The Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival continues its meteoric rise in popularity again, smashing all previous records. Individual entries were snapped up in a day and teams not long after despite the increased capacity. Such is the event’s reputation and status on the Australian calendar.
The Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival is an end-of-season tradition and what better way to see out another Australian summer than this festival long weekend.
Just 18 months out from the London Olympic Games the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup gives athletes their first chance to start accumulating Olympic points in 2011, and the sport’s biggest names have chosen to start their season here.
This year the Mooloolaba Triathlon has the added status of being the ITU Triathlon Oceania Cup providing our rising stars the chance to earn valuable qualifying points while also hosting the prestigeous Australian Championships for elite athletes. Further, the event is also the second race of the National Triathlon Championship Series for age-group competitors hoping to gain selection to compete at the World Championships. The Mooloolaba Triathlon features as race #2 in the 2010/2011 Luke Harrop Bursary, the first race being Noosa and the final round on the Gold Coast, May 1. The Bursary provides financial assistance to Under23 athletes.
As the event towards its 20th anniversary in 2012, Mooloolaba’s history has played an auspicious role, and even more importantly in the development of the elite aspect of the sport in Australia. There is no doubt that both events are truly indicative of the strength and enthusiasm of Australian age-group triathletes, but Mooloolaba has also forged a very important position in the development of Australian elite triathletes at the highest possible level. The Oceania Championships will provide the next generation of aspiring elites the same opportunity in 2011.
140 of the world’s best triathletes will come together on Saturday 26 March (men at 2:45pm) and Sunday 28 March (women at 12:45pm) to contest the first leg of the International Triathlon Union’s (ITU) World Cup series.
Mooloolaba will be the final Olympic distance (1.5km swim | 40km bike | 10km run) race in Queensland prior to the 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series opener in Sydney on April 10.
Since the first Mooloolaba Triathlon in 1992 the event has grown to become the second largest triathlon in Australia behind its counterpart Noosa, which opens the triathlon season and just as popular.
The Olympic distance Mooloolaba Triathlon is the centrepiece of a 3-day multisport festival that celebrates the best of the Australian summer lifestyle, at one of the world’s premier beachside resort locations.
On Sunday morning 5,700 individual and team competitors take part in the Mooloolaba Triathlon.
Across the 3 days of events 9,000 competitors will have taken part and approximately 70,000 spectators enjoyed all the weekend has to offer.
Mooloolaba - what a way and place to see out another season. The course is idyllic, swimming in the warm, clean waters of the Pacific Ocean, riding along smooth roads with hinterland scenery and a stunning run course with ocean views the entire way.
The program is packed with all your favourites for 2011; Asics Twilight 5km Run, Australian Power and Gas Mooloolaba 1km Ocean Swim, The Courier-Mail Mooloolaba Superkidz Triathlon, Mooloolaba Triathlon and Mooloolaba Teams.
There is also the massive SEVEN Mooloolaba Sport and Lifestyle Expo which will be open across the three days. This year a bigger variety of exhibitors will be sampling, selling and displaying their products. Presentations on Sunday afternoon at the Wharf Tavern, and after party are a must.
Mooloolaba provides a unique blend of beach, harbour, parks and shopping with prime coastal strip panoramas.
The Mooloolaba Esplanade has a range of restaurants from beachfront cafes to fine dining and fabulous boutiques. The Mooloolaba Esplanade is a popular cosmopolitan area to relax, eat, watch the surf, just grab a coffee or take part in the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival.