Posted: August 12, 2005

Triathlon: Miami Beach/Ocean Drive To Host Tri-America Series Championship, October 1-2

Clermont, FL - The 2005 Tri-America Series Championship is heading to the beach.South Beach, that is!

After months of site visits and planning meetings with the City of Miami Beach, Sommer Sports has received the "OK" to bring the Tri-America Series Championship just a few miles north from where it was held last year, - the Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne - to world famous South Beach in the heart of the Miami Beach Art Deco District.

"All the hard work was well worth it," said Sommer Sports President/CEO Fred Sommer. "Key Biscayne was a fine event site, but the City of Miami Beach, and especially South Beach is a true Championship venue. The course will be outstanding, athletes will literally be able to get out of bed and walk across Ocean Drive to the transition area, and the aura that is South Beach will certainly lend to a triathlon experience like no other in South Florida."

Although Miami Beach has hosted other triathlons in the past, the Tri-America triathlon event site/race course will be a true original. The transition area will be located between 5th and 6th Streets, the finish line will be on the Serpentine Walkway between 9th and 10th Streets, and the registration/expo will take place on the patio next to the Lifeguard Station, located just across Ocean Drive from the great boutique hotels, restaurants and shops that make South Beach what it is.

"The race course for both the international and sprint distance races will be awesome!" notes Sommer. Both swims will take place in the ocean, and athletes will have just a short run on the hard packed South Beach sand back to the transition area. The bike course will take cyclists from South Beach over the McArthur Causeway, through beautiful downtown Miami, then back to the beach. It will be a single 12.4 mile course for the sprint competitors, while international distance athletes will do two loops. The entire run course will take place on the hard packed sands of South Beach before finishing on the Serpentine Walkway along Ocean Drive. Sprint competitors will run a 3.1 mile out and back course, while international athletes will battle a 6.2 mile out and back track.

Here's a look at the weekend schedule of events:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st

6:00am-7:45am - Tri-America Kids Triathlon Registration & Packet Pick-up

- Lifeguard Pavilion (Ocean Drive & 10th Street)

8:00am - Tri-America Kids Triathlon Race Start

- South Beach (Lummus Park)

11:00am-6:00pm - Tri-America Festival of Sports & Fitness/Triathlon Registration & Packet Pick-up

- Lifeguard Pavilion (Ocean Drive & 10th Street)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2nd

5:30am-7:00am - Tri-America Registration & Packet Pick-up

- Lifeguard Pavilion (Ocean Drive & 10th Street)

7:15am - International Distance Race Start

- South Beach (Lummus Park)

7:35am - Sprint Distance Race Start

- South Beach (Lummus Park)

10:30am-1:00pm - Tri-America Series Finale' Party

- Lifeguard Pavilion (Ocean Drive & 10th Street)

11:30am - Awards Ceremony followed by special 2006 Tri-America Series Announcement

- Lifeguard Pavilion (Ocean Drive & 10th Street)

The Tri-America Series is a family focused event weekend. One of the premier events of each weekend is the TriKidz Triathlon, for children between the ages of 7-14.

"We offer a scaled down version of the adult races for the next generation of young triathletes," notes Fred Sommer. "The kids enjoy the challenge and attention, parents and spectators provide the enthusiasm, and all the competitors go home happy and a winner because they came out, accomplished a great goal and had fun doing it."

The City of Miami Beach, a huge supporter of fitness related events has been a main cog in getting Tri-America to South Beach. In addition, the Ocean Drive Business Association has been overwhelmingly supportive.

"The business owners on the Commission were extremely receptive to Tri-America, and their support is greatly appreciated," said Sommer. "We look forward to doing our part to bring a lot of athletes and spectators to South Beach for Championship Weekend who will in turn bring a ton of economic impact to all local businesses."

Stay posted to the Tri-America Series website, - www.triamerica.com - for more information about Championship Weekend. This will include:

* Host Hotels
* Expo Vendors
* Local Sponsors
* Detailed course information
* Other special events and activities

The Championship event of the country's ONLY national triathlon series is a MUST race! Miami Beach is the PERFECT place to finish your season.we hope to see you there!

For additional information and to register for any of Championship Weekend's events, please visit www.triamerica.com . To speak to a member of the Sommer Sports staff, call (352) 394-1320.