The St. Croix International Triathlon
attracts professional triathletes from all over the world. This year's competition is scheduled for May 7, and will again feature the St. Croix Sprint Triathlon, which will also be run during the annual race.
The sprint race will allow amateur triathletes to compete in a similar race without the extensive training usually required to complete a full-length course.
As in past years, the St. Croix International Triathlon is sure to retain
its reputation for challenging professional triathletes with one of the most scenic and rigorous courses in the world. The race course, dubbed "Beauty and the Beast," features a 1.2-mile (two kilometers) swim from the beach at Hotel on the Cay to the dock at Fort Christiansvaern.
From there, participants will mount their bikes for a challenging but scenic 35-mile (55kilometers) bike race up and down hills, past coral bays and old sugar cane estates, to the infamous hill known as "The Beast."
Known to challenge even the most experienced cyclists, The Beast is a 600-foot ascent that is three-quarters of a mile long. The Beast requires strong leg strength,
appropriate gearing and is followed by steep descents for a welcomed period of rest in preparation for the foot race.
The run is 7.4 miles (12 kilometers) along country roadsides and through the grounds of The Buccaneer resort onto the finish line in downtown Christiansted, where participants
will be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of Crucians.
The triathlon race will serve as a qualifier for the Ironman Canada Triathlon, the Ironman USA Lake Placid and the Ironman California.
The St. Croix Sprint Triathlon will begin approximately 20 minutes after
the start of the international race from the same starting point on the beach by Hotel on the Cay.The sprint triathlon, dubbed "Beauty without the Beast," will include the following components: an 800-meter swim, a 13-mile bike leg and a 3.1-mile run. Participants are expected to cross the finish
line at the fort in Christiansted within one-to-two hours, in time to watch the finish of the longer race.
For more information about the St. Croix International Triathlon and the St.
Croix Sprint Triathlon, call Project St. Croix at (340) 773-4470, or visit
the Web site at www.stcroixtriathlon.com. For more information about St.
Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, call the Visitor's Center at (800) 372-USVI.
