Conrad Stoltz wins XTerra West Champs

Conrad Stoltz wins XTerra West Championships making it 6 wins in 7 years

(Photo by Rich Cruse)

Conrad Stoltz swam well, biked like a superstar and ran strong in the horrendously hot conditions of the XTerra West Championship event in Temecula, California. A great start to his 2008 season which will see him racing both the USA and the Europe circuits for the first time ever.

This was just the start he had hoped for and a great performance considering he is still in his base training phase!

GREAT JOB CONRAD !

Leonardo Chacon - A young man with the heart of a lion

Leonardo Chacon (COSTA RICA)

Today I pay tribute to a young man with the heart of a lion! At a time where Leonardo Chacon (COSTA RICA) has almost watched his 2008 Olympic hopes and dreams fade away with bad luck (a crash in Mooloolaba, Australia and then a plastic packet getting stuck in his back derrailleur of his bike and totally putting him out of the race) he has jumped onto yet another long haul flight this time to South Africa and run his way into an excellent 16th spot at the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup blowing new life into his possible Olympic journey. Bad luck nearly ruined it again for him though when his bike box went missing on the flight from the USA only to arrive in Richards Bay on the morning of the race! Despite all of this he stayed focussed on the job at hand and delivered one of his very best world cup performances of his career.

In my books Leo is a superstar in the making with an attitude that will stand him in good stead in his triathlon career for many years to come.

Leo - you were the highlight of theWorld Cup week-end for me! There will be many more great days for you in the future!

Triathlon South Africa supports incredible project in KwaZulu Natal

SA Elite Triathletes with leading "Tree- Entrepenuer" Thobela at his nursery.

TSA President - Gideon Sam and his Elite Team along with some of competitors at duathlon event.

South Africa's Elite Triahtletes with the some 464 competitors

in the Esikhawini Community Challenge

In KwaZulu Natal, the Wildlands Trust has initiated an indigenous tree growing project with the community to generate income for this impoverished community. The seedling trees are then sold by the Wildlands Trust to companies that rehabilitate land disturbed through mining and other activities. The young "Tree-preneurs" earn a money value for each tree they grow up to a height of 30 cm and can then exchange this for needed goods. Once they have grown 150 such trees they earn a bicycle and a helmet of their own and are encouraged to participate in multi-sport events.

All but 6 of the of the 464 competitors at the duathlon event held over the Richards Bay BG Triathlon World Cup week-end have already grown their 150 trees and been presented with their brand new yellow bicycles and helmets and lined up at the Esikhawini Community Challenge for what was a tremendous event and a wonderful sport development initiative.

I felt both humbled and privileged to be part the day.