thumb|310px|right|Olympic race swimmers starting at Wildflower 2005

The Wildflower Triathlon was a triathlon (swim-bike-run race) held at Lake San Antonio in Central California from 1983 to 2019, the first winner being Dean "The Machine" Harper. It was held the first weekend in May each year.

The original course was expanded to the standardized half-Ironman distance (1.2 mi / 56 mi / 13.1 mi) in the late 1980s, and was often referred to as simply the long course. Two more races were subsequently been added to the event: an Olympic-distance (1.5 km / 40 km / 10 km) race and a short or "sprint" mountain-bike triathlon (0.25 mi / 9.7 mi / 2 mi).

Known for a particularly hilly and grueling course, it was one of the largest triathlon events in the world, with 7,500 athletes and 40,000 spectators attending each year at its peak. Traditionally it was associated with a Wildflower festival, though in later years the festival had been eclipsed by the increasingly large athletic event. A drastic drop in lake level in 2014 led to a modified course and lower attendance. Shortly after the 2015 event, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors announced it would close Lake San Antonio due to low water levels. The event was canceled in 2017 and 2019. It was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2023 it was announced that a new triathlon not associated with the previous Wildflower Triathlon would be held at the site. Wildflower organizers have announced their plans to bring back the race in May 2025.

Events

Long course

Distances

1.2 m Swim, 56 m Bike, 13.1 m Run

Swim course

The swim course began at the Lynch Ramp. The race started in waves, with the professional men, the professional women, age group men, age group women, and relay teams. Swimmers swam in a clockwise direction on a rectangular course. There were course marker buoys and lifeguards on kayaks lining the course. Swimmers exited the water, went up the ramp, through the timing area and into the transition area.

Bike course

The course was long and was considered relatively difficult. Triathletes left the transition area to the north and made a quick left through the finish line chute. Athletes followed the road down Shoreline Drive to the beach area and as it turned right up "Beach Hill", a steep climb. The course proceeded onto San Antonio Drive and out of the park onto Interlake Road past the first checkpoint at mile six. Bicyclists would proceed on Interlake Road over rolling hills before turning onto Jolon Road (19 miles). Triathletes would have small rolling hills along Jolon Road from mile 26 to 42. At mile 42, they followed Nacimiento left up "Nasty Grade", a nearly five-mile grade which climbs from bottom to top of "Heart Rate Hill." At the top of the hill they went back onto Interlake Road and then at the point made a right turn onto San Antonio Drive and headed back to the park. Finally, they descended Lynch Hill for the last descent.

Corporate sponsorship

The triathlon is owned and operated by See & Be Productions. It was previously sponsored by Avia and was known as the "Avia Wildflower Triathlons" until 2013. Jamba Juice was also a title sponsor of the event in the early 2000's.

See also

  • Wildflower: The Legendary California Triathlon

References

  • WildflowerTriathlon.com
  • Wildflower: The Documentary Film
  • A detailed description of the course