Island House Invitational Triathlon pulls world’s best triathletes to Bahamas
Gwen Jorgensen, Tim Don and more drawn by $500k prize purse this November
A unique new two-day event will be held on a private island in the Bahamas this November, called the Island House Invitational Triathlon and counting 20 of the world’s best athletes including reigning ITU champ Gwen Jorgensen.
Race directors and pro triathletes Luke McKenzie and Beth Gerdes are promising a $500,000 prize purse, to be paid 10 deep across both men and women.
Confirmed athletes already include Gwen Jorgensen, Lisa Norden, Tim Don, Ben Hoffman, Leanda Cave, Luke McKenzie, Heather Wurtele, Trevor Wurtele, Rachel Joyce, Leon Griffin, Barrett Brandon, and Lauren Brandon.
Wildcard invitations to the top athletes across distances will be made in the coming months and a full roster will be confirmed by September. Expected invitees include the 2015 Ironman, 70.3, and ITU World Champions.
The innovative race structure will include individual time trials and races that mix up the traditional order and distances of swim-bike-run. Similar to the cycling model, the Island House Invitational will feature swim, bike, run, and overall classification leader’s jerseys and prizes.
“I’ve always wanted to create an event similar to the enduro format that excited me so much as a spectator and racer in the 1990’s,” said McKenzie. “After talking with Mark (Holowesko, owner of The Island House hotel), we realised that by working together, we could make it happen in a really amazing way.”
Gerdes tells 220 that there will be a one-hour television show broadcast internationally after the race, as well as live timing and social media throughout the event. To learn more about the race, visit: www.islandhousetriathlon.com.
[This article was updated on 6 May to include details of the prize purse]
220 Triathlon Team
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