What makes a triathlon club great?

Triathlon Forum
1

I am seeking ideas to resuscitate/rejuvenate a local triathlon club that has lost some momentum in the past couple of years. The club is considering a wide range of options for the coming years and I hope to benefit from the collective wisdom of slowtwitch as we develop a plan. Our club has had over 100 active members at points in the past (currently around 25-30 active), with racers competing in distances from sprint to Ironman. The local area has experienced some trauma of late (we’re in katrina-land) and the local race calendar hasn’t quite recovered, but there are many races in the larger region and local interest in multisport remains high. We have year-round training weather and no shortage of excellent training facilities and cycling routes nearby. Demographic is suburban, middle to upper middle class, lots of marrieds-with-children.

So…give me your best suggestions to recapture the membership. When you think about your own triathlon club, or successful clubs you are familiar with, what are the distinguishing characteristics/activities/events that make the club great and make people want to be be part of it?

Thanks - Jim

2

I would probably start with a club meet and greet with beer and food or a bbq.

3

I’ve had a great experience with an outstanding triathlon club. Here’s what drew me in and kept me going:

Make the club fun and far from an elite atmosphere, where everyone is interested in how everyone else is training and racing, full of encouragement and then recognizing the truly fast, competitive people a couple of times a year.

Four very hardworking, dedicated, consistent “officers” that do 90% of the work, not just the organizaing. That’s just the way it is.

A weekend group ride, long for the veterans, shorter and more instructive for newbies led by a passionate club member, originating from an accessible, safe parking lot–preferably with restrooms available (ask a local cycling shop to open up early and let you use their parkig lot and restroom).

A weekend run, long for the veterans, shorter for the newbies, again led by a passionate club member.

A weeknight track or speed workout at a local high school with open restrooms. Provide cold water and a knowledgable and fun club member to lead various pace groups.

Monthly club meetings for social interaction, healthy snacks, and some kind of multisport instruction.

Get a few local sporting shops to sponsor your club with inexpensive giveaways, 15% off discounts for club members, and access to market their stuff at club meetings and races.

Put on an informal race every year.

The Phoenix Triathlon Club is full of enjoyable activities and fun people.

4

A club is a club no matter what activity. It’s about the folks in the club and how they mesh. That’s what makes a club “great”.

5

All the above posts are great and suggest good ideas . As a partner of an athlete little things like family inclusive events, tents/marque at races or long training rides/runs etc help. Even the non training/equipment related discounts like coffee shops etc were family friendly so we could have a coffee and catch up with other partners while the triathletes did swims or shorter training sessions. Ironically our local club was so supportive and welcoming that I became their only non competing , non training financial member and ended up editing their monthly newsletter. Good luck with all the plans and best wishes for the revamped club!

6

Lots of hot, single girls age 20-25.

That is the be all and end all of a triathlon club.

7

That’s almost a roadmap markvoss. Thanks. Sounds like if I combine all that with some family-engaging activities and a few 25-29 year old babes (no conflict there!) I should have it made.

Does your club have a website I could have a look at?

8

Gives back to the sport and the local triathlon community. Is a resource for new athletes coming into the sport: holds clinics and beginner-oriented events with a focus on participation and education in the sport. Supports local events with volunteers. Has regular social gathering for membership to meet and greet. Maintains a web group for ad-hoc organization of group training, such as a yahoo group that all members can access on line. Has a catchy name and indentity- is branded: “The Cinncinati Sharks” or the “F.A.S.T.” (Ford Athletic Swim and Triathlon Club). Maintains core membership- in “inner circle” who usually does most of the leg work. The membership at large needs to recognize these contributions. Administers a safe environment for group training: Enforces helmet use, group ride etiquette, open water swim safety, etc.

9

I don’t have any advice for trying to get the existing 70 members back but coming from a BOPER and beginner possibly joining a club, I’d want:

  1. Alot of s/b/r. for example, http://latriclub.com/calendar/

  2. Besides s/b/r, informational sessions like how to change a flat (for example, core stability workout on Oct 23 on latriclub calendar), interesting talks like Floyd landis (Oct 24 on latriclub calendar), social outings which include family. For example, a camping trip where family can get together while there’s still some training sessions on Sat. morning.

  3. Inviting sessions for all levels. Not only during the s/b/r where the BOPER doesn’t get dusted on the run, but also when a new member ends up at a social dinner, that the existing members aren’t cliquish and leave that person feeling out of it.

  4. Some sort of exposure from charity or community service.

  5. Exposure from volunteering at other events besides triathlons. Like an info booth or aid station at a marathon.