I moved to northwest Iowa in the fall and have yet to find anyone who competes in the area? Anyone out there?
Also, anyone know of any swim coaches in the area?
Dude…almost nobody lives in NW Iowa, much less triathletes! Good luck!
Tell me about it!!! The long distant rides get old with nothing but corn to hear ya…
I’m so very sorry. 
Where in NW Iowa, btw…?
Storm Lake…Ever been?
The largest Tri club in the area is the Tri Racers of Iowa www.triracers.com It’s mostly a central iowa club but that might provide some networking for group rides if anybody lives near you. One of the coaching services located in Iowa is Rocket Science Coaching, www.rocketsciencecoaching.com They do have an option for swim coaching only if that’s what you are looking for. I’m from Ames so these are the resources closest to me and I don’t know how helpful it’ll be for you, but it’s a start. I’m pretty new to the tri scene here too, so there might be options closer to you.
I was out in Okaboji, IA last summer. There was an open water swim there. The biking was okay, but roads only went N/S or E/W. Nice running routes around the lakes.
There is a couple of tri’s up that way. Lake Okoboji has one in mid July and there a couple others in that region. The Okoboji tri is about .6m swim, 18m bike, and 6m run. It isn’t real organized as you end up riding through heavy traffic in a couple of spots with a stop light or two along the way. I think somebody got him by a car a few years back. I almost forgot, the run a 10K, 1/2marathon, and full marathon at the same time as the triathlon. They all start at different times so that they all finish about the same time. Difficult to tell if somebody is just finishing up a 10K or a brutal no thrills marathon in the heat and humidity.
I placed second in Boji last summer…and won’t go back. Beatiful swim and run, but the bike course was awful. I was cut off by too many cars and even had to come to a complete stop so the fan bus for the marathoners could unload.
Maybe you will be the dominate age grouper in the area!!
Anyone do the manson, IA tri last year? Good course?
Alas, the majority of triathletes are in Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids with a few from the Quad-Cities (my former home). Might be a few down in Omaha, too.
So no, I’m of no help. Best of luck.
Why are you worried about it now? It’s like -8 where you are.
I live in eastern Iowa and can tell you that there aren’t too many tri-geeks out in the great corn desert that is Iowa. My town has only 5 and my wife and I are two of 'em.
At least you have some nice blue water lakes to swim in, I can’t see much in the Mississippi. 
“Might be a few down in Omaha, too.”
That would be me, not to many triathletes in this neck of the woods, and even less races, but is a great place to train, Everybody thinks you are nuts. You are going to have to travel to race. But good news, lots of good racing just to your north in the Twincities. and to your east in Wisconsin. Nothing to the west and have to travel a long ways south to get to anything.
ps, whats wrong with N/S and E/W roads. Ride a hour turn left, ride a hour turn left. ride a hour turn left , ride a hour you are home.
Growing up in NW Iowa was great…would love to move back, but the work and recreational opportunities are pretty limited. Have you tried BV for a coach? Lemars and Sioux Center also have small, sprint tris in the summer…not too far from Storm Lake.
There are more of us out here than you’d think. There is a pretty active scene in Des Moines, somewhat thanks to the Hy Vee Triathlon. I think Des Moines Tri Club is the biggest group in Des Moines, and I do know a few of its members.
BV has (or used to have) a swim team…so you should be able to find someone around to give you some swim coaching.
When I am visiting my parents in the summer, my long ride route takes me over towards Laurens…not too far away from you.
There is a few scattered up there that I can think of off hand. A husband/wife in Ida Grove, one in Denison…yeah, it is pretty scattered as far as I know. The sport has grown like a weed around central iowa.
I’m in W.D.M. Most of your good races are going to be closer to des moines, however you’re so damn close to minnesota you could go up there for a few good ones too.
Shoot me a message and i’ll try to give you some ideas for a few good races if you know what time frame you are looking at. I’ve done most of the iowa ones now.
Grant
There are more of us out here than you’d think. There is a pretty active scene in Des Moines, somewhat thanks to the Hy Vee Triathlon. I think Des Moines Tri Club is the biggest group in Des Moines, and I do know a few of its members.
BV has (or used to have) a swim team…so you should be able to find someone around to give you some swim coaching.
When I am visiting my parents in the summer, my long ride route takes me over towards Laurens…not too far away from you.
I work at BV…they got rid of their swim team 4 years ago. There is a HS swim team in town, but the coach is more into putting them through a workout than being able to critique a stroke.
I live in Clive (suburb) of Des Moines and I can tell you Des Moines has a great following for triathlons. The Des Moines Tri club has over 150+ members - there are also a few coaches in Des Moines, myself included. There many great races including the Hy-Vee Tri, Flatland Series, and Pigman Sprint and Half.