As the presenting sponsor of TRIFEST, we are looking for feedback on the overall concept of the event itself. When the idea came to us a while back, we believed (and still believe) that TRIFEST had the potential to make a significant positive impact in the world of triathlon. Our goal was to bring the entire industry together in one place to celebrate our sport. In only its second year, we are starting to see the fruits of our labor. It is also an opportunity for us and many others to give back to the sport that is our livelihood. As a basic overview, here is what TRIFEST has to offer:
EXPO - As a retailer, every year we are asked by customers if they can attend Interbike. This was our solution and a solution that has been needed in our industry for a long time - an triathlon-based expo showcasing all the new product for the season. We sold out this year with 70 vendors as we simply ran out of space.
CAMPS - Tucson is THE place to be for winter training - it has been sunny and in the 80s this week. We have several camps affiliating this year by scheduling around the TRIFEST weekend. It is a great opportunity for athletes looking to extend their visit and take advantage of all that Tucson has to offer.
CONFERENCE - Another void in our sport has been a conference with world-class speakers. This year we have Dave Scott, Steve Hed, Andy Potts, Joel Friel and Chris Carmichael among others. We have both an athlete track and a coaching track and are registered with both USAT and ACSM for CEU credits.
SPECIAL EVENTS - The special events are really what makes TRIFEST special and unique. We start out the weekend by having a huge group ride up Mount Lemmon. The ride is police escorted this year and is a great way to interact with athletes from all over the world and major players in the industry. Friday night is the Keynote Dinner with Dave Scott and is another great opportunity to mingle with a handful of industry folks. Outside of those events on Friday we are hosting training rides and runs on the weekend. To top it off, the Tucson Bicycle Classic stage race and Sunrise at Old Tucson trail run are affiliated with TRIFEST as well.
SPONSORS - I also want to thank the rest of the TRIFEST sponsors that have helped make it possible this year. TYR and Amica Insurance have really stepped up to the plate in a major way and have shown their commitment to our sport by backing the event.
With TRIFEST coming up next weekend (March 6-8), I am curious to hear any thoughts you might have. We already have some great things in the works for next year - March 5-7, 2010. For complete information, check out the website: www.trifest.com. Thanks in advance for your feedback.
nik,
another thing you can do: have the super old, super bad, and super deadly retiree drivers of tucson stay off the highways and roads for the days of trifest, that way no riders will end up in the hospital during the expo. otherwise, it is open season …
Ah yes, if only there was a place where we could ride without worrying about bad drivers. One can dream of a place where bikes and cars live together in harmony. That being said, I have found Tucson to be a pretty safe place to ride if you are on the right roads. Plenty of bike lanes around here - not that it matters with some drivers.
I would have loved to come and work at this event. I think I can teach the average triathlete or the average pro triathlete a lot about open water swimming.
Ah yes, if only there was a place where we could ride without worrying about bad drivers. One can dream of a place where bikes and cars live together in harmony. That being said, I have found Tucson to be a pretty safe place to ride if you are on the right roads. Plenty of bike lanes around here - not that it matters with some drivers.
Ah yes, if only there was a place where we could ride without worrying about bad drivers. One can dream of a place where bikes and cars live together in harmony.
How about other countries? How is it that Asian cyclist get respect… sheer numbers?
Firstly, It’s impressive the scale of the event and the level of organization. It is another feather in the cap of your overall organization- the model for the industry really.
Secondly, the mix of events and activities are excellent as is the timing. A training camp setting and/or competitive event tied in would complete the show as the “destination” for triathletes and everyone in the sport as this event grows and moves forward- and I *do *see this event growing and moving forward. Part and parcel to the growth is simultaneously raising the awareness and offering added “value” reasons for people to attend.
You guys have done a great job with this and I look forward to it growing and being there myself one day. Best of luck with the event- I’m certain it will go well.
Thanks for the feedback. One of the hard things with the event is educating people on the concept and purpose. We had several people ask last year - where is the race? While the weekend has some non-triathlon races affiliated with it this year, TRIFEST was designed to give athletes a chance to focus on triathlon in a non-race setting. Many times you hit up an expo at a race, your attention is focused around the race itself (as is should be). On the expo side, TRIFEST allows athletes/consumers direct access to vendors, product designers and industry professionals. They get a chance to touch, feel and test new product before the season begins and then have the option to purchase either at the expo itself or with their local shop back home. The conference and training camps, as you said, simply build around the experience of the weekend. Combine those three things with all the special, unique events and you have plenty of reasons to attend. (Personally, after my flight back to Tucson was canceled today because of the snow storm, I think the weather alone is reason enough.)
We would love to have you out if you ever could make it. TRIFEST is definitely not a TriSports.com exclusive event. The entire weekend is open to anybody and everybody interested in bettering our sport.
I’m going for all three days and I’m super excited! I can’t wait to check out all the gear, meet with sponsors, and listen to some really great speakers. The ride on Friday should be awesome. Who else is going?
We had several people ask last year - where is the race?
Nik,
Key point. For almost all triathletes, their only exposure to any form of Expo is at a race. We do have to try and help re-educate people that it does not have to be this way. TriFest is the other - I think better way.
Every year just before and just after, their is a clamoring for information about what was new and hot and what went on at Interbike. Their is also some moaning that it’s only industry folk that get to go to Industry bike. Their is a reason for that - it’s a very important gathering of key industry people in the yearly cycle of wholesale selling and buying. However, their is no reason why a similar experience can’t be set up for the consumer, and in many ways, the TriFest Expo delivers on that. Even better, the riding is outstanding in Tucson( better than in LV), their are all kinds of key people in the business in town that you can talk to and their are camps and other training things going on. Plus you get to ride up Mt Lemmon with Jimmy " Have I got a story to tell" Riccitello - what more could you ask for.
Personally, I think it’s a great event and I know that I am looking forward to this years.
**We had several people ask last year - where is the race? **
If anyone wants to include a race there are a few options. Come a week earlier and do the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon or stay a week later and get into the Tucson Triathlon. Both of these races sale out early, so you will have to plan early for next year.
If anyone wants to include a race there are a few options. Come a week earlier and do the TriSports.com Desert Classic Duathlon
Great idea. Come a week earlier - do this race. Then get in a great week of training in Tucson and go to TriFest. Perfect!
I am just tossing this out there as a thought, but it’s something that I do keep coming across. I keep running into more than a few people who are reluctant to get away for a mod to big week of training because their coach has them on a specific training program. That’s all well and good I would never want to second guess a coach. However, I will go ahead and do so anyway!
You simply can’t beat getting away in the mid-to-late off season for a big week of training. Cycling works well for this as you can safely do a big ramp up in cycling volume in a short period of time and drive great benefits from it that stay for awhile. Running and swimming are less attractive and potentially riskier for this in the case of running, but if these sports are limiters, a one week to 10 day focus can be* really* helpful.
I’m a student at the U of A and our team, the Tricats is putting on an Auathlon Sunday, March 8th at 9am. It’s an 825 yard swim at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center and a 5k run throughout the campus. The cost is only $20 and all the proceeds will go directly to helping us pay for USAT Collegiate Nationals.
It’s going to be an action packed weekend with Trifest, the Tucson Bicycle Classic, and the Tricats Aquathlon and the weather looks like it’s going to be great! Trifest is a great event and I am stoked to see how much it will expand from last year. See you there!
That being said, I have found Tucson to be a pretty safe place to ride if you are on the right roads. Plenty of bike lanes around here - not that it matters with some drivers.