Once Inspired

Please enjoy an interview with accomplished triathlete, co-founder of the biggest triathlon club in the country, Atlantic Triathlon Club, and owner of Embark, Steve Atwell.

Name: STeve Attwell (For some reason he likes to make the T big – based on graphology studies making the second letter of your name a capital too could mean that Steve is trying to tell us that he is actually St. Eve – sainteve.com)

Sponsors:

I have an apparel and shoe sponsorship through New Balance.

Accomplishments:

Maybe a lot of the good guys are hibernating; but I won the Hillcrest NB Eden Campus trial run, Viv (my girlfriend) and I won the Crazy Table Mountain Challenge mixed category. I finished second at the Xtera Lite in Knysna, and then finished in top 30 in the Half marathon.  Needless to say I was 3^rd last out the water at the Clan William 1.5km swim!!

Hello Steve. How are you?

Hey Nic, I’m still suffering from the Gun Run last Sunday, thought some spinning would ease the legs, but obviously teaching 6 classes in 3 days isn’t great for recovery!

How do you see the coming season working out for you?

I have entered the 70.3 half Iron Man in ELS next year, so that is my focus for the next couple of months. I would also like to compete at SA Triathlon Champs and hopefully make the RSA age group team again. (This means I will have to race WP trials and champs and qualify for the WP team first).

We have recently seen the introduction of the 2009/2010 triathlon season at Clanwilliam . How did the race go for you?

Clanwilliam is always a fantastic weekend, and the weather plays its part every year. This year we had 36 degrees! So racing was hard as we are all just coming out of winter and not used to the baking sun.  My race always starts on the bike, as my swimming is not great. I guess my highlight was catching you [Nic Muhl] with 3kms to go on the run. I finished 5^th this year, my best result at Clan William.

How many Freshpack Clanwillaim Triathlons have you done?

This was my third time, and NO, I didn’t go up the pole naked again this year if that’s your next question!!

How did this year’s race compare to the previous seasons?

I think the absence of the Nestle Pure Life team gave all the non-elite athletes a chance to perform this year. They normally clean up. It was great to see the amount of ATC athletes racing this year, all kitted out in our new season’s kit. Only disappointing aspect was that the annual trophy for the Club award wasn’t awarded, although it was sitting on the presentation table with all the other trophies.  We smell a rat!

Three words to sum up the 23^rd Freshpak Clanwilliam Fitness Fesitval?

ATC. It’s an acronym for Atlantic Triathlon Club:

So we have mentioned Embark, please let the mense know what Embark is?

Embark has been set up with the beginner and intermediate athletes in mind, and offers coached sessions for all the disciplines. In addition to the coaching, you get a personal program according to your own ability and you follow this progressive program to reach your goals. Embark is a great platform to meet other beginners and intermediate triathletes with the same goals in mind. We focus on the sprint distance, standard distance and 70.3 half iron man.

What made you start Embark?

Having been very involved with ATC over the last 4 years, I have noticed a huge amount of first timers attempting to get involved with triathlon, but just being intimidated and end up never seeing them at club training or races.  Although ATC offers training sessions for all the disciplines, it’s normally our more experience members that take advantage of these. Because of this, the newer, less experienced members feel they are too far behind. Embark is the platform for beginners and intermediate athletes to gain confidence, learn about the sport and transform from athlete to triathlete.

And The Atlantic Triathlon Club, how’s that going?

Atlantic Triathlon Club has recently re branded to ATC Multisport. We have had an influx of interest from trial runners, mountain bikers and open water swimmers, who all profess not to be triathletes but would love to belong to a multisport club. The aim of ATC Multisport is to encompass all the disciplines of triathlon. You will be soon to able to get a WPA running license and CSA cycling license though ATC Multisport. (If any of that sounds Greek to you, maybe its time to join Embark?)

Any shout outs?

Not a shout out, but more of an appeal to the current triathletes to join their governing body, Western Province Triathlon Association (WPTA). It’s a measlyR250 for the year, less than a dinner out, and the difference that 100 more members could make to the sport would be phenomenal. Triathlon is EXPODING in the UK, where the weather is dismal almost all year round, but they have over 5000 registered members and because of this they get good financial sponsors and hence can run the sport at a professional level.

Thanks to Steve for being so cool. When I grow up I want to be just like him!

Happy Friday