It’s back! The Cal Tri Big Bear is back! It’s been a few years since Big Bear was able to host this annual triathlon, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that the race is back to stay! A triathlon is hard enough, but at an altitude of 6800 feet, it becomes even more of a challenge. Luckily, Big Bear is one of the prettiest places on Earth, so you can enjoy the scenery as you fight your way through the competition. Of course, it might be better to enjoy the gorgeous scenery before and after the race, and not so much during!
Triathlon Details and Options
Held at the end of August, the Cal Tri features 14 events this year. There are 7 Olympic distance events and 7 Sprint distance events. Both distance events include a triathlon, triathlon relay, Run-Bike-Run, swim-run, and bike-run. The Olympic distance events include a 1640-yard swim and a 10K run, while the sprint distance events include a 400-yard swim and a 5K run. The triathlon is the standard swim + bike + run, and the triathlon relay has 2 or 3 athletes combined to complete the triathlon.
Fun Facts
The early triathlons included a run, cycle, and canoe event, including the first recorded triathlon, held in Paris in 1910. After 1920, swimming replaced the canoe portion of the event. The triathlon was first included at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000.
Triathletes can burn up to 10,000 calories during the race, and the average participant loses about 5.5 pounds each race. It’s kind of gross, but peeing in their pants is normal for a triathlete. No time for bathroom breaks while you’re racing!
More Details on the Cal Tri Bend
Participants can be any age from 7 and up. In fact, there’s a 50% youth discount for participants who are 7 to 22. And as with any Cal Tri event, you don’t need a tri bike. Almost any bike that you feel comfortable on will work, you don’t need the louder, more expensive, more aerodynamic tri bike. For more event FAQS, Covid-19 policies, course map, and online registration visit the Cal Tri Bend website.
If you can’t participate, but want to watch the race, the swim segments take place in Big Bear Lake, and the biking and running segments start at Big Bear Lake Visitor’s Center. Book one of our popular 1 bedroom cabins near Big Bear Lake so you can watch all the action. Give us a call today!