The inaugural Island House Invitational Triathlon, a two-day race with a unique format, will feature the world’s best professional triathletes and one of the world’s biggest prize purses. The race will be held in the Bahamas on November 6th through 8th, 2015 at The Island House, Nassau and on the private island of Highbourne Cay, Exuma. World class athletes from both short and long course backgrounds will go head-to-head in what is sure to be the most refreshing and exciting event of the year. The innovative race structure will include individual time trials and races that mix up the traditional order and distances of swim-bike-run. Similar to the cycling model, the Island House Invitational will feature swim, bike, run, and overall classification leader’s jerseys and prizes.
Invitees for the inaugural race include many of The Island House sponsored triathletes as well as several “wild-cards”. Confirmed athletes already include Gwen Jorgensen, Lisa Norden, Tim Don, Ben Hoffman, Leanda Cave, Luke McKenzie, Heather Wurtele, Trevor Wurtele, Rachel Joyce, Leon Griffin, Barrett Brandon, and Lauren Brandon. Wild card invitations to the top athletes across distances will be made in the coming months and a full roster will be confirmed by September. Expected invitees include the 2015 Ironman, 70.3, and ITU World Champions.
The Island House Invitational prize purse will make a significant impact in professional triathlon. Combined with a small invite-only field, athletes can walk away with a huge payday. A one-hour national TV broadcast will showcase the athletes, the lead-up to the race, and the race itself making this a premier event to showcase athletes, sponsors, and the beautiful Bahamas.
The vision for the race came from talks between Mark Holowesko, financier and owner of The Island House, and several of the athletes sponsored by the hotel. Holowesko wanted to make a bigger impact in triathlon and his support of professionals, while showcasing the Bahamas and his new hotel, The Island House. Holowesko said, “We wanted to do something different that can really make an impact in triathlon and I’d like to grow the race in the coming years”.
“I’ve always wanted to create an event similar to the enduro format that excited me so much as a spectator and racer in the 1990’s. After talking with Mark (Holowesko), we realized that by working together, we could make it happen in a really amazing way. “ said Co-Race Director Luke McKenzie.
“Mark (Holowesko) is so passionate about triathlon and it’s really incredible to be a part of this forward growth for our sport and to have the Bahamas as the backdrop for this marquee event.” said invited athlete, Ben Hoffman.
The official bike course sponsor, Cervélo, and wheel sponsor, ENVE composites, are excited to partner with the Island House Invitational triathlon. Additional sponsors will be announced in the coming months.
This announcement comes alongside the opening of The Island House, a 30-room luxury boutique hotel and cultural gathering space in Nassau, Bahamas. Designed with both high-end guests and the local community in mind, and as a symbiotic extension of the surrounding environment, TIH represents the antithesis of the commercial mega-resorts that now dominate this once unspoiled island – a return to the understated elegance of authentic island life. The property features six rental apartments, two restaurants, a cafe, spa, gym, squash and paddle courts, and movement studio for fitness classes. To learn more about The Island House, visit: http://www.the-island-house.com/
To learn more about the race, visit: www.islandhousetriathlon.com