1991 "Challenge of Champions"

Triathlon Forum
1

I just posted this on my Facebook page, thought I’d share here:

As we all look forward to 2015, I just looked back to 1991, and watched the “Challenge of Champions” while on my CompuTrainer. This was a 4-event, 2-day race on Laguna Seca Raceway, pitting road cyclists, mountain bikers, runners and triathletes against each other, to determine the “world’s top endurance athletes.” A bike circuit race, mtb race, 5K, and duathlon. Erin Baker and Lance Armstrong (20 yrs. old) crushed the fields, with Erin winning the bike race vs. pro riders; and, also, evenly with the pure 5K pro runners. Nice to see friends Terri Schneider & Louisa Jenkins in the races (Terri got 4th OA, I think). Awesome race concept … and, on ESPN.

Then, began to watch the 1991 Bud Light USTS Championship (thanks Carl Thomas & Jim Curl) - over $190,000 on the line (in 1991!), on ESPN, with stars like Jimmy Riccitello, Wes Hobson, Mike Pigg (who was also in the challenge of Champions), Greg Welch and Karen Smyers. Just saw the swim - no surprise there, with Wendy Ingraham and Brett Rose leading the way.

I love and so, so respect the history of our great sport!

2

How about a link to the race, i remember hearing about it, but was sick so could not do it. I loved this style of racing too, stage racing a lot of events in a short period of time. One of the first triathlons i ever did was set up like this, a one mile surf swim, followed by a 10k open run, then finishing up with a USCF road race.

3

My wife and I volunteered at the event. I did a bunch of data entry for race entries; built the database, etc. I doubt I have the t-shirt anymore. I was friends with one of the promoters (Rick).

This was the precursor to Sea Otter.

ahh the old days…

The older I get, the better I was :wink:

4

Sorry, Monty, no link; just my original VHS tape. Looking forward to the '91 Bud Light USTS Champs … you did lots of those races! Solid prize money, TV exposure, big name sponsors (and non-endemic) … crazy that this was over 20 years ago. We’ve progressed so far in the technology of the sport and in so many other ways; but, we’ve lost a bit of the “sexiness” of what we were in the early days (80’s, even early 90’s). I know USAT is working on figuring this out, and recapturing our “mojo” in the endurance sports world. Competing now with obstacle runs, cross fit, color runs, etc.

5

Sorry, Monty, no link; just my original VHS tape. Looking forward to the '91 Bud Light USTS Champs … you did lots of those races! Solid prize money, TV exposure, big name sponsors (and non-endemic) … crazy that this was over 20 years ago. We’ve progressed so far in the technology of the sport and in so many other ways; but, we’ve lost a bit of the “sexiness” of what we were in the early days (80’s, even early 90’s). I know USAT is working on figuring this out, and recapturing our “mojo” in the endurance sports world. Competing now with obstacle runs, cross fit, color runs, etc.

When our sport was a lot smaller, we needed sponsors from the outside to help fuel it. Packaging the pros up to showcase the sport, the vision, the performances etc was important. The ensuing decades have been built on the exploits of the early generation professionals, to the point now that the revenue from the sport is large enough for it to be an industry on its own and companies like WTC can make decent revenue from the volume of age group registrants. WTC pay a decent rolled up prize purse, which is around twice the size of the tour de France ($5M WTC vs 2 million Euros for the TdF). Age group registrants provide more than enough revenue for the existence of a pro race, but in the Tour De France, it is all money that ASO gets from sponsorship and TV rights based on the heroics of the pros racing.

There should be a model where we can package up the heroics of pro racing to sell to non endemic companies and make this a positive revenue generating venture for all parties: race promoters, pros, sponsors, USAT. Our story can/should be more compelling than cross fit and colour runs, for the basic reason that cycling, swimming, running are things that humans in at least most affluent countries get exposure to (those living in poorer countries, largely get access to some form of biking for transport and running). As such, lots of humans can relate to what is going on in triathlon…cross fit, colour runs etc are concocted activities. The components of triathlon are largely integral to human life in many forms (even knowing how to swim is an important human ability for those living near water so they don’t die from drowning).

I started a thread on the Tour de Ski. It is really some really exciting compelling racing with pros only…no age groupers, short action packed stages, and lots of head to head racing. However, XC skiing is this weird sport on snow on skis that most of the world cannot relate to at all. Nevertheless FIS has packaged up the sport to make it viewer friendly. Back in the day XC ski racing only had 10, 15, 30, 50K events and a 4x10K relay and they were all TT start so it was more or less like watching paint dry. Now you should see all the formats on deck with a ton of action.

In triathlon we seem to be trapped in 1.5/40/10 or 1.2/56/13.1 or 2.4/112/26.2

If we look back at the St. George’s Grand Prix racing from the 1990’s in Australia, the France Iron Tour, the Bordeaux velodrome tri, Laguna Seca and a few others, there were some other formats.

Imagine a stage race that looked like this:

Prologue: 400m swim-4000m bike-1600m runStage 1: 5K run - 10K bikeStage 2: sprint tri: 5K run-20K bike-500m swimStage 2: 400 M swim - 15K bike - 1.5K swimStage 3: Uphill 10K bike + uphill 5K runStage 4: 800 m swim - 5000m runStage 5: 1.5K swim-5K run-20K bike

Imagine how exciting each stage would be for viewers? That’s the kind of thing FIS has done with their Tour de Ski. I feel that ITU has lost some opportunity to showcase the sport by being largely locked into the 1.5-40-10 and the 750-20-5 always in the same sequence. It’s not really that exciting for TV because you just watch a bunch of guys going around in circles until a track race breaks out at some point in the run course. Well, I find it more interesting to watch Mo Farah in the 5000m. Even the 10000m in the olympics is a snooze…no one is interested in watching a bunch of guys go around in circles 25 times. May as well show up for the last 4 minutes and change at which point the pack has been culled and there are 5-8 guys left who will run 4+ minutes and end with a sprint finish. As such, I feel that with the competition being cross fit colour runs AND the competition being track and field and cycling and swimming, we have to figure out a way to package it up and create excitement while also differentiating. I do think ending more elite triathlons on the bike with a sprint finish would dramatically change the level of excitement making all components more exciting. Food for thought for both USAT and ITU.

6

I think you nailed a lot of that.

7

Thank you for this well stated look and perspective on making our sport “TV exciting.” Not looking to change the basics of the sport, just how to get viewers, who will then, hopefully, transcend into participants (and, bringing along some sponsors with them … the “virtuous cycle”).

8

One thing we can ask ourselves, at least for the professional level in terms of packaging up the sport. Is changing the order, sequence and lengths changing the sport, or is it all triathlon anyway. This is what FIS did with XC skiing. They changed distances, they changed formats, they mixed up techniques, but in the end it was all XC skiing for fans and TV and also for participants. At the grass root level, here in Cross Country Canada, sprint training is a fundamental part of the progression from age 6 upwards, so by adding new formats at the top, we changed what your average citizen also does and cares about.

Right now, I think the sport has flipped waaaay too much the other way focused on long events. Even the ITU Olympic distance is way too long for TV, at least there is nothing really going on that the casual viewer who is not in this sport would care to watch. They might watch for a few minutes because there are a bunch of ripped good looking people in tight outfits looking like they are going faster then they can, but beyond that, they are switching and going back to football (be it NFL or Barclays Premier League).

Also from what I have seen the kids really enjoy all the mixed formats in XC skiing and this keeps them engaged. More mixed formats in triathlon would keep more young people engaged. If there view of the sport is Kienle running in the lava fields in a straight line for hours, many will pick up cross fit or colour runs.

9

I hear you, Dev. We (USAT) have been supporting (in a pretty big way) “Super Sprints” the past 2-3 years: pro only races, made for TV (unfortunately, just Universal Sports so far) - a fast & furious 40 minute race of SBR X 2. Done with a portable pool in the middle of a parking lot (or racetrack, as REV3 did), and fast, short bike and run laps in the same area for spectators to see it all, and the SBR is done twice. Crazy all-out racing, and perfect for TV. Historically, of course, the swim has always been first, based on a safety factor of wanting to do it fresh; but, I could see switching up the run and bike. Interesting thought - one which we will tee up. Always listening.

10

I hear you, Dev. We (USAT) have been supporting (in a pretty big way) “Super Sprints” the past 2-3 years: pro only races, made for TV (unfortunately, just Universal Sports so far) - a fast & furious 40 minute race of SBR X 2. Done with a portable pool in the middle of a parking lot (or racetrack, as REV3 did), and fast, short bike and run laps in the same area for spectators to see it all, and the SBR is done twice. Crazy all-out racing, and perfect for TV. Historically, of course, the swim has always been first, based on a safety factor of wanting to do it fresh; but, I could see switching up the run and bike. Interesting thought - one which we will tee up. Always listening.

At the pro level, there should be no issue having events where the swim is in the middle or last. I can see for longer events where RD’s need to shut down the swim venue and get the lifeguards out of there and the harbour cleaned up then it is an issue. But let’s say a 400 m swim (4:30 ish) + 4000 m bike (5 min) + 1000m run (3 min), the entire thing is done in 12 minutes. You could have these in any order. Also if you make it swim + run + bike, the run could be as simple as a 1K run to T2. Guys can decide if putting shoes on out of the water is worth the time or not. Or you could add a 500m run after the short bike where the guys rack and sprint all out of the finish. There are a ton of opportunities to make this more exciting for TV than cross fit coverage that the casual observer would love to watch and that kids getting into the sport would be excited about.

11

I remember that race. It’d be great if you put that on youtube–I’d love to see it. I remember Armstrong going by me during the day 2 duathlon so fast I couldn’t even get his wheel.But what I really remember is how explosive Ned Overend was. Fun race.

12

That was such a cool event! Erin still remembers that as one of her favourite experiences in the sport.
Cheers from NZ, Scott

13

That was such a cool event! Erin still remembers that as one of her favourite experiences in the sport.
Cheers from NZ, Scott

Yo, Scott. Can you tell you “little” brother to slow down a bit. He’s in my AG and can be quite the trouble maker :slight_smile: lucky for me I didn’t see him last year. Would’da but IM Tahoe got cancelled.

14

I would love all these different formats. …

But this has been done before. F1 series in Oz. Question: if this is the answer why didnt it continue.

My answer to that is the USAT ITU have to sanction…or it will not gain traction

15

for this interested, here’s from the slowtwitch archives:

Party time in Manly for F1

February 4, 2000, Manly, Sydney, Australia (www.slowtwitch.com):

				Saturday and Sunday mark the final of the five-round St.George Formula 1 Triathlon Series -- but the winners have already won. When Miles Stewart and Nicole Hackett line up with the rest of the racers for  Saturday's heats, they'll be racing mostly for pride.

				But the rest of the invited fields will be racing for places -- that is, guaranteed contracts for racing in next year's Formula 1 series.

				Stewart, who broke Brad Beven's six-year hold on the title, and Hackett both secured their overall series title by racing well the last time out, January 22-23 in Adelaide.

				Contracts will go to the top-10 finishers, so it will be a scramble  for everyone else who is not Stewart or Hackett to race to the very end. With both personal sponsors and Olympic selectors to impress as well, the athletes are all fired up -- Stewart and Hackett included.

				"Having taken so long to win the F1 title, there is no way that I am going to end the series on a downer," Stewart said.

				And Hackett, after winning the first three races, was a little disappointed with her third placing in Adelaide. She is out to make amends.

				"I was very happy to win back-to-back F1 titles but the third placing last race wasn't how I wanted to do it. I really want to end the  series on a high," she said.

				Top 10 Series Standings entering final round of St.George F1 Triathlon:

MEN: Miles Stewart (AUS/79), Courtney Atkinson (AUS/73), Chris McCormack (AUS/65), Peter Robertson (AUS/61), Paul Amey (NZL/61), Chris Hill (AUS/57), Simon Whitfield (CAN/55), Marc Lees (AUS/54), Levi Maxwell (AUS/50), Shane Reed (NZL/45).

				WOMEN: Nicole Hackett (AUS/81), Michellie Jones (AUS/73), Barb Lindquist (USA/71), Magali Messmer (SUI/66), Melissa Ashton (AUS/59), Loretta Harrop (AUS/57), Michelle Dillon (GBR/50), Ute Muckel (GER/49), Pip Taylor (AUS/45), Melanie Mitchell (AUS/43).

Sunday’s F1 finale a showcase for series’ best

				February 5, 2000, Manly, Sydney, Australia (www.slowtwitch.com):

				Sunday's final round of the fifth and last Formula 1 race for the season will feature all the series' big names, short of Chris McCormack,  who failed to pass through Saturday's heats on hot Manly Beach.

				The 20,000 spectators who turned up for the last OneSummer sports festival of the summer are expected back for the final, which will showcase series champ Nicole Hackett, world champs Loretta Harrop and Michellie Jones, men's series winner Miles Stewart, plus Brad Beven, Courtney Atkinson and Peter Robertson. The only casualty among favorites  for the final was McCormack, who could only manage seventh in his heat.

				Though he has already tied up the series title, Stewart will have to contend with his old adversary in Beven -- six times the series champion, but not this year -- and series No. 2 Atkinson. Both are keen to make things as difficult as possible for Stewart over the tough Enduro format (300m swim/ 7km cycle/
				2km run, twice through).

				Qualifying wasn't so easy for Michellie Jones who crashed mid-way through the 7km bike, losing vital places. She recovered quickly and used her strong run to cement second place in her heat.

				"On the off-camber corner, I turned my wheel a little bit too much," Jones said. "I knew it was going to happen but that is racing. Other than that I can't complain. I'm just relieved to make it through to the final."

				St.George Formula 1 Triathlon: Saturday's Heats
				February 5, Manly, Sydney, Australia
				300m S, 7k B, 2k R: Top five per heat make Sunday's final

				Men: Heat 1
				1. Miles Stewart (AUS), 21:19
				2. Chris Hill (AUS), 21:20
				3. Peter Robertson (AUS), 21:29
				4. Levi Maxwell (AUS), 21:35
				5. Bryce Quirk (AUS), 21:36
				---
				6. Jean-Christophe Guinchard (SUI), 21:52
				7. Jan Rehula (CZE), 21:55
				8. Shane Reed (NZL), 21:59
				9. Ben Sanson (FRA), 22:19
				10. Simon Whitfield (CAN), 22:49

				Men: Heat 2
				1. Courtney Atkinson (AUS), 21:20
				2. Paul Amey (NZL), 21:21
				3. Brad Beven (AUS), 21:23
				4. Kris Gemmel (NZL), 21:26
				5. Marc Lees (AUS), 21:28
				---
				6. Simon Thompson (AUS), 21:46
				7. Chris McCormack (AUS), 22:01
				8. Craig Alexander (AUS), 22:07
				9. Troy McKinna (AUS), 22:37
				10. Luke Harrop (AUS), 22:50


				Women: Heat 1
				1. Nicole Hackett (AUS), 23:32
				2. Magali Messmer (SUI), 23:33
				3. Loretta Harrop (AUS), 23:35
				4. Maria Kosztovits (AUS), 24:19
				5. Ute Muckel (GER), 24:28
				---
				6. Melanie Mitchell (AUS), 25:10
				7. Belinda King (AUS), 25:54
				DNF. Steph Forrester (SCO).
				DNS. Michelle Dillon (GBR).

				Women: Heat 2
				1. Barb Lindquist (USA), 23:13
				2. Michellie Jones (AUS), 23:24
				3. Melissa Ashton (AUS), 23:39
				4. Josie Loane (AUS), 23:54
				5. Pip Taylor (AUS), 24:01
				---
				6. Siri Lindley (USA), 24:09
				7. Tracy Hargreaves (AUS), 24:17
				8. Gail Laurence (USA), 24:42
				9. Erin Philp (AUS), 25:07
				10. Annabel Luxford (AUS), 25:17
16

I’m so invested in this race now! What were the results of the final?

17

heck, i don’t know.

18

I hear you, Dev. We (USAT) have been supporting (in a pretty big way) “Super Sprints” the past 2-3 years: pro only races, made for TV (unfortunately, just Universal Sports so far) - a fast & furious 40 minute race of SBR X 2. Done with a portable pool in the middle of a parking lot (or racetrack, as REV3 did), and fast, short bike and run laps in the same area for spectators to see it all, and the SBR is done twice. Crazy all-out racing, and perfect for TV. Historically, of course, the swim has always been first, based on a safety factor of wanting to do it fresh; but, I could see switching up the run and bike. Interesting thought - one which we will tee up. Always listening.

It is interesting to see what biathlon and cross country skiing has done. All events are live on TV all over Europe and spectators are actually paying for tickets to be on the best stands.
Almost all sponsors to the national teams and events are non sports related.
Since the sport is a good platform with good media exposure, you will fine less focus on prize money.

Here you have a video from a yearly cross country skiing sprint from my hometown in Norway, Drammen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLagYmR6EcQ

This is from the women’s 30k race in Falun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWSi1KY9R0M
More than 40,000 spectators.

Biathlon, women mass start from Ruhpolding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkUsuZfsddE

As you can see. Endurance sports can have fans and sponsors.