SBR WEEKEND BASS COAST ONE WITH THE LOT

WORDS BY CHRIS WEST PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY ELITE ENERGY

A NEW EVENT TO BE HELD ACROSS SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN THE BASS COAST REGION OVER TWO DAYS ON 18TH & 19TH MARCH PROVIDES SWIMMERS, CYCLISTS, RUNNERS AND TRIATHLETES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE WITH GREATER FLEXIBILITY OF CHOICE.

Mark ‘Emo’ Emerton is counting down the days to the SBR Weekend Bass Coast event and hoping for favourable weather to greet the competitors, organisers and volunteer crews on both days.

The dynamic and vastly experienced CEO/Owner of organisers Elite Energy is quick to highlight the point of difference between the unique format of this event and a triathlon.

“Across the country, everyone is familiar with specific events for open water swimmers, cyclists, runners and triathletes, but the SBR Weekend appeals to all these different styles of athletes and brings them all together,” Mark explains.

A regular triathlon involves swimming, cycling and running consecutively on the same day, whereas the SBR Weekend Bass Coast will stage these as separate events at different intervals over the two days of competition.

The swim will get the event under way on the morning of Saturday, 18th March, followed later that day by the bike ride. The weekend schedule then culminates on Sunday, 19th March with the run.

Although these dates are fast approaching, it's not too late to be involved. Registrations are being taken right up until the day.

“Entrants can participate in one or any combination of the events. The choice is theirs. Participating in all of them as a triathlon over two days is referred to as doing The Lot,” Mark says.

“Another beauty of this concept is that entrants can also choose from multiple swim distances, multiple bike ride distances and multiple run distances to suit their individual preferences. This level of flexibility in being able to mix and match enables whole families to be involved,” he adds.

The action commences with the ‘Swim the Island’ event sponsored by Huub on Saturday morning which will take place in the ocean waters at Cowes Beach.

Entrants can choose from four different distances starting from a leisurely 500 metres for beginners or youngsters, up to 1 kilometre, 2 kilometres and 4 kilometres for advanced long-distance swimmers.

Several age categories apply across each of the distances, commencing at 11-15 years for the Main Beach 500 metre swim, 12-15 years for the Lovers Lane 1 kilometre swim, 13-19 years for the Silverleaves 2 kilometre swim and 14-19 years for the Silver Dreams 4 kilometre swim. The age categories increase progressively to 70 plus for the most senior of competitors.

Following the Saturday morning swim, attention then turns to the ‘Bike the Bass’ event sponsored by Shimano which will be based out of Woolamai Racecourse. Riders will follow an exhilarating loop course that weaves it way through the hinterland, stretching out to meet the coastline and back again.

Four course distance options are available – 30 kilometres, 47 kilometres, 66 kilometres, or the full 106 kilometres. The minimum age requirements for entrants (determined by age as of 31st December 2022) are 16 years old for the 30 kilometre and 47 kilometre rides, rising to 17 years for the 66 kilometre ride and 18 years for the 106 kilometre ride.

Whilst Bike the Bass is a timed event, it is not a race, but instead an opportunity for riders to set a time which they can aim to improve upon in future years.

E-Bikes will be permitted in all distances but must be notified at the time of registering for the event. It is the responsibility of E-Bike riders to ensure they have sufficient batteries to complete their chosen course distance.

After a night of rest, all focus then moves to the Sunday coastal run between Inverloch and Cape Paterson.

Five distance options are available to ‘Run the Coast’ entrants – 2 kilometres, 5 kilometres, 10 kilometres, 21.1 kilometres (half marathon) and 42.2 kilometres (marathon).

“We believe this is the first time that this section of road between Inverloch and Cape Paterson has been closed for a running event,” Mark notes.

Some of the participants in the run will be completing the third and final leg of ‘The Lot’. Those who plan to undertake all the events should note that if you pull up sore at any point during the course of the two days and wish to drop down in distance for the next event you can do so by attending the registration marquee at least one hour before race start.

Entrants in all categories of the SBR Weekend Bass Coast will receive a finisher’s medal upon completion, with a special medal for those who negotiate ‘The Lot’. All entrants will also be eligible for a range of mementos, giveaways and prize draws depending on the event they participate in.

Cash prizemoney will be paid to each of the three fastest men and women ($500 for first, $350 for second and $150 for third) in both the 4 kilometre swim and 10 kilometre run.

Having Mark and his Elite Energy team directing the SBR Weekend Bass Coast will ensure nothing is left to chance with the organisational logistics and safety aspects of the event.

Mark is renowned as the man behind everything multi-sport in New South Wales. He has a long and impressive history of organising triathlon and ironman events, along with being an experienced triathlete himself. His CV also includes performing the role of Logistics Manager for Triathlon, Marathon, Race Walks and Road Cycling at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

“Although this will be the first SBR Weekend on the Bass Coast, I have successfully staged events under this format style in New South Wales as far back as 2018 and as recently as December last year when we ran a SBR Weekend in Port Stephens,” he says.

“I call these destination events. They are a great opportunity to showcase a region and bring whole families of visitors. The Bass Coast was a logical choice for the first SBR Weekend event in Victoria as it is a wonderful area blessed with spectacular locations for swimming, cycling and running. It’s an iconic destination which everyone competing and watching will be sure to appreciate.”

Mark says he has been amazed by the level of support received towards the event from the Bass Coast Shire Council, along with the local tourism authority and general public.

“We presently manage about thirty-five to forty events all over Australia and one in Fiji, so we go to a lot of different places and meet a lot of different people. We were down the Bass Coast recently as part of the preparation for this event, and I have to say that every single person we encountered was very accommodating and extremely positive about it,” he reports.

“The assistance and co-operation we’ve had from Council, in particular, has been fantastic. We have also formed a great relationship with the Inverloch and Kongwak Primary Schools, whereby a percentage of the competition entry fees for the 2 kilometre run and 5 kilometre run will be donated back to those schools.”

Mark is looking forward to the whole community embracing the event.

“We see a lot of potential for it to grow over the next two to three years. The most successful pathway for future progression down the track is for it to possibly extend to a three-day event, with the swim on Friday, the bike ride on Saturday, and finishing with the run on Sunday,” he comments.

“But for this first year, we’re concentrating all our energy on showcasing everything over two fantastic days of competition in one of the most inviting and naturally beautiful parts of Victoria.”

Special Discount Offer

Gippsland Lifestyle readers who wish to register online to participate in any of the SBR Weekend Bass Coast events will be eligible for a 20% DISCOUNT on their entry fees by using the following code at the time of payment: GLM2023