By the time you get to February, you need a break from the Canadian winter. It still reads minus-whatever on the thermometer and the snow is piling up. After months of hammering out the hours on the trainer, enduring dull efforts on the treadmill and having your hair freeze between the pool and the parking lot, you deserve better.
The solution? An early season race-cation. It’s something to look forward to throughout the winter that will keep you inspired and training hard as you gear up for your 2019 season.
Just a short flight from Toronto, Bermuda is a tiny Carribean island that offers the perfect early season race-cation.
On April 27th, the world’s best short course triathletes will compete at the World Triathlon Series (WTS) race in Bermuda, and you can join them. WTS Bermuda offers both a sprint and Olympic-distance race that will give you a chance to shake off the rust and kick off your race season in tropical bliss.
The swim is in the beautiful waters of the Atlantic, followed by a challenging bike course and a scenic run along Hamilton’s Front Street.
In case the escape from winter isn’t enticing enough, here are five reasons why you should head to WTS Bermuda in April.
Easy travel
For triathletes that make anywhere east of Toronto home, getting to Bermuda is an easy one-way trip from most major airports. Direct from Toronto, it’s a two-and-a-half-hour flight that gets you from white snowy sidewalks to white sandy beaches.
Get your speed in early
Come April, most of us aren’t ready for an early season Ironman. WTS Bermuda offers you the chance to test your winter training with a sprint or Olympic-distance triathlon. Especially if you have big plans to go longer in 2019, a ‘quick’ sprint in paradise isn’t a bad start to the season.
The course makes it worth it – fun, but challenging
The Bermuda course is not easy. Starting and ending in Hamilton, triathletes swim in the clear waters of the harbour and then bike through hilly island terrain. One of the highlights of the bike course will be climbing Corkscrew Hill. The signature challenge of the course, Corkscrew Hill is a steep effort with multiple hairpin turns. After all that, you finish it off with a run past the candy-coloured buildings on Hamilton’s city streets.
Make it a trip
What’s better than racing in a tropical destination and being able to relax after? WTS Bermuda gives you the perfect opportunity to do just that. Plan your stay a few extra days longer (or earlier) and enjoy all that this tropical island has to offer. From their sandy beaches to crystal clear waters and world-renowned Crystal Caves, Bermuda has plenty of activities to unwind, relax and explore.
Watch world-class talent live
In 2019, Javier Gomez will be making his return to short course racing with the objective of making the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Once unbeatable on the ITU circuit, Gomez will be going up the likes of Mario Mola, Richard Murray, Jake Birtwhistle, Henri Schoeman and a bunch of young 20 somethings eager to prove themselves against the best. Don’t forget Flora Duffy. In 2018, Duffy ran away from everyone at WTS Bermuda. Expected to return from a year of injuries, Duffy will go up against the likes of Katie Zaferes and Vicky Holland.
