Vero Beach Triathlon hosted a spectacular inaugural race recently, with about a quarter of the 300 triathletes opting to compete in the Olympic distance race – a first for Vero Beach – and the remainder competing in the Sprint distance race. Triathletes from all over Florida and as far away as California made their way to South Beach Park, eager to prove their mettle and swim, bike and run their way to victory.
The conditions on that Sunday morning were perfect despite ominous indications. High winds Saturday afternoon had produced whitecaps and a roiling surf, and thunderstorms were forecast for Sunday afternoon. But Mother Nature pulled through, giving what Walter Harnischfeger, Vero Beach Triathlon founder and race director, called a “magnificent, miraculous weather window.”
“The water might have looked rough, but it was pretty calm compared to the day before; there was a swell out there, but it was not crashing waves,” said Harnischfeger. “We lucked out. You often have to cancel a swim or shorten it because you just don’t know what kind of conditions you’ll have.”
“Remember, you signed up for this to have fun,” sports announcer Carissa Galloway reminded the excited competitors, while spectators looked on in admiration as the first Olympic group made a mad dash to the water.
The Olympic triathletes would swim 1,500 meters (.93 miles), bike 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) and run 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The Sprint distances were half that: 750 meters (.46 mi), 20K (12.4 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles).
The event had originally been planned to take place last May but, like everything else, had to be rescheduled. To run the race, Harnischfeger enlisted Sommer Sports, an event management and race timing company owned by Fred Sommer, an early pioneer in the sport of triathlons in Florida.
“I did this because I’m an enthusiast and I love Vero Beach and I think Vero Beach should have a triathlon. Everybody that I spoke to said, ‘Fred Sommer is the best in the business,’” said Harnischfeger, who tasked himself with interacting with city and county officials, police and lifeguards.
“It was a real community effort and I want to keep it that way. My goal is to have an event that the entire community can be proud of, can enjoy and participate in,” said Harnischfeger.
A 20-year resident of Vero Beach, Harnischfeger took up the sport at age 60, which he said is not uncommon, explaining that time is freed up as “entanglements of life” lessen.
In this race, Male Olympic triathletes ranged in age from 23 to 71 and females from 20 to 69.
Male sprint racers ranged in age from 19 to 80, and females from 22 to 81.
Harnischfeger has competed in all triathlon distances except Ironman, the most grueling of the lengths that include Sprint, Olympic and Half-Ironman. He had competed in the LLS Conquistadores Sprint Triathlon at Jaycee Park, which ended about four years ago, and was determined to rekindle the sport in Vero. He opted to change the venue from Jaycee Park to South Beach Park over safety concerns from the ongoing construction on north A1A, and it turned out to be the ideal spot.
Harnischfeger closed the registration at 300 people, and despite being inundated with others hoping to get in, says he felt it was an appropriate number for an inaugural event.
“There’s no dress rehearsal for this; it unfolds before your very eyes,” said Harnischfeger.
“I hope it stays with us and gets bigger and better. I think the community can get behind it just to enjoy seeing it, and also from an economic standpoint. It’s a real boost to our economy. The triathletes come from all over and are staying over at the beach; they sometimes make a weekend out of it. It’s a big side benefit,” said Harnischfeger.
“The profile of this event and its association with Vero Beach, in my opinion, is a real plus for everybody. There are not a lot of communities that have the reputation for really knowing how to put on a good triathlon. And so, I think that Vero Beach and the sport of triathlon are now on the map.”
The winner of the Olympic distance was Federico Scarabino, a Uruguayan currently living in Weston.
“Let me tell you, that guy was fast. I saw him attack the water; he went out there like a torpedo through the breaking waves,” said Harnischfeger.
For more information, including full race results, visit verobeachtriathlon.com.
Photos by Kaila Jones
