Strange being on a twin prop plane. Assuming the two ‘fan’s’ on either side makes it one. About as strange as the girl diagonally across shirt’s inscription: “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined”. Or about as strange as the feeling of  being Maui bound.

Better than swimming to Maui

I’ll be meeting Brian and Jenny in Seattle, and depart on the same flight to Kahului. Cant wait to wake in Maui tomorrow, make my way down to the beach for a swim, build my Specialized, and see some palm trees. Thursday afternoon I have an interview with the TV crew. A pro-athlete meeting some time after. Friday a shoot with the brilliant Nils Nilsen. Saturday evening is a pasta dinner I think, and then Sunday is the rumble in the jungle –some 3hours of it.

The players:

Conrad Stoltz

I believe the pioneer may well stand alone as a four-time titleholder by Sunday’s lunchtime. Without mechanical, I’d struggle to bet against the South African Xterra icon.

Olivier Marceau

Finished a close second to Stoltz last year, and even closer second prior to that, so statistically he’d be a good bet for second. Marceau raced in Beijing and the ITU year was reshuffled for the Games. Might have opened to opportunity to train more Xterra specifically this year, and add an Xterra World Title to his ITU World title of 2000. Marceau is a beast on the bike, and I recall Anthony Shippard talking up his power during French Grand Prix’s when I was 15.

Nico Lebrun

A previous winner at Maui. Was phenomenal earlier this year in Europe, seeming untouchable. However, Nico focused on racing Ironman Hawaii two weeks back, where he folded on the run. I hope he’s still folded in half, else his bike run ability might be too much for anyone to match.

Eneko Llanos

at two time Xterra World Champion who has been focusing on Ironman of late. He has had a radical year, with brilliant 70.3 results, and capping it with a 2nd in Hawaii at arguably the greatest triathlon of them all. If he has recovered from his 8hour effort, surely he is in sublime form?

Franky Battelier

Another Frenchie who has been on song all year. Beating Lebrun in one event, and riding with Stoltz off the front at Xterra Czech before Stoltz flatted. I think it might be has first outing in Maui too. Unsure. But I imagine her must be serious to have finally made the trip.

Sylvain Dodet

The third of the fast French. He looked so ripped at Xterra France, but was still finding his feet running wise after two years if injury. He lead me out the swim at Xterra France, and disappeared up the climb. So I imagine he’ll definitely be in the mix early on, and perhaps even at the end too.

Michael Weiss

Don’t know much about him. Except that he has been radical in the few triathlons he’s done the past few months. From a mountain biking background, European U23 Champion, and recently did his first Xterra, and beat Battelier by 7 minutes (Lebrun didn’t race). More impressive was a 2nd in the Monaco 70.3, behind Andreas Raelart who trained in Stellenbosch through the summer. 6th at that race was Chris McCormack, and 8th Nico Lebrun. My pick as outsider dark horse.

Chris Legh

An Australian who placed 4th at last years Worlds. Don’t know him much. Last year was a tight field, so he must be class.

Brian Smith

My housemate for the week. As mentioned before, he cooked with gas last year and was eventually not far behind Stoltz and Marceau for third. Can it be repeated? Brian might be closer out the swim this year, with his ability in the water slowly improving, a position from which he could be lethal.

Mike Vine

Eish but he climbed well in Tahoe. If Mike is in similar form to three weeks back, and handles the heat and humidity as well as he did the freshness at Tahoe, Mike will have his best result at Maui.
Seth Wealing – placed third year two years back, and mechanicalled last year. If his rim hold it together this year down the plunge, and he runs as in Tahoe – a top five maybe.

Josiah Middaugh

Also had bad luck last year on the bike. Josiah was also going well in Tahoe, climbing real well, and it seems he is going to finish the season strongly.

Brent McMahon

Canadian. Podium’d in Maui a couple of times, before re-focusing on qualification for Beijing. He missed the selection, and has been doing some non-drafting races in the States. No idea where he will be at off road, but might be a factor.

And then there’s this other guy I’ve heard of, Dan something or the other. Haha. We’ll see. Be great to mix it up with the top brass. Might as well.

Now on the ground in Seattle, at Gate S-7, after the most visually stunning landing I’ve seen. As if someone had painted all the trees. Together with the water, the amount of blue, glassy, vast water wrapping about the land. Such intense green grass on sportsfields, contrasting against deep reds, organges, yellows, and everything in between. And then there were the clouds framing the view. Cumulonimbus calvus clouds

Similar colours