Malibu appears to have dumped Super League and given the triathlon race permit back to the previous race director
After selling the Malibu Triathlon in 2020, Michael Epstein appears to have regained the only triathlon permit available for the city
Photo by:
Malibu Triathlon/ Ryan Bethke
In a crazy turn of events it appears that the former race director/ owner of the Malibu Triathlon, Michael Epstein, who sold the race to Super League Triathlon in 2020, has somehow managed to win back the only triathlon permit granted in the city, leaving Super League without a race.
The Malibu Triathlon has a long history as one of the sport’s most high-profile races, having attracted big name stars like Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, James Marsden, Matthew McConaughey and Zac Ephron. The race also has a long history of raising money for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
Super League’s woes with the Malibu event over the last few months kicked into high gear a few weeks before this year’s race when it appeared that the race wouldn’t be granted the necessary permits thanks to a combination of a flooded underpass, an endangered fish and issues around public notification. The Malibu Planning Commission rejected a permit application to change the race route last week because it was too late to meet a required 32-day public notice period. When heavy rains flooded the underpass the course follows from Zuma Beach an endangered fish, the tidewater goby, was found in the floodwater, so the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife won’t let organizers build a bridge over the water. That meant organizers had to come up with a different route, but when they submitted a new permit application, they were told they were too late to meet the 32 days of public notice required. A last minute appeal saved the day, allowing the age group triathlon and Super League Triathlon event to take place.
Earlier this week Super League Triathlon CEO Michael Dhulst reached out to former racers, asking them to contact Malibu City Council members and encourage them to “advocate for our continued management of the Malibu Triathlon.”
“Malibu City Council is presently evaluating the fate of the Malibu Triathlon, and a decision is due early in December,” Dhulst wrote. “The council is considering three options for the Malibu Triathlon: cancellation, returning the event permit to MESP (Michael Epstein Sports Productions), or continuing with us. Returning the permit to MESP, who sold it for commercial gain, raises ethical concerns and necessitates a name change due to IP issues. This option disregards our ongoing commitment to reviving the event post-COVID, the efforts done in fundraising, and our positive community impact. Cancelling the event or transferring the permit would also diminish its significant contributions to CHLA’s pediatric cancer research.”
Today Epstein sent his own email to former race participants, letting them know that the “Zuma Foundation” (he signed off as the CEO), would now be putting on the Malibu Event.
“I wanted to assure you that triathlon is alive and well in Malibu,” Epstein wrote. “I wanted to provide you with an update on the current status.”
“Last year – the City of Malibu voted unanimously to form a special committee to review the Road Races in Malibu,” the email continued. “The result of that 6-month review was another unanimous decision to allow all interested parties to submit their proposal for putting on Road Races in the City of Malibu for the next five years. That review process was completed and a third unanimous decision was issued by the Road Race committee to award the triathlon event to the Zuma Foundation, a Non-Profit Corporation created by Malibu Residents to not only raise funds for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, but to also support local youth initiatives.”
“Malibu City Staff and the Malibu City Attorney have prepared a five-year agreement between the Zuma Foundation and the City of Malibu,” Epstein wrote. “Final approval of the recommended agreement by the Malibu City Council will take place on December 11, 2023.  If you are interested, please see the Council Agenda Report for a full description of the recommended action to be taken by the Malibu City Council.”
The Council Agenda Report appears to confirm Epstein’s points. The city “may grant a maximum of two temporary use permits for marathons, triathlons and cycling events per year,” which means that if Epstein gets the contract, Super League will be unable to put on an event in the city, even at a different time of year.
The document also includes five-year contracts between the City and Malibu Race Series LLC for a 5 km and half-marathon, along with another contract between the City and Zuma Foundation Inc. for a triathlon event. The contract stipulates that the event will not have more than 4,000 participants and will “donate not less than $100,000 each year for the term of the Agreement to Malibu youth based community-oriented charitable organizations …”
The report also includes maps for a “sprint” event – .5 mile (800 m) swim, 18 mile (30 km) bike and 4 mile (6.4) run, along with an “Olympic” distance race – 1.5 km/ 40 km/ 10 km. The event will also include the Zuma Foundation’s Triathlon for Kids.
We’ve reached out to Super League and the Zuma Foundation for comment, but have not heard back. We also reached out to Marianne Riggins, a council member for the City of Malibu, who replied but referred our email to city staff members. We have not heard back from them. We’ll update this story with any replies.
Regardless of what we learn, it looks like Malibu City Council’s Dec. 11 meeting will be one triathletes around the world will be watching with interest.
