Oceanside 70.3 California
The California long distance State Championship race was always going to attract a big crowd. The way it all works is a bit different to races in OZ. Its location was 30km out of San Diego and it felt like a big Busselton with its long beachline & a Jetty Pier poking 1km out into the water . Grey old water rather than the SouthWest of WA blue though.
The California long distance State Championship race was always going to attract a big crowd. The way it all works is a bit different to races in OZ. Its location was 30km out of San Diego and it felt like a big Busselton with its long beachline & a Jetty Pier poking 1km out into the water . Grey old water rather than the SouthWest of WA blue though.
If your are from other US states - you can pick up your bike all together and ready to race from one of the "pack & fly" tri companies that offer this amazing service for triathletes.
Then there is Race Rego . usual photo ID etc and then walk thru rear exit into the "continual loop" race briefing playing up on the big screens. No coming back later --its a one stop shop.
Then there is Race Rego . usual photo ID etc and then walk thru rear exit into the "continual loop" race briefing playing up on the big screens. No coming back later --its a one stop shop.
Out to the expo in carpark next to the " local beach community Centre" (they are yet to know about surf clubs there ). It had the typical WTC merchandising big tent and major WTC sponsers involved -- then trickled out into smaller exhibiters and series of local tri shops on the extreme . Prices good with a strong aussie $ and big ranges of other products we only see in magazines .Its a fly/drive in & so race crowdis very different from Oz where our races tend to be 3-4 day events. They seem to come in /register/race/go. Probably because you can race every weekend withinn cheap flying or driving with the larger population.
Race day--I was with the crew from Port Mac && they were really confident of showing those yanks how aussie triathletes could race...
Water temp 16 degrees. Wave starts 1 out to 24 to handle the 2400 competitors. No warm up here..wait in line and shuffle.... did I mention the swim was in the marina complete with seals lounging around on pontoons . Bike out and back on a closed road to airforce base. Not spectator friendly at all. Luke Mckenzie had advised Nigel it was hilly out the back area and it was. Lots of slower bike times . Run was just pure flat Busso--beach front flat, loops and around back of a few streets with lots of spectators . Boys did well - all top 10 or 20 in age groups which reflected depth of the field . Some of age group times were almost Pro times.
A great race & best to book some accomo as a condo for a few days to really enjoy the area.
