PHILIPSBURG—The Friendly Island Triathlon Association (FITA) will be oganising its signature event of the year, The 33rd Annual Boardwalk Triathlon, this coming Sunday, June 5, on the Boardwalk in Philipsburg.
Up to a 100 or more participants from St. Barths, Saba, Guadeloupe, St. Martin and St. Maarten, will be competing in the Olympic or Sprint distances, either as individuals or in teams. Teams can be of mixed gender.
The Olympic distance is a 1500 metre swim followed by a 40K bike segment and a 10K run. The popular Sprint distance is a 750metre swim, 20k bike, and a 5K run.
The two events begin with the swim off the beach opposite Taloula Mangos, before transitioning to the bike segment, exiting from the Rose Arcade, and ending with a flat run up and down the Boardwalk. Categories are Individual Men and Women, Juniors and Teams.
Due to the heat, the event will be starting earlier at 6:30am for the Olympic distance and 7:00am for the Sprint distance.
The event is particularly attractive to individuals and teams from St. Barths who have some of the best triathletes in the region, Fabien Husson for example who won the Olympic distance last year. St. Barths is represented every year.
Guadeloupe has also produced top triathletes such as Olivier Noglotte, a winner on multiple occasions in St. Maarten. It was not known if Noglotte will be participating this year. Locally, St. Martin’s top triathlete Gregoire Pigeon is at his peak having notched up a string of victories, including Saba a week ago. It will be interesting to see how he fares against St. Barth’s finest.
“We are fortunate to be the only island in this immediate area to offer an Olympic distance because it is not easy to find roads that are safe, flat enough or wide enough, for a 40bike ride,” said FITA President Juan Pablo Piscione. “When the Boardwalk was created Norman Wathey of Taloula Mango came up with his slogan “We are the Boardwalk”. We adopted the name for the triathlon so its only fitting that we organise the event at Taloula Mangos.”
Entry fee is US$25 per person, US$20 for Juniors, and US$25 for team members. Includes breakfast for all participants at Taloula Mangos. Registration is at www.trisportsxm.com
The triathlon on Sunday is made possible by Port of St. Maarten, Goia Construction, Taloula Mangos, Diamonds International, Divico (Heineken Zero), Safe Cargo, Sunset Beach Bar, Powerade and Dasani Water.
