Posted: October 21, 2005

Triathlon: Powerful Tri-Dubai Team Dominates 2005 Ironman World Championships

Rookie Team Fills Half The Podium, Raises $8,000 For Charity, Shows A Strong Presence, Continues Discussions With New World Champion To Join Team In 2006

KONA, HI. OCT 21, 2005 – The powerful Tri-Dubai Professional Triathlon Team, which took the triathlon world by storm this season, dominated the podium at the 2005 Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI this weekend as Cameron Brown (2nd), Peter Reid (3rd) and Kate Major (3rd) earned the first-year team half the spots on the coveted podium. Tri-Dubia’s Joanna Lawn finished just 2:14 behind Major. Her 4th place finish gave the team two of the top four men and women in the race.

Both the men’s and women’s fields produced quick times. German triathlon star Faris Al-Sultan, 27, lead the field of 1822 athletes nearly from wire-to-wire to earn his first Ironman World Championship with a time of 8:14:17. Switzerland’s Natascha Badmann, 38, made a late move past Australian Michellie Jones, to finish in 9:09:30 and earn her sixth title and secure her place in Ironman lore.

What motivated Brown to pass his Tri-Dubai teammate Reid over the last 1.5 miles of the run?

“I thought of the money,” admitted Brown. “I have two kids, and he doesn’t.” The speedy Kiwi was surprised to find those kids (Joshua and Braden) along with his wife Jenny meet him at the finish line yesterday which made for a special moment for everyone when Cam pick-up his child after crossing the finish line but before collapsing from exhaustion.”

“I’m extremely happy with third,” said Reid after a season with many personal and professional challenges. “I didn’t have a race season this year. This was my first race back. Here I am, in my first real race of the season.”

“We congratulate all of these exceptional athletes for battling the rugged terrain of Kona and delivering an exciting competition, ‘said Franko Vatterott, President of the Human Interest Group, the endurance sports management firm for Tri-Dubai. “Although we always strive for a championship, we are tremendously proud of our team and thrilled that half the podium was comprised of Tri-Dubai team members. Not a bad performance for a first year team.”

To ensure that Tri-Dubai will be even stronger next season, speculation has raged in triathlon circles that Al Sultan will join the Tri-Dubai Professional Triathlon team for 2006.

“Faris is a perfect fit to represent Tri-Dubai as he already lives and trains in Dubai for four months of the year,” explained Vatterott. “A German and Muslim originally from Iraq, he also helps expand our diverse squad which already includes members from the USA, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. We have been speaking with him for quite a while and will continue to do so.”

Tri-Dubai is one of triathlon’s most unique marketing sponsorships and one of the most culturally diverse in all of sports. The team is comprised of 10 world-class triathletes from six nations brought together by business development and tourism officials from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tri-Dubai triathletes competed in more than two dozen races in 2005. At every event, they promoted the sport, business and tourism in Dubai, and local charities.

The team also continued its mission of supporting charities at every event at which its athlete compete. Throughout the seasons the team contributed more than $30,000 to local and national charitable organizations for its many podium placements. The three Tri-Dubai athletes reaching the podium at Kona on Saturday, earned $8,000 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and the Christmas Wish Program, Inc. – a local nonprofit organization that works to build a brighter future for Hawaii’s homeless children.

If people on “the Big Island” were unfamiliar with Tri-Dubai before the event, they certainly were aware of it after the week of intense promotion. In addition to the outstanding performance on the course, Tri-Dubai also turned heads at the Exposition at Ironman Village with one of the most head turning sponsor booths, an Arabian tent, where the team sold out it selection of Tri-Dubai branded merchandise.

The team capped an impressive weekend when it co-sponsored the post-event party along with Triathlete Magazine. The event was attended by a who's who of the triathlon world. The world's greatest Ironman athletes, of the past and present, as well as the biggest industry names and companies, were all there. The party raged well into the early hours of the following day.

Even though the Hawaii Ironman usually signifies the end of the triathlon season, Tri-Dubai is not yet finished in Hawaii. Tri-Dubai’s Chris Legh and Peter Reid will try and capture another championship to for the team when they compete in the 2005 Nissan Xterra World Championships in Maui. Peter’s strong showing in Kona makes him a favorite for the “coveted” double – the best combined time from Ironman and Xterra.

For more information about the Tri-Dubai professional triathlon team, visit www.TriDubai.com.