USA Triathlon Launches Inaugural WIN: Women's Initiative

USA Triathlon today announced the launch of its inaugural WIN: Women’s Initiative, a series of 18 events across the country designed to drive participation by women who are new to multisport.

The events will be organized by 11 race directors, each of whom submitted proposals and were chosen by a selection committee from a pool of candidates. The winning events include a combination of women’s-only triathlons and duathlons, women’s-only waves within existing races, instructional clinics and social gatherings.

Each event selected for the WIN program offers some form of training or instructional session in addition to a celebratory post-event social activity. The goal is to provide low-cost, community-driven events to expose, and continue to involve, female participants of all ages in the multisport lifestyle.

The WIN program builds upon USA Triathlon’s long tradition of promoting women in multisport, including the formation of a Women’s Committee in 2010 and attaining triathlon’s status as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women. It is part of a larger strategic initiative at USA Triathlon to grow the number of female triathletes in the United States. Currently women make up 38 percent of USA Triathlon’s total annual membership base. Youth participants are more evenly split, with girls making up just under half of USA Triathlon’s youth members at 46 percent.

"The focus of USA Triathlon’s WIN Program is on participation, not competition," said USA Triathlon Event Services Manager Terri Walters. "By offering more races and clinics geared specifically towards women, we hope to encourage camaraderie and remove the intimidation factor that may keep some women from participating in multisport."

"We are thrilled to be selected as part of the WIN Program, and we look forward to introducing more women to multisport through the Mighty Moraine Man Series and our Women in Multisport events and clinics," said Joella Baker, a USA Triathlon Certified Race Director based in the Pittsburgh area. "USA Triathlon’s efforts to grow female participation are admirable, and we are proud to be involved."

WIN Program race directors receive a stipend, promotional support on USA Triathlon’s social media channels, and WIN-branded event materials including a banner and finisher medals.

2017 WIN Program Events

New Events

July 1: Women’s Do a Duathlon (Spokane, Wash.)

Race Director: Christina Reddick

Oct 21: Women’s Only Try a Triathlon (Hallandale Beach, Fla.)

Race Director: Christina Reddick

Existing Events

June 4: Omaha Women’s Triathlon (Omaha, Neb.)

Race Director: Brad Hilderbrandt

June 25: Tri Goddess Tri (Grass Lake, Mich.)

Race Director: Eva Solomon

July 16: Montana Women’s Triathlon (Helena, Mont.)

Race Director: Ann Gilbert

July 29: WIN for KC Women’s Triathlon and Duathlon (Smithville, Mo.)

Race Director: Stephanie Lankford

Women’s Only Waves

June 3: Island Lake Triathlon (Brighton, Mich.)

Race Director: Eva Solomon

July 22: Mighty Moraine Man Series (Portersville, Pa.)

Race Director: Joella Baker

Aug. 13: Tri Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, Calif.)

Race Director: Penni Bengtson

Aug. 27: Ohio Super Sprint Triathlon Challenge (Lewis Center, Ohio)

Race Director: Craig Thompson

Sept. 9: Hocking Hills Triathlon (Logan, Ohio)

Race Director: Tim Tyler

Clinics (Dates TBD):

Tough Cookies FREE Tri Clinic Series (Austin, Tex.)

Race Director: Tzatzil LeMair

Triathlon Drills and Skills (Location TBD, Nebraska)

Race Director: Brad Hildebrandt

Intro to Triathlon and OWS Clinics (Santa Cruz, Calif.)

Race Director: Penni Bengtson

Women in Multisport Events and Clinics (Harmony, Pa., and Portersville, Pa.)

Race Director: Joella Baker

Social Events:

June 2: Tri Night Out (Santa Cruz, Calif.)

Race Director: Penni Bengtson

Date TBD: Girls Night Out (Location TBD)

Race Director: Ann Gilbert

Dates TBD: Summer Tri Nights Out (Salem, Mass., and Reading, Mass.)

Race Director: Susan Sotir

For more information, please contact:

Caryn Maconi

Communications Manager

Tel: 719-955-2828

Email: caryn.maconi@usatriathlon.org

Chuck Menke

Chief Marketing Officer

Tel: 719-955-2827

Email: chuck.menke@usatriathlon.org

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