Bali International Triathlon: June 24th, 2007

Bali is already on the world sports map with the Wismilak International women’s tennis competition taking place each year. A new event is being launched this year down in Jimbaran Bay. The Bali International Triathlon takes place on June 24th, at the Four Seasons Resort.

Triathletes are amazing people, seemingly able to endure wind, rain and sun, for hours on end of grueling effort. A triathlon involves swimming, cycling and running sections, each competitor racing against the rest of the field, which can be 100 people.

According to TourismIndonesia, ‘The event will comprise a 1.5-kilometre swim in the warm waters of Jimbaran bay; a 40-kilometre bike along paved roads to Nusa Dua, looping back to Jimbaran; and a 10-kilometre mostly-flat run on paved roads through Jimbaran and Kedonganan villages, ending with a beach finish at the Four Seasons Resort Jimbaran Bay.’

Would be nice if they could incorporate aspect of the real Bali into the race. The swim could be through the ‘brown water’ that decorates parts of Seminyak’s coastline, the 40 km bike race could be around Denpasar in rush hour (assuming the bike hasn’t been stolen after the swim), and the run could be up an down Jl. Legian, dodging taxis and road construction.

The event will draw more attention to Bali, both as a wonderful place to vacation and also as a possible venue for sporting events. If you plan on coming to Bali to watch the triathlon, here is a great place for air tickets.