Cal Tri Events is pleased to announce our 2024 race season awards. Many people and organizations made 2024 a huge success. We want to thank everyone who supported our athletes as we bring safe, affordable and accessible to more communities. The 2025 calendar starts with 2025 Athletica Cal Tri Austin – 3.30.25. Our 2024 awardees are:
- Top Race – Optimism Cal Tri Newport Dunes
- Started in 1978 as the Human Race Triathlon, Optimism Cal Tri Newport Dunes is the longest running triathlon in the world operating from the same location. A record 2,140 athletes registered for the race with KTLA providing 5 hours of remote video and the LA Times doing both pre race and race day coverage. The Cal Tri Events Top Race Award goes to The City of Newport Beach, California Fish & Wildlife, The Newport Dunes and Title Sponsor, Optimism.
- Top Venue – Cal Tri Lake Perris
- The Cal Tri Lake Perris race course and a plethora of overnight camping facilities are enclosed within the Lake Perris State Recreational Area, located just minutes from restaurants, shopping and entertainment. A SoCal multisport playground, Lake Perris provides excellent police, lifeguard and operational race support year after year. The Cal Tri Events Top Venue Award goes to Lake Perris State Recreation Area.
- Top Team/Club – Fort Worth Tri Club
- Fort Worth Tri Club, the rare club with the capacity to provide a full complement of both athletes and volunteers to support a race, was instrumental in the success of Cal Tri Fort Worth. Led by Bob Kilinski, Fort Worth Tri Club is a tight- knit and welcoming organization that supports athletes at all levels and values participation over performance. The Cal Tri Events Top Team/Club Award goes to Fort Worth Tri Club.
- Top Charity Group – Windsor High School Cheer
- Kendall Jackson Cal Tri Sonoma, a fast point to point race course, would not be possible without the enthusiastic support of Windsor High School Cheer. The WHS Cheer Team & their coaches were committed to every aspect of the race, including packet assembly, registration, course setup and teardown- not to mention athlete support at both Johnson’s Beach & WHS. For all their efforts, Cal Tri Events was pleased to present a $10,000 check in both 2023 and 2024. The Cal Tri Events Top Charity Group goes to Windsor High School Cheer.
- Top Race Captain – Rick Crump
- Rick Crump, a former Division I runner at Virginia Tech and race director of Swim The Avenues and the Redondo Beach Triathlon, has materially upgraded the race production of Cal Tri Events west coast races. He and his wife Connie, parents of triplets- probably the best preparation for a multisport lifestyle- are always eager to share their expertise. The Cal Tri Events Top Race Captain goes to Rick Crump.
- Top Sponsor – Kendall Jackson
- Triathlon returned to Sonoma County in 2023 with the launch of Kendall Jackson Cal Tri Sonoma. Besides being the title sponsor, Kendall Jackson looked for ways to contribute to our race series like providing coveted podium awards and hosting a wine pour after select races. In 2024, athletes were invited to the Kendall Jackson Estate post race for a courtesy wine pour. 2025 brings a significant upgrade: the La Crema Estate at Saralee’s Vineyard will be the site for the second transition area, run course, finish line and post- race celebration HQ. The Cal Tri Events Top Sponsor goes to Kendall Jackson.
- Hall Of Fame – Anthony Grey
- We are pleased to announce that Anthony Grey is the founding member of the Cal Tri Events Hall of Fame. Anthony has been supporting California Triathlon and Cal Tri Events since 2013, serving in various capacities. He currently serves as Cal Tri Events Treasurer and Fundraising Lead. But his range of contributions have included leading swim clinics at Playa del Rey, fundraising at Taylor Swift concerts at SoFi and driving a support vehicle from Sonoma to Los Angeles. The first member of the Cal Tri Events Hall of Fame is Anthony Grey.
- Club 25 – None
- Cal Tri Events is pleased to announce Club 25, the ultimate VIP race perk that awards free races for life after an athlete completes their twenty- fifth Cal Tri race. Additionally, Club 25 membership will include VIP racking and an all-access wristband allowing athletes to skip packet pick- up race morning. Every Cal Tri Events race from 2015 to the present is eligible. We foresee that the founding member of Club 25 will be eligible in 2025.