It’s a ponderous thing that the number of events and demand for those events seems to be continuing despite an economic downturn. Why?
Triathlon seems to be a “sticky” sport where people keep becoming athletes, and older athletes tend to stay with it. Why do people stay in the sport and what phases of personal development do they expereince as their motives evolve? I’m no sociologist, but I am a fan of author Steven Covey (“Seven Habits” fame) so I took a stab at integrating some of his thinkinig into why athletes stay in our sport and how their motives evolve. Here it is for those with any interest in it:
http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/editorials/0000136.shtml
Another great article Tom. I think athletes will continue to pursue their goals no matter what, even if it means cutting money somewhere and somehow in their given budget. Also once you have the neccesary items to train (goggles, bike, running shoes) your’re basically set, everything outside of those are simply a *want *item as oppossed to a needed item. But this is merely my opinion.
Keep the articles coming!
I don’t buy the thesis that the sport is not or will not be deeply affected by the economy.
There was a nice article last fall in the LA times about how the economy hadn’t affected tris. IIRC the article came out in October, there aren’t a whole lot of races in October and for the ones that are the bulk of their entries were rolling in from July to Early September.
Many of the data available at the time were from races where people were already laying down their money, committed folks and people committing before we had seen the worst. This summer at the local races and next fall for the big race registration will tell the tale in my view.
The same goes for new races, a new race series probably laid the ground work down last year before the economy really headed south. So they are now committed. Once again the number of races for 2010 is where we can be relieved or be disappointed in the state of the sport.
I don’t buy that triathlon will grow despite the economy theory.
It just did not catch up with the triathlon, yet. I know a ton of people decided to do only local races and not travel at all.
Also sales of triathlon related items will fall dramatically.
Unfortunate, but it is what it is there is no need to cheat ourselves believing otherwise.