions. Participants must be 16 years of age or older on race day, or request special permission 4 weeks in advance from the Race Director to participate.
The triathlon leans heavily on volunteer support to maintain a quality event. Over the course of 2 days, we will need to fill over 100 volunteer positions, from trail marshals to clean-up crew. Athletes look to volunteers for encouragement, assistance and support. Volunteers are the HEART of this event, and we couldn’t do it without them. Join us for a fun and rewarding experience. Volunteer sign-up: https://signup.com/go/HowfKDj
For questions, contact South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District at (360)221-6788 programs@whidbey.com.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
