COVID-19 updates below
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COVID-19 Updates
You can find updates here and on our Facebook page. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get an update when we have one. We usually send out an email once a month. We are aiming to make the final call on the format and modifications to the race by August 1st.
8/1/2020 - Full update HERE. We had a great meeting with the park and the commissioners are supportive of a live event. We will move forward with plans for an in-person race. We are setting up a new registration with the terms and waivers associated with the pandemic. We will send an email to our entire list as soon as the new registration is ready and the pre-registered athletes and those on the wait-list have had a chance to sign up. The event will be limited to 200 people per day and we expect this to sell out. All racers who register for the pandemic edition of Tri Fest will be sharing the risk with us. The risk is that while we are planning for an in-person race, the governor may change the reopening phase to phase 1 or back to stay at home orders. In those situations, we will not be able to host an in-person event. There will be no refunds or roll overs in that circumstance, but rather, we will go virtual. Please read the update and check back for information on how to register. We expect to open general registration on August 15th. Thanks!
7/21/2020 - This week we are meeting with the park and the county commissioners. There is a lot of uncertainty with the rise in cases as of late. We are considering two main options - one is a bare-bones event with limited numbers (in phase 2 this is 250 max at any time), minimal volunteers, spread out transition, rolling starts and a multi-loop course. Of course, nothing is guaranteed. We may get the go ahead now, and then go back to a stay at home order. The other option would be to roll race registrations to 2021 and then open up registration for a virtual-onsite combo event. For this sort-of-virtual option, we would mark the courses, set up the iconic finish line in Lewis Creek Park, but you participate on your own - either in Sweet Home, or anywhere in the world.
As we have said before if either of the COVID options we go with don't work for you, we will issue you a race credit for your entry and you can use that toward any of our events over the next 2 years. You can choose to make that call now by sending us an email, or wait until we have an official path forward.
Once we hear back from the county, we will send an email update to all of our registered participants and post another update here. Cross your fingers, pray, dance, do what you do to help us have a race! Thanks for hanging in there with us!
5/27/2020 - FREE WAITLIST - If you are interested in racing with us but want to wait until we know what the modifications will look like, there is the option to sign up for the free waitlist on the registration platform. We will freeze the price at the time you sign up for the waitlist so that you can confidently make the call on whether or not to sign up once we know the format for this year. The waitlist does not include any obligation, we just want to know if you are planning to race. There is a strong possibility that we will need to limit the number of registrations for the event which would likely cause this race to sell out. Priority will be given to those who are pre-registered and then to those on the waitlist. Thank you for your patience!
5/8/2020 - Today, Governor Brown announced that all large events will need to be cancelled or significantly modified through at least September. We are confident we can have a race in September, although it will look different than what you are used to. We are working on plans to significantly modify Tri Fest and the Linn County Parks Department is supportive of this. The courses may change to minimize volunteers and traffic control as we space out start times to distance athletes. This may mean more loops for each segment. TBD.
4/1/2020 - The COVID-19 situation is ever evolving. We do not anticipate needing to cancel Best in the West Triathlon Festival, although as you know, things can change rapidly. It is possible that we may need to modify the race this year to allow for social distancing and to meet the CDC and Governor Brown's guidelines come September. We will post updates here as we have them.
Contingency plan - In the worst case scenario (being forced to cancel) we will automatically roll all pre-registered participants to the 2021 date (September 10th through 12th). If you can not attend the 2021 race for any reason, we will issue you a credit for your full registration fee to sign up for any Best in the West Event over the next two years (through the 2022 season). This credit will be transferrable and can be split across multiple events if needed. We will also allow the credit option to be used if we can proceed with the 2020 event but the significant modifications do not work for you for any reason. In lieu of refunds, which as a small business we aren't able to provide, we will be as flexible as we can and hope you will be too!
Thanks for hanging in there with us,
Blair and Staci
With a race for nearly every distance/sport combination, we have an event for everyone!
A welcoming, inclusive environment with races for toddlers to teens!
Youth rates for all kids under 18, automatically applied during registration.
Youth rates for all kids under 18, automatically applied during registration.
From back country roads, to dense forests along the lake and river, our courses are full of great views.
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We welcome athletes of all abilities! We have ramps for access over curbs, and have alternate run course and finish line access that are ADA friendly. Join our challenged athletes division!
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Saturday night Beer/Cider/Soda
Mile Relay and athlete social is a blast!
Mile Relay and athlete social is a blast!
Each award is made with love by our Posse!
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Cowboy hats, a shotgun start, most wanted champions, the jail, the saloon, and horse shoe awards all add to the old western town feel.
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HUGE POST-RACE BBQ!
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MIXED TEAM SUPER SPRINT RELAY
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GAMES
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CAMPING
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COLD BEER & CIDER
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GIANT COOKIES FROM SCRATCH
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#bwtri #saddleupletsrace #giddyup #bestinthewesttriathlon
