New Jersey Triathlons vs. the World. NJ wins by TKO in the third round.
Last week I made my annual trip to Southern California to attend the Triathlon Business International Conference. This is a group of dedicated individuals who are working to grow the sport/business of triathlon. At this conference we tackle a number of topics in the industry; everything from race directors seminars, sponsorship seminars, and retail discussions to legal and financial breakout sessions. Yes, I know…GOOSEBUMPS! However, the last night of the conference is dedicated to an awards ceremony….and guess what…NEW JERSEY TRIATHLONS RULED.
Of the Categories named: there were 4 New Jersey Triathlons nominated for 6 awards:
- New Jersey State Triathlon, nominated for Best Large Triathlon (over 1000 finishers)
- Challenge Atlantic City, nominated for Most Scenic Triathlon
- Escape the Cape, nominated for Most Scenic Triathlon and Best Large Triathlon
- Tri the Wildwoods, nominated for Best Beginner Triathlon and Best Small Triathlon (under 1000 finishers)
Call me partial. But if I had to vote on what state produces the best races in the country I’m going to vote New Jersey every time too. New Jersey Triathlons? YES, THAT’S WHAT I SAID: I WILL TAKE A NEW JERSEY TRIATHLON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK over another state’s races. Why are you surprised?
Why choose a New Jersey Triathlon?
My First Triathlon: Jersey Genesis Triathlon 1999
What we have here in the GARDEN STATE is what no other state has to offer: supreme variety of every kind, of every price point, and of every location. Plus, if we want (and that’s a BIG IF) we can travel out of state in less than an hour to test the waters of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.
New Jersey Triathlons are World Class
Do you want to be apart of a global series? Oh, we have that too. We have a Challenge Family Triathlon in Atlantic City, NJ and we have the World Triathlon Corporation ‘aka’ Ironman 70.3 in Princeton, NJ. So…you can check those off the list.
#1 reason for choosing a triathlon: Location, Location, Location
What can we say? The GODS have blessed the Garden State with mountains, farmland (remember, we’re the Garden State), forests, beaches, rivers, oceans, bays, islands, and marshes. I don’t think there is another state that can lay claim to Surf City and Cowtown. When it comes to triathlons we have Classic Jersey Shore Triathlons that have been around for almost 30 years. We have the best triathlon in the Mid-Atlantic AND North East Regions as voted by the readers of Competitor.com in Escape the Cape (in case you were wondering that includes the states of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine). We have multiple races every weekend for every type of triathlete. You don’t have a “tri-bike” no big deal. New Jersey Triathletes are the biggest supporters of beach cruisers and hockey helmets in the transition area. In fact, I would say that of all the states a New Jersey triathlon has the lowest barrier of entry. What do you mean? Easy…tons of races, tons of athletes, tons of opportunity to “play” triathlon. Who would have ever thought that a group of women from Mullica Hill would turn out to be the LARGEST ALL WOMEN TRIATHLON CLUB in the United States? Ah….no one, not even them…but they are…and why…because there are a lot of people here that choose to be awesome and we have the triathlons to fulfill those needs.
I left SoCal with a very good feeling. Triathlon may have started there, but New Jersey is taking it to the next level.
love,
