Laguna Phuket Triathlon 1999
ColinDun
While the majority of visitors to the island of Phuket come for the relaxing
vacation they've dreamed of by enjoying the magnificent beaches, the crystal
clear waters of the Andaman Sea and scenic beauty of the Phuket countryside,
others come for an entirely different reason.
Each year in October or November the Laguna Phuket resort hosts between 400
and 500 athletes as they participate in the annual Thai Airways
International Laguna Phuket Triathlon presented by the Tourism Authority of
Thailand. This grueling race incorporates three different and demanding
disciplines; swimming, bicycling and running.
The 1998 Thai Airways Laguna Phuket Triathlon witnessed 420 lycra- clad men
and women sprint into the calm sea in front of the Sheraton Grande Laguna
Beach hotel to begin an 1800 meter swim. One of the unique aspects of the
Laguna Phuket Triathlon swim leg is that it comprises two separate bodies of
water. Firstly athletes swim 1500 meters in the Andaman Sea, then a short
jaunt across the beach takes them into a lagoon for the final 300 meter swim
exiting at the Laguna Beach Resort. Upon exiting the water the athletes
enter the transition area where they don helmets and bike shoes for the
start of the 55-kilometer bike race. The pros manage this transition feat in
less than 20 seconds!
The bike section of the 1998 Laguna Phuket Triathlon took the athletes out
of the Laguna resort complex through the local villages of Bang Tao, Surin
and Kamala, along serpentine roads hugging the hillsides over looking the
spectacular coastline of Phuket. Upon arrival at Patong Beach the cyclists
turned around for the return journey to Laguna Phuket traveling past lush
green rice patties where pink water buffalo barely paused in their grazing
to watch the bikers pedal by at speeds of up to 40 KPH.
After re-entering the transition area at Laguna Beach Resort the athletes
change from cycle mode to marathon running where a whole different set of
muscles, especially the one between the ears, come into play. The 12
kilometer run takes the athletes past the Dusit Laguna and Allamanda Laguna
Phuket hotels and out of the Laguna Phuket complex through small villages
where obstacles can range from local dogs, chickens, excited children on
bicycles and the occasional slow-moving domestic pig crossing the road!
The Triathlon finish line is located at the entrance to the exclusive Banyan
Tree Phuket resort, where every athlete who crosses the finish line receives
a medal as recognition of completing the Thai Airways Laguna Phuket
Triathlon. With a full medical facility at the finish line, anyone needing
assistance with blisters, muscle cramps or dehydration receives immediate
help from the staff of trained nurses and doctors.
In 1998 Australian Marc Lees participating in his first Laguna Phuket
Triathlon won the race in a time of 2:29:03. He has promised to defend this
title in 1999. On the woman's front fellow Australian Jackie Gallagher
crossed the finish line ahead of American Ironman athlete, Sian Welch in a
time of 2:42:57.
The 1999 Thai Airways Laguna Phuket Triathlon will take place on Saturday 06
November with the gun going off at 8:00 AM. This year the pro field of
athletes reads like a "whose who" of the best of the best. Competing for
prize money of $ 30,000 US this year: the current Ironman Triathlon World
Champion, Peter Reid from Canada; defending champion Marc Lees; World
Triathlon Champion, Jackie Gallagher defending her 1997 and 1998 Laguna
Phuket championship title; 3-time US National Champion, Mike Pigg; fellow
American Wendy Ingraham, Ironman Australia Champion; and 4-time Australian
Long Distance Triathlon Champion, Australian Chris Legh. Two of the
strongest women in Ironman Triathlon today, Canadians Lori Bowden, Ironman
Australia Champion and Heather Fuhr, Ironman Triathlon World Champion will
round out the professional field.
Of special interest in this years race is the opportunity to win coveted
Australian and Hawaiian Ironman qualifier slots. The Laguna Phuket Triathlon
will be offering 25 qualifying slots for the year 2000 Ironman Australia and
15 slots for the year 2000 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. For
amateurs around the world the chance for an Ironman qualifying slot is pure
gold as they are limited in number and represent the elite of the sport.
This year Polar Heart Rate Monitors join the line up of sponsors and are
currently working on plans for a great promotion
For any of our inflight passengers interested in entering the 1999 Thai
Airways International Laguna Phuket Triathlon please contact Debbie
Dionysius, Event Manager, Laguna Phuket Triathlon, Tel: (66 76) 324 060,
Fax: (66 76) 324 061,
Application forms are on the website
Email: tria...@lagunaphuket.com or visit our website
www.lagunaphuket.com/sports/triathlon.htm
SteveBlum
>The Laguna Phuket Triathlon will be offering 25 qualifying
>slots for the year 2000 Ironman Australia and 15 slots for
>the year 2000 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.
Laguna Phuket wasn't on the list of Y2K IM qualifiers that was announced by WTC
last week. Did something change?
Steve Blum (stev...@aol.com)
Tellus Venture Associates
"Certainly the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you;
if you don't bet, you can't win." R.A.H.