Africas first 5150 Triathlon set to get triathletes and pulses racing in Bela Bela this August!
30 May 2011
5150 is a standard distance, non-drafting triathlon series with the same level of prestige and quality that Ironman and Ironman 70.3 athletes have become accustomed to. The race consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run which adds up to 51.5km, hence the name, 5150.
Entries to this inaugural event will open online on Tuesday 31 May 2011. World Endurance South Africa is offering athletes an Early-Bird Entry Special of only R695 from 31 May 2011 to 10 June 2011. Normal entry is R800 while team entries are R1000. Athletes who are not registered with Triathlon South Africa will be required to purchase a day license for R30.
Forever Resorts Warmbaths will be the host venue of inaugural race of the South African 5150 series and will therefore become the starting point for the rest of the series. Tom Biewenga, Senior General Manager of the resort is as excited as anyone that the event will be hosted at Forever Resorts Warmbaths.
“We are excited and look forward to form part of such a prestigious event. Hosting an international event such as [the 5150], will be another feather that Forever Resorts Warmbaths can put in its cap. All of our efforts and considerations that benefit the Resort is always extended to the region and growing Bela Bela as a competitive tourist destination to become a force to be reckoned with not only in the Province but also in the country,” said Biewenga.
Bela Bela is a fantastic tourist destination and with the 5150 triathlon bringing in athletes from all over the country, Forever Resorts Warmbaths is introducing a special offer for athletes with a 20% discount on the resort’s world class accommodation.
The series takes the format of the standard distance triathlon which was put together by the fusion of three freestanding Olympic events into one triathlon (1500m open water swim, 40km cycling time trial and 10km road run). This happened back in 1989. Since 2000 this racing distance has been taken into the Olympics, with the alteration that the cycling leg became draft legal.
The new race in Bela Bela is the first of a series of races in cities around South Africa and is set to take the region, and soon the country, by storm. 1300 athletes are set to make history by taking part in South Africa’s very first 5150 on Saturday 13 August 2011. Athletes can compete either individually or as part of a team with individual age-group athletes competing for a qualifying slot to the Hy-Vee 5150 US Championships. Elite athletes will compete not only for their share of the prize purse, but also for series points for the Hy-Vee 5150 US Championships.
“This is the first race in the series and we hope to build it into a big series in years to come. We want to ensure that each race is successful and we are confident that we can establish one of the biggest 5150 events in the world. There is no better place to start than Bela Bela as it lends itself to the philosophy of 5150. The region is geared up for an exciting weekend of racing and family fun!” said Keith Bowler, Managing Director of World Endurance South Africa.
Besides being the next big thing in triathlon circles, the 5150 series is one of the most lucrative standard distance triathlon series’ in the world with a local prize purse of US $10 000 culminating in the Hy-Vee 5150 US Championships boasting a staggering prize purse of US $1.5 million.
“Bela Bela is a superb race venue with an average day time temperature in August of 24 degrees. For the racing snakes the race is well placed, five weeks after the ATU Triathlon Champs and three weeks before the ITU World Triathlon Champs in Beijing. For the rest of us, this is a great kick-off to the season with lots of fun at Forever Resorts Warmbaths in the Bushveld. A Saturday afternoon race, an evening party followed by the Pritt Ironkids on Sunday morning will all add up to one fantastic weekend,” added Werner Smit, 5150 Race Director.
Along with the 5150 triathlon, Forever Resorts Warmbaths will also play host to the region’s very first Pritt Ironkids aquathlon. The Pritt Ironkids is already an institution in South Africa with the world’s biggest event taking place annually in Port Elizabeth as a side event to the world renowned Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa. Bela Bela now has its very own kids event with the Pritt Ironkids taking place on Sunday 14 August at 09:00. Kids between the ages of 6 and 13 years can be part of this fun-filled event. Entry fee is only R100 and will see kids receiving a T-shirt, unique finisher medal, goodie bag and certificate, not even mentioning the bags of fun to be had!
Bela Bela and Forever Resorts Warmbaths can gear itself up for a weekend like no other as the first 5150 triathlon hits African shores and the Pritt Ironkids comes to Bela Bela!
Please wait!
