Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship
WAITSFIELD – On April 12, America’s “only four sport triathlon” took place, celebrating spring and sports in Vermont.
Between the end of ski season and the beginning of mud season, it’s unusual for the weather to align to host all four sports. Most years, the water level has been too high or there’s been too much snow.
This year, the conditions allowed the unique four sport “triathlon” to take place in full: a 6-mile run, a 6-mile paddle down Mad River, a 12-mile bike ride and a 2.5-mile ski.
Finishers celebrated on Mt. Ellen at Sugarbush with beer, music and awards.
The triathlon celebrates the beauty of the valley and raises funds to benefit four local conservation and recreation nonprofits, according to the event website.
“We really want to celebrate spring with our community,” said Luke Foley, education and outreach manager of Friends of the Mad River.
“It’s important to get a lot of local people out, but we also want to make sure that it’s a nice draw for tourism as well, as mud season is a terrible time for local businesses,” he said.
Overall, there were 390 participants, including roughly 90 individual competitors along with several teams and relay groups.
“People can race together, meaning they do the entire thing side by side. Or then you can do relays of two, three, four, five people. So there would be one person per leg, and then the five person teams have two people in it, like in a canoe, for instance,” Foley said.
The triathlon drew participants of all ages. Some kids’ relay teams that allowed children as young as 10 to participate, and other individuals or teams included including people over the age of 70. Some people participated in some of the legs, while others completed all four, finishing later in the afternoon at Sugarbush.
Finishing the race allowed people to grab a beer, listen to the band Ragged Company, and put their name in for the silent auction.
The event ended with an award ceremony. It consisted of non-traditional awards like worst and best sportsmanship, best costume, and best theme. Following this were the traditional awards for groups and individual finishing times and overall speed.
The “Biker Chicks” team participated in all four sports at the triathlon. The pair said that the canoe paddle down the river was their favorite leg of the race.
“There was one big-ish drop,” Adam Cummings said. “At least it felt big to me. The people right in front of us were yelling all these things about like, well it seemed like they knew what they were doing. And then they flipped!”
“Neither of us have canoed down a river before, so we didn’t really know what we were doing, but we figured it out,” said his team partner, who gave his name as Fritz. “It was really fun, and we even stayed dry!”
People would be stationed at more difficult sections of the river to fish people out in case they ran into trouble, though in instances like the one mentioned. Although the water was never more than waist deep.
The “Biker Chicks” explained how the option to rent gear was given, but most people, as well as them, borrowed various gear, a canoe, skis, bikes, from family and friends. Or, they used their own.
“I don’t do any of these activities on the regular,” Cummings said. “But Fritz asked me two weeks ago if I wanted to sit in the front of his canoe, so I said yes.”
While many teams or pairs like the Biker Chicks participated, numerous individuals tested their strength and determination as well. Allison Forbes travelled from Washington D.C. to participate in the unique four- sport triathlon. Having family from Vermont, her uncle owning Knoll Farm in Waitsfield, and also going to college in New Hampshire, Forbes was familiar with the area.
“I knew I wanted to do the triathlon because it combines the things that you can do at this unique moment of the season,” Forbes said. She spent a lot of time in Vermont this past winter, training and preparing.
“I even got a place up here so I could be near my uncle on the farm, and so I could really train for it. I was really committed this year. There’s also just enjoying and being in the area, so I counted that as training too,” she said.
Forbes said that people in Vermont, specifically in the race, were “hardcore.” She noted that she didn’t really see anyone stopping at all during the race to take a break or catch their breath. It was all go go go.
“The whole thing was very daunting,” Forbes said.
“I just wanted to finish, and then eventually I figured out that I was going to finish. So then I really just wanted to make sure that I didn’t bonk myself or get injured,” she said.
There were many safety notices and precautions prior to the race, with heaps of information online to assist and help participants navigate and safely finish the race.
Forbes said that she would be riding this high for many months to come. After some Advil, of course.
“The vibe was really good out there, and everyone was super supportive of each other,” she said.. “Overall, I feel good. I’m glad I did it.”
Below are the results for men and women’s individual events.
INDIVIDUAL MEN’S RESULTS
1.) Kris Freeman, 2:34:05
2.) Cody Phillip, 2:42:06
3.) Cooper Eastrid 2:56:21
INDIVIDUAL WOMEN’S RESULTS
1.) Ernesta McIntos, 3:16:04
2.) Alexis Malcom, 3:26:13
3.) Hannah Sporn, 3:33:33