World Triathlon

Some of them have been training, more have been watching the Superbowl, a couple of them have been hanging out with skateboard legend Tony Hawk, and even one of them has discovered that she is one of the highest paid sportswomen in her country.  It’s been a busy week for ITU’s top athletes.

Jan Frodeno and Emma Snowsill represented ITU at the Laureus Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi, but they still managed to take some time out to do some sandboarding with skateboard superstar Tony Hawk, double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes and Australian surf legend Layne Beachley. This didn’t go unnoticed by some of the other ITU athletes with New Zealand’s Kris Gemmell trying to conceal his jealousy:

@janfrodeno you must be annoyed with these cards life has dealt you haha #snowboarding in the desert=rough! (@KrisGemmell)

Back at the Awards Frodeno and Snowsill were making the most of being surrounded by the world’s biggest sporting legends:

Sore neck from trying to spot all the legends! (@janfrodeno )

Another Laureus done and dusted. Sure glad I didn’t have to pick the winners, the nominees would have been tough enough to decide on. (@emmasnowsill)

Down under in Australia, Barbara Riveros Diaz and Lisa Norden were keeping the competition healthy:

I like when chica Barb wins races, means she’ll buy me a coffee. Another good post ride coffee this morning at Lonsdale roaster (@lisanorden)

Courtney Atkinson offers his thoughts on some new locations for the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series:.

One of hardest long runs ever in forest this morning 85-100% humidity….good training for when there is a WCS Rd raced in the Amazon! (@courtney_akco)

Triathlon wasn’t the only discussion topic as Simon Whitfield, James Seear and Dan Wilson were busy discussing some interesting and perhaps fabricated facts about the Superbowl:

@jamesseear @dan_wilson_ team fact # 127 - more packers own Aston Martins then Steelers #doesthatchangeyourmind (@simonwhitfield)

Seear is no slouch on the bike, we’d hate to think what he might be like on a motorcycle:

I’m watching The Isle of Man TT and these guys are #crazy would love to watch in person to get full appreciation of the commitment! (@jamesseear)

Back in reality, most athletes are busy putting in the hard hours of training needed to compete at the top level, such as Ireland’s Aileen Morrison:

you’d love my new swim coach! Says we should get up earlier to have a wash b4 swim to waken up! swims at 530. (@aileenmorr)

And finally Andrea Hewitt found out some interesting news about herself in the paper. Drinks are on her…

According to the Sunday Star Times today - Apparently I am the 3rd most paid sportswoman in New Zealand! 1. Kimberley Smith 2. Valerie Vili (@andreahewittt)

Be sure to follow ITU at twitter.com/ITUOnline