Camino at Noosa Triathlon 2018
There are few races on the triathlon racing calendar that hold a prestige higher then most. Winning them makes you a champion. Can shape your career and can throw you into the limelight. For the age groupers just completing these races is so satisfying it drives your season forward, leaving you with that finishers high and a new-found hunger, drive and motivation to spur on your season. This weekend we race one of these races, a bucket list tri for any Triathlete – the Noosa Tri.
From its humble beginnings in 1983 the first Noosa Tri brought 180 competitors to the shores of Sunshine Beach where helmets were optional, wetsuits were not allowed, and competitors were lost on the course. Since then the event has grown to be the largest triathlon event and largest Multi Sport Festival in the southern hemisphere, booking out year after year in a matter of minutes. It now attracts 8500 competitors each year in the triathlon event alone and an estimated 1500 more competing in other events held across the 5 day festival. The main events highlighted across the weekend are the Olympic Distance Triathlon held on Sunday which attracts some of the best professional athletes to battle for the prestigious Noosa win. On the events Super Saturday, the Australian Open Criterium and the Noosa Bolt feature on the program, which attract strong international cyclist and runners who also want a slice of the Noosa glory.
The event boasts an impressive honour roll with past winners including Miles Stewart, Emma Carney, Brad Beven, Loretta Harrop, Michelle Dillon, Chris McCormack, Courtney Atkinson, Emma Snowsill, Craig Walton and our very own Ash Gentle. Ash is a 5-time winner of the event which equals Emma Snowsill's record. Ash has the chance this weekend to go one better and become the Queen of Noosa equalling her previous coach, Craig Walton’s record of six Noosa wins. Off the back of what has been an incredible season for Ash after her win at the ITU World Champs and the Nepean Triathlon last weekend we have no doubt she can and will leave no stone unturned in her pursuit to accomplish this record. Also toeing the line with Ash will be comrade Nat Van Coevorden who is also in top form coming off the back of a 3rd place last weekend at the Nepean Tri. We are excited to see the girls out there giving it their all. In the men’s field Ryan Miller will be tackling the course searching for his first Noosa Open Male title.
On Saturday our boys in the Camino Ride Team will be taking on the tight ‘hot dog’ circuit around Noosa Parade in the Australian Open Criterium. Year after year the even has held host to a big-name field attracting local and international cyclist to the event. On a course where no one can hide we have a strong team rolling out, With solid races under their belts in the QTRS over the past few weeks we are excited to see them ripping around the course.
If you are in the area on the weekend. Come down and say hi. We will be at the expo and then out on the course cheering for our Comrades out their flying the flag before putting our feet up on Sunday arvo and cracking a few beers to celebrate the epic seasons our athletes have had.
