One of the sport’s iconic and most challenging races, the Sea to Summit Triathlon, has new race directors for 2018. Taking on the task is Andy Scherding and Kathleen Walker, veteran triathletes and principals of New England Endurance Events. The director for years, Jeff Donatello, will be present at the race in 2018, as will most of the staff and volunteers.
The event, which starts in chilly waters near the Maine coast and ends atop the highest mountain in the Northeastern U.S., is widely considered to be one of the most difficult one-day endurance events in the world. Distances consist of a 1.5-mile swim, 95-mile bike and 5.5-mile run/hike into the clouds to the summit of Mount Washington in the neighboring state of New Hampshire. Over the course of five to 12 hours the competitors will have ascended from sea level to a height of 6,288 feet.
Required of all racers is the completion of a triathlon of half-ironman distance or greater in the recent past (within time limits), and that they are accompanied on race day by a support person — which the event calls the “porter.” There is no set route for the bike or the run; racers can plan their best route ahead of the event, and navigating the bike course is left to their own decisions and advice from their porter.
The race date for 2018 has been set for July 28 — when the tide and temperature of the water are most favorable, and the wind speeds and temperature atop Mt. Washington are (usually) least severe.
The event has sold out in each of the past three years. While public registration has yet to open, we are having a “soft open” so that those who read this blog can sign up today!
https://events.hakuapp.com/578e2003166458fd083d
The current race website is s2striathlon.com, which will be updated this fall to provide details for the 2018 event.
