THE CAL TRI RECIPE. The 2019 race season wrapped up at a sold-out 2019 Cal Tri Newport Dunes - 11.2.19 and athletes raised over $250,000 for Special Olympics and Crohn’s & Colitis. The Newport Beach Special Events Office shared that the race was one of the best produced events in recent memory. The safe, affordable and accessible “Cal Tri Recipe” was possible even in a city with a $1.8 million owner-occupied housing median value and median household income of $128,294.
EXPANSION PLANS. In early 2020, Cal Tri Events committed to expand nationally by bringing the “Cal Tri Recipe” to the Top 20 U.S. markets by 2022. Our definition of the perfect race venue is one that is within an hour of a major population center but not so close as to incur high emergency services fees that would overburden our safe, affordable and accessible model. It is helpful when a city views participation sports as a community health benefit as well as a tourism driver versus an opportunity to balance the city budget. We initiated discussions with the powers to be from coast to coast and followed up with site visits where the opportunities arose. The 2021 Cal Tri Events Calendar is a reflection of those efforts.
COVID-19 FALLOUT. Everyone’s 2020 plans took a major hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That includes athletes, coaches, triathlon clubs, charities, races, race registration companies and all the various organizations that support those ecosystems. Consolidation is the trend with a healthy number of race producers looking to sell their races in an uncertain market or shuttering operations until things get back to some version of normal. On a positive note, bike shops, which had been in decline for years, marked a significant uptick with more people looking for healthy outdoor options. Getting a new bicycle is no easy task for the first time in years.
2021 OUTLOOK. The 2021 race season might be different depending on which region of the country you reside. Grassroots races with smaller numbers where an overwhelming majority of the participants will sleep in their own bed probably have a leg up on larger races that rely on the “heads in beds” sports tourism business. Ironman 70.3 Arizona took place last Sunday and the limited finisher data suggests athletes, especially women, are cautious relative to a return to racing at this time.
Even races with a 40 year history can’t get confirmation of new race dates until January 2021 at the earliest. Many races that have arranged race dates have not opened registration due to an agreement with the venue or their own uncertainty relative to the financial viability of a reduced attendance event. Combine hesitancy on behalf of the athlete with uncertainty on behalf of the race and venue and it adds up to a very soft first half of 2021.
2021 ADVICE. Be optimistic, informed and ready to adapt.
- Just like in any other year, plan out your 2021 calendar and the associated training that comes with it. Identify your target races and then commit to the training.
- Remember that many 2021 races are already approaching capacity because of 2020 rollover athletes. 2021 Cal Tri Lake Monticello - 5.2.21 is approaching 500 athletes and will likely sell out.
- Pick races that have the best chance of happening. Many large marathons have already moved their events out of the first half of 2021 so registering for an early season marathon might not be your best bet.
- Understand the race refund, transfer and deferral policies. Athletes who registered for a 2020 Cal Tri race that was cancelled due to Covid-19 are allowed to transfer to any 2021 Cal Tri race and upgrade to any event as long as they do that by December 31, 2021. This wasn’t part of the original “no refund, transfer or deferral” policy.
- Typically any insurance you buy doesn’t include pandemic or epidemic. It has a very specific set of terms and conditions.