Updates

I spoke to Tate Donovan at the Strawberry fields triathlon, he's a very nice guy and a very fast triathlete. I hope to be as speedy someday. I may get the chance to test myself at this year's Malibu triathlon race. We'll see.

Newport Beach City Council Meeting

This issue boiled down to an issue of finance. Although the council meeting didn't frame the issue this way, as an observer of the key facts and concerns this is what I believe it boiled down to. The city adopted a policy to have race organizers provide a certified "traffic plan". This plan costs money and neither the city nor the race organization want to pay for it. It seems that the race organization wanted to work with the city planner to do the work instead of paying for an expensive plan. This essentially killed the race, the only way this race could've survived is if the city worked with the race organizers to bypass the cost of the traffic plan. Unfortunately the city does not want to do this and the race organization won't take on the cost for such a small race.

Essentially it boiled down to tradition versus value. Sometimes governement invests in potential and tradition, not so this time. In this case the residents of Newport Beach being inconvenienced was enough to shut down the race because there were substitute events going on at the same time.

I owe an apology to the council members of Newport Beach, I believe that my previous comments caused them undo stress by way of our community emailing them with harsh emails. They seem like reasonable people who have had to make the tough decision of ending the long history of a race. It was economics at it's most basic. This race has been coming down this path for a long time now and it eventually had to come to an end. Maybe we could have done something sooner, if we knew about the possibility of the race shutting down years ago I'm sure adequate support would've found it's way. As it stands there were more lucrative opportunites for the race company else where and the city just has too many other concerns. This race is probably dead, let's hope the Pacific Coast Triathlon in Newport Beach isn't next. We can only hope that some day a new race will find it's way back.

Fortunately for the triathlon community new races are opening up in nearby areas. Pacific Sports is starting a new Huntington Beach Triathlon and there's the new Orange County Triathlon in Irvine. Two new races for the one that we lost isn't bad.

Btw, I sounded like a bumbling idiot when I went up to the mic in support. I didn't plan on doing it, but I did so because I was asked to. I got emotional and had no preparation, bad move. I should definitely stick to plans I'm much better that way. A good plan, like a good training schedule is the way to go. Good thing I'm still young, I have plenty of time to hone my skills and improve as an imprompu-triathlete-city council-speaking-advocate. Like any successful triathlete I'll never give up.

Strawberry Fields Triathlon Race

Yesterday was the sprint distance Strawberry Fields Triathlon Race in Oxnard, CA. The swim portion was cancelled due to multiple swells and a a powerful current. Only 3 out of 20 guys from the first wave made it around the first buouy. Here are some pictures:

1. There were multiple swells with a rough current heading south. Believe me when I say it was worse than it looks here.


2. Here are some reactions to the first wave swimming out.


3. The swim was cancelled. Instead races were made to run thigh deep in water along the coast for about 400 yds. Life gaurds served as markers. I'm glad I passed on this race because the swim is my favorite part.

Newport Beach Council Meeting Tues., May 28, 2006

Thank you to everybody for supporting the Newport Beach Triathlon. It has really paid off. The city received enough interest to have the issue put on the city council agenda.

At this point the council members seem to be leaning toward the non-supportive side. Receiving emails is one thing but seeing public interest face to face is another. I beleive they are expecting a small showing so they can put the issue to rest. The last step of support that we need is for anybody who has time to come to the council meeting. If you have time I hope to see you there. Sorry for the short notice I just found out last night.

Meeting Time and Place:
City of Newport Beach City Council Meeting
Council Chambers
THIS Tuesday, March 28th at 7pm

City Hall Newport Beach
3300 Newport Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92663

It’s easy to get there. Take the 55 Freeway all the way through Costa Mesa to the Balboa Peninsula. Cross over the bridge, pass the shopping center on your left and it’s the next left turn.

Which shorts are best?

I know that there are a lot of brands out there but I've narrowed my field down the these few, which would you choose?
1. Zoot Ultra Fit Tri Short - $85
2. DeSoto Power Tri Short (4-Pockets) - $68
3. Louis Garneau Tri Power shorts - $59
4. Orca Men's Race Tri Pant - $49

Newport Beach Triathlon

UpdateI have been frequenting many of the online triathlon community forums to garner support for bringing back the Newport Beach Triathlon. I ended up getting some great responses, particularly so from slowtwitch.com and Dan Empfield. I won't get into the details here but if you'd like to find out more please click on the link below.

Click Here to see the Newport Beach Tri thread on slowtwitch.com

After hearing other perspectives, I feel I may have started out on my quest with a little too much gusto. I don't however feel differently about bringing back the Newport Beach Triathlon. I strongly believe that we need to support our sport and the loss of this race hurts the triathlon community. By reading the thread on slowtwich you'll see a more even view of the issue than I have mentioned in my last post.

Injustice against Triathlon?

Our sport being attacked by the city of Newport Beach, CA which is taking away the roads on which we ride and run. There are a few people in city government that did not want to see the Newport Beach Tri race continue becuase it "did not have an addequate traffic plan". However, the race only has streets closed for 2 hrs on 1 Sunday morning from 7am-9am. The race has been on the same plan for 28 years with no traffic complaints or accidents reported to race organizers. Please read to learn a little more about this situation and why it is important to all triathletes.

I'm trying to save this race because the public shouldn't be marginalized becuase a few elite find us inconvenient. I want the city to see that triathlons and sport in general matters to the public. If we lose this race now we will not be able to enjoy racing on the streets of Newport again. One of the draws to our sport is the ability to race on the streets of great locations. The city streets are public land that should be shared by all, 2 hours of inconvenience for the wealthy residents of Newport Beach should not justify the shutting down of a race that over 1,000 people from all over the country get to race, watch, and volunteer at. Don't let Newport Beach be a model for other great locales, don't let themshutdown this race for fear that other elite communities may be next.

IT IS SIMPLE TO HELP OUR DRIVE:
Go to Newport Beach City Council and click on the envelope which will send an email to all City Council members in Newport Beach.

The goal is to send 500 individual emails before this Thursday 3/9/06. We can't do it without your help.

More about Newport Beach:

For those who do not know, Newport Beach is an upper class beautiful costal city with trails, bays, and beaches. It is considered an exclusive area and many of us know it for it's depiction in the interantional TV show "The OC". The Newport Beach Tri is one of the few races that allow people to participate in an organized bay swim, ride, and run on Newport Beach roads. Now the city is taking it away because it causes a "traffic problem". A "problem" that has never been addressed to the race organization until this year.

More about the race and issue:

Go to the race site it has a link to a news article and letters from race sponsors and planners. Pacific Sports Newport Beach

According to a letter from the race organizers, the city planner said a year ago that "he could not understand why we would hold such a small event" and "we should look for another location outside the city."

Thanks for your support.