Following a successful first outing in 2013, registration is now open for the 2014 HITS Triathlon Series event in Grand Junction, Colorado, on 17-18 May of next year. In 2013, after past successes with Colorado Parks & Wildlife, HITS introduced its Grand Junction event at Highline Lake State Park – ‘winning over both serious competitors and first timers alike.’
From course layout to available parking, HITS Race Director Mark H Wilson admits that HITS Triathlon Series may have found a permanent home in Colorado at Highline Lake State Park. “We have been looking for the right place for some time and we think we found it this year,” he said. “The Colorado community is so supportive of what we strive to accomplish and, based on the athlete feedback, there are so many opportunities for this event to grow.”
“This reminds me of the way racing used to be – in gorgeous parks like this,” said Tim Hola. Hola won the 2013 HITS Grand Junction Half. As one of the sport’s most accomplished age-group athletes in the US and a Team Timex member, Hola said that he wants to be a part of anything that is good for the sport of triathlon. “These grass-roots events make for a healthier sport and I love to be able to race in new places.”
Boasting the ‘a distance for everyone!’ mantra, HITS Triathlon Series will offer five distances in Grand Junction, including the Sprint, Olympic, Half, and Full, as well as the popular HITS Open, and will cap each at 500 athletes. Athletes will again enjoy a calm-water swim at Highline Lake, and bike and run courses at the foot of the Colorado mountains for the Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full distance events.
“The bike course is certainly a high point for this race,” said Heather Gollnick, a five-time World Champion who won the 2013 HITS Grand Junction Half for the women. “Climbing out against the wind and then getting to turn around and just fly is perfect.”
All 2014 HITS Triathlon events will offer qualifying opportunities for HITS Athlete of the Year Awards, which will be presented at the HITS Championship in Palm Springs, California, on 7-8 December 2014.
