Unlike other cities, Buffalo, MN which is about 40 miles NW of Minneapolis is not a Mecca for professional triathletes. Understandably, the city is not host to an Olympic Distance ITU event, a popular 70.3 race or even an Ironman triathlon, but it does have the Buffalo Triathlon. The early season race is a sign that the outdoor triathlon season is now open in the state of Minnesota. This year the city will host the 6th annual race which attracts well over 1,200 participants every year.
For the last several years Race Director Brett Oden has brought in professional triathletes to race along side the amateurs and/or first timers. Participants get to meet them at packet pick-up, rack their bikes in the same area and stand along side of them at the swim start like they were just another participant which is really cool. Previous years have seen the likes of Chris Legh, Natascha Badmann, Becky Lavelle and Brian Lavelle on race day. This year will be no exception as the Buffalo Triathlon is thrilled to have reigning Ironman 70.3 World Champion Terenzo Bozzone for the race.
He's possibly the hottest rising star in the sport of triathlon for the past two years. He holds a total of 22 national titles in his native New Zealand, and is known around the globe for being one of the most personable professionals in the sport. Last year he upgrade to the Ironman 70.3 Series after not getting picked for the New Zealand Olympic team and showed what's he made of by winning Boise, Kansas, and Vineman and then the Ironman 70.3 World Championship race in Clearwater. In 2009 he took it up a notch and took second place in his first ever Ironman event in New Zealand.
Triathlon: Buffalo Triathlon
When: Sunday, June 7, 2009 @ 9:00 AM
Where: Sturges Park, Buffalo, Minnesota, USA (40 miles NW of Minneapolis)
Division(s): Elite, Age Group, Relays
Distance(s): Olympic, Sprint
Website: www.tribuff.com
Terenzo will be at packet pickup on Saturday signing autographs from 4 to 5pm, but will also be teaching a private clinic for the first 10 racers to register. The clinic will be held at Gold Gym in Buffalo on Saturday, June 6, from 9am till noon, and will include time with Terenzo in the pool, on the bike, as well as on the track.
There is still time to register, meet and race along side of Terenzo in Buffalo as the race nears its capacity of 1,500 athletes.
