Off-season training for a triathlon can get quite boring especially when there are no events scheduled for months for us to participate in besides triathlons in the Southern Hemisphere. If you enjoy the multisport concept then here is a winter triathlon option to look at.

A winter triathlon involves running, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing - all performed on snow. The running is usually contested on hard-packed snow courses (usually packed ski trails) with distances ranging from 5-9 km. The mountain bike leg is held on packed ski trails for a distance of 10-15 km. Competitors ride standard racing mountain bikes, often equipped with wide tires and low tire pressure. The final leg of a winter triathlon is cross-country skiing. Courses are usually 8-12 km in length, and are contested on groomed Nordic ski trails. Classic or freestyle techniques are both allowed, though most serious competitors use the freestyle technique as it is faster.

Triathlon: USAT Winter Triathlon National Championship
When: Saturday, February 9, 2008 @ 8:00 AM
Where: Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center, Bend, OR, USA
Website: www.usatriathlon.org
Course: 8km Trail Run / 15km Mountain Bike / 10km Cross Country Ski

Registration is currently open for the USAT Winter Triathlon National Championship race at Mt. Bachelor in Bend, Oregon. The event is open to anyone, regardless of age or ability level nd you don’t need to qualify for February’s championship race, which will feature an age group race and an elite race. The top finishers in both divisions will qualify and have a chance to compete at the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships on February 22, 2008 in Freudenstadt, Germany.

Registration fees for individuals are $67 prior to February 1, and $77 after. Fees for three-person teams are $61 per person. Seniors over 65 and students under 18 only pay $50.

For more information, visit www.oregonsports.org or the USA Triathlon web site at www.usatriathlon.org.