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HomeNewsArchivesTriathlon Training Camp on St. Croix Promotes Sports Tourism

Triathlon Training Camp on St. Croix Promotes Sports Tourism

A triathlon training camp will be held on St. Croix in late February, the Tourism Department said this week. Playtri, a company specializing in triathlon coaching, will host the camp, which will run Feb. 26 to March 2, according to Tourism spokesman Luana Wheatley. Playtri is still negotiating where the athletes will stay.

The four-day destination training camp will be led by eight-time Ironman World Championship finisher and two-time Ironman 70.3 World Championship finisher Ahmed Zaher and is expected to bring in a dedicated group of triathlon enthusiasts and their families to St. Croix.

"We are so pleased to welcome this prestigious training program to St. Croix," Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said in a press release.

She said the announcement confirms the territory’s strength and appeal among the athletic market. “We are confident this partnership will help the continued promotion of sports” and sports culture and lifestyle in the Virgin Islands.

The camp is designed for athletes of all abilities and will have a vacation component for healthy beginners looking for an athletic getaway.

Zaher is a renowned coach and athlete who has helped more than 50 athletes qualify for the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Championships.

"The choice of St. Croix as the host partner for our Ironman 70.3 training program was an obvious one as it’s in a great location with lots of scenic beauty and has a versatile landscape that will test the skills of our participants," said Zaher, who is the founder of Playtri. "We are confident that St. Croix’s world-class hospitality and challenging course will make them the ideal hosts for our training camp."

During the triathlon camp, athletes will train on the course used for the annual Captain Morgan Ironman 70.3. The St. Croix Ironman Triathlon is one of the oldest and most well-known triathlon races, having celebrated a 25-year history in 2013.

"We have worked hard over the past 25 years to ensure this race remains a world-class event," said St. Croix Triathlon race director Tom Guthrie. "We are thrilled that Playtri has chosen St. Croix for the training camp and to see the race is attracting sports figures to our Island year-round."

For more information on the camp, visit www.playtri.com/stcroixcamp.

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