It’s been a super-intense week of racing action — and I’m not even talking about how hard the athletes went during the three days of Super League Hamilton Island.
As part of the small but agile team running the show, I was tasked with ensuring we had high-quality content going up on the website and timely press releases going out to media. I also got tasked with odd jobs, like manning the VIP reception desk and putting together research about athletes and special guests for use on the television broadcast. It was a huge undertaking for all involved in its many different aspects, so we are super pleased that Super League Hamilton Island was as successful as it was.
A lot of my work was done off-cam because the athletes are the stars of this show, and I hope that the broadcasts really allowed them to shine through. They are all pretty awesome at what they do, and it’s high-time triathlon gave them the status and attention they deserve as the best in our sport.
Despite the haggard days and the short nights of sleep we had, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to have a front-row seat to triathlon history in the making, and hopefully a brighter future for the sport we all love and its professional athletes.
Here are a few of my photos from the week that was. I still don’t have the words to talk about what happened and all the highs and lows we went through. People kept asking me if it was a fun job, and I had to answer, “It’s like doing an ironman. You never really have ‘fun’ while you’re grinding through, but all the joy floods in when you’re done.”
Chris McCormack “Macca” briefing the athletes about the slot draw
all branded up
the athlete locker room
grabbing quotes while host Will McCloy interviews Alistair Brownlee (photo by Clint Barter)
Henri Schoeman, Javier Gomez, Jake Birtwhistle, Alistair Brownlee, Richard Murray, Mario Mola
two South African boys
two Spanish boys
we used golf buggies to get around the island
Cam Dye and Richard Varga out riding
Australians Ryan Fisher, Josh Amberger, Ryan Bailie
a well-stocked athlete recovery area
hard-working media guys
athletes wait to be led out by cycling legend Robbie McEwen for Stage 2 of the Triple Mix
the most dangerous corner in the race
Ian Thorpe watched Super League Triathlon with great interest
Iceland coach Petur Einarsson (a Logan lookalike) doing a Facebook Live with Macca
Richard Varga gave it his all
a little podium champagne action
Brent McMahon and Cam Dye, the two North Americans
transition action was always fast and furious
That doesn’t mean it was always all hard work. I always made sure to take time to appreciate where I was and the magnitude of what we were doing.
the Hamilton Island Yacht Club was the center of activity
It was beautiful to wake up to this view every day
the closest I got to a sunset yacht cruise
taking a load off manning the VIP reception desk
getting ready for my close-up with our camera guy Cam
I also met great new people and am just amazed how this sport and Super League Triathlon has allowed me to broaden my horizons. With the reception we had for the event and the broadcast this weekend I really hope Super League Triathlon can continue to grow and pick up momentum.
new friends from China, Brazil, the UK, and Singapore
my partner-in-crime Stacey who is our digital marketing maven
Terenzo Bozzone and my MaccaX buddy David
I’ll be back in Manila near the end of this week. It will be so good to come home and get back to some proper training and not be so full-on with Super League Triathlon work like I’ve been for the past few months, but at the same time I know this is only the beginning. And that’s a good thing.
a photo (finally!) with Super League Hamilton Island champion Richard Murray
I feel like I’m the real winner here
with the guys who made it all happen
#IAMSUPERLEAGUE
