Bass Coast Triathlon Club

Around the early 2000s there was a paramedic real estate agent and a doctor in the local area who were getting into triathlon and they somehow all had Tuesdays off . They started riding together Tuesday mornings and swimming at the local pool in Wonthaggi . Later in the summer months they moved the swim to the Inverloch jetty . In time they were joined by a local farmer a couple of Park Rangers , a horse rider and two more paramedics .

How all these people had Tuesday mornings off remains a mystery . Training session were soon followed by coffee in the local Cafés. A Sunday morning rides soon became part of the regular session . Some bloke off the oil rigs who was an ex-president of a tri club elsewhere moved back to the local area .

Following this a couple of races were held in Cape Paterson under the auspices of the Latrobe Valley Triathlon Club . The group soon realised it was time to set up locally and in 2006 the Bass Coast Triathlon Club was formed . The club nickname somehow became the Barracudas , a rather aggressive fish found in the tropics of Northern Australia , though I’m sure motorists would prefer Barracouttas – often now considered a pest by southern fisherman.

Our first race held by the newly formed club took place in November 2006 , and was aptly named the Anderson Inlet Coastal Triathlon and won by Chris Joustra , an ex elite triathlete who when he first turned up to train with us had a bike with gear levers on the down tube( and smashed us ) . Two races further were held later in the season at Cape Paterson , the Dune2Dune and the Dune2Dune2 . In 2013 the 3rd race was moved to Inverloch and held Saturday afternoon rather than Sunday as will happen again this year . The club has been helped enormously by groups of local volunteers , namely the Inverloch and Wonthaggi lifesaving clubs , the SES , a group of Inverloch riders called the “Coastal Crewzers” andthe guys from the Sunday morning ride group – Rob Tess and Pete Hanley .

Our long term sponsors Alex Scott Real Estate , Crossover Cylces and the Esplanade Hotel continue their support .

The club has in recent years expanded membership and enjoyed some new blood on the committee . In addition the Bass Coast Cycle Challenge and the Keeping Kids on Track Fun Run have been added to the list of event s organised by the club . Regular training sessions are held which are particularly well attended during the summer . When you join grab Cam’s number of the training page and send him a text, so he can keep you updated .