Tri and Mighty: All set for triathlon camp

It’s been a busy month for me putting the final touches to the Mike Neill / Jasper Blake 4th Annual Triathlon Camp for triathletes and beginner triathletes. 

Close to 40 participants, including two Canadian visitors, will take part in the week-long camp, which starts on Sunday and finishes with a fun mini triathlon and wrap up dinner next Sunday,  February 2. 

During the week participants will be swimming in the pool and ocean (in wetsuits!) and riding and running.

The camp includes a track session using static bike trainers to practice bike-into-run transitions, known as “bricks”.

Professional assistance

They will be under the watchful eye of former professional triathletes and experienced coaches Jasper Blake and Mike Neill who fly in from Victoria, Canada. 

The coaches will also hold a seminar at XL Building next Friday on “mental training and race preparation”. 

Meanwhile, a few thousand miles away Bermuda’s professional triathlete Flora Duffy is gearing up for the triathlon season in South Africa where she is currently based with friend and fellow professional  Dan Hugo. 

On January 11, Duffy participated in the gruelling Terra Firma Challenge, consisting of a 50km road bike, 13km road run, 25km mountain bike and 9km beach run and won the women’s race in 4hrs 24 mins and 32 secs.

Duffy said: “Coming into the event I didn’t know what to expect. 

“I was a little worried at the beginning, but soon started to feel fine even though I had a mechanical on the road bike. I ran great on the road, handled my mountain bike well and survived the beach run. The event is fantastic, really well organised. The entire course is gorgeous, picturesque and fun, a unique combination”. 

Duffy’s next race is tomorrow when she takes on defending champion Carla Van Huyssteen in the XTerra Buffelspoort, consisting of a 1.5km swim, 27km mountain bike and 12km trail run near the famous Buffelspoort Dam.

The area gets its name from the days when locals used to hunt buffalo with their bare hands and then tattoo buffalo paws on their foreheads — something we hope Flora won’t do if she wins! More details and results at www.stillwatersports.com