Minnesota to host the debut of a TriStar111 format triathlon event in the U.S. on Saturday, August 27th, 2011 in Maple Grove with $10,000 pro prize purse.
Many months of hard work came one step closer to reality for the debut of the TriStar111 race format in Minnesota and the U.S. with a small and intimate press conference at Urban Tri triathlon store in Minneapolis. Lindsey Kurhajetz of Dare to Dream Events, organizer of the two-year old Maple Grove Triathlon: Dare to TRI and now host to the new TriStar111 Minnesota race started things off with a big smile. Why not, her debut of the Maple Grove Triathlon: Dare to TRI event finished in 2nd place last year for Minnesota Race of the Year, she gets to add an exciting new international event to the mix with the TriStar111 format and has two pro triathletes sitting next to her for the race, local pro Devon Palmer and Maik Twelsiek better known as the Flying German. (Chris McCormack experienced a flight delay and was not on-hand right away)
"We are very proud to bring this race to Minnesota" said Kurhajetz.
TriStar111, the European triathlon format heavily focused on the cycling discipline made its debut in 2010 with four races. Now in 2011 it has nine races including the new TriStar111 Minnesota race, the only race of its kind outside of Europe except for the new TriStar111 Nevis race which took place earlier this year on the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis. The 111 in the triathlon race name represent the total distance of the race which is comprised of 1km Swim + 100km Bike + 10km Run = 111km. For reference purposes, it's just shy of the total distance in a typical half iron distance triathlon event, but moves 10.1km of running to the bike discipline along with 900 meters of the swim.
Twelsiek, who has two second place Ironman finishes this year is a late entry into the TriStar111 Minnesota pro field after a comment was posted on his girlfriend's (Hillary Biscay) blog suggesting he should come to Minnesota and race. He talked it over, made a call to race organizers and now he's here to go head-to-head with Macca on Saturday. "I've never raced a TriStar but I'm familiar with the TriStar brand in Europe but was unaware of a race here in the states" said Twelsiek. "It's a good distance, and will be a great opportunity for me to check out how my training has been going." He's hoping for great weather on his first trip to Minnesota, coming from Tucson were temps have been in the 100 degrees.
Palmer, the young local pro from Minnesota who won the inaugural Olympic Distance race last year recounted how he heard about the new race and quickly called race organizers to see if he could transfer over to the TriStar111 event to test it out. "I'm very excited to see what this distance has to offer" said Palmer. He loves the fact that it incorporate his favorite number, 11, since he was born on the 11th, placed 11th in his first pro race in MN and that it's now 2011. What does he like about the race "There is a lot of biking, I carry 75% of my weight below my waist, when you think that through that mean I like to bike".
Local store owner Todd Olson of Urban Tri in Minneapolis couldn't believe his 5-month old triathlon store was hosting the TriStar111 Minnesota press conference and a related Macca "I'm Here to Win" book signing. He alone is one of the main reasons the new TriStar111 race has a pro field and a $10,000 pro prize purse. "I was talking to my coach Amy Kloner, one of the female pros racing, and she said how she would love to do the race but didn't know if they were going to have a pro race" recounts Olson about his involvement with the event. It was quite obvious what to do after talking to race organizers who were looking for money for a pro prize purse. "I need to get in, I have marketing dollars, I'll sponsor the pro race" said Olson. Just like that is how the relationship between Urban Tri, Kurhajetz and TriStar began. After that the processes to attract professional triathletes to Minnesota for a triathlon race was on.
"He jump onboard with us pretty much right away, he really wanted to see the pros come here and fronted the $10,000 cash purse, a true testament on how much people want to see triathlon succeed here" said Kurhajetz of Olson and Urban Tri.
McCormack, the TriStar Ambassador who arrived after his flight delay greeted a packed store of fans and had this to say about the TriStar111 race. "It's a good series, very bike orientated which I enjoy" said McCormack "It's tough. You think it's a short swim and a short run with a long bike but you put so much effort out on the bike that the six mile run is a lot more difficult than a half ironman run I'd say. It's 3 ½ hours of racing for us, so it's tough. It's a good concept and exciting that its coming to the states." After some Q&A McCormak hung around for the fans and signed copies of his new book "I'm Here to Win".
A statement was made that a TriStar111 race would take place in the United States in 2011. They wanted to keep their word stated Olivier Castelli of Star Events who was on hand, thus the partnership with Dare to Dream Events. "Our race styles made it easy for a partnership to come together in an untapped market" said Kurhajetz.
The inaugural TriStar111 Minnesota takes place on Saturday, August 27th at 7:30 AM from Weaver Lake in Maple Grove. Best Buy Mobile along with Star Events will be providing live coverage of the race. Check the event website www.tristarminnesota.com for all the details.
