SAUGERTIES, NY (February 14, 2012) -- HITS Triathlon Series is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2012 Series Championship in Palm Springs, CA and the 2013 kick-off event in Naples, FL. The HITS Triathlon Series is the only national race series offering five race distances at each event -- Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full, as well as the signature HITS Open, which features a 100 meter swim, 3 mile bike and 1 mile run.
The 2012 HITS Triathlon Series Championship, presented by HighTower, will take place December 1-2 in the beautiful desert of the Palm Springs region in Southern California. The race will begin and end at the picturesque Lake Cahuilla State Park in the city of La Quinta with newly routed bike and run courses that will take athletes through the resort communities of La Quinta and along the mountains that border Joshua Tree National Park.
"We had such terrific feedback from our inaugural event in Palm Springs, that we are very excited to return to that location for our Series Championship," said Mark H. Wilson, Race Director for the HITS Triathlon Series. "I'm excited for athletes to see the new bike and run routes, which we hope to have finalized soon. The bike for the Half and Full will be an enjoyable, rolling ride along the San Bernardino Mountains, also known as the Chocolate Mountains by locals, while the run course will pass through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in America."
Registration for the 2012 HITS Triathlon Series Championship -- Palm Springs will be open to all and not require prior qualifying.
"Based on the level of interest from athletes, and taking into consideration that this is our first year, we've decided to forgo the qualifying criteria for this year's Championship and instead open registration to everyone," added Wilson. "We want all athletes to have an opportunity to race with us in 2012, especially at the venue we expect to become the signature event of our series."
Wilson went on to explain that the Series Championship will now feature the first-annual HITS Triathlon Series Athlete of the Year Awards, presented to the top-performing athlete at each distance across all HITS events, starting with the 2011 inaugural Palm Springs event. Athletes will be ranked by a point system that will award the top three male and female overall finishers with 20, 15 and 12 points and 10, 7 and 5 for top three male and female age group winners. All other athletes will receive 1 point.
Current rankings for Athlete of the Year Awards will be posted following the HITS Triathlon Series -- Corpus Christi event and will be updated following each remaining event in the 2012 schedule.
Registration will be capped at 900 athletes for the Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full distance races, while the free HITS Open will be capped at 300. Early registration for the 2012 Championship closes Saturday, November 3.
HITS Triathlon Series -- Naples 2013
Registration is also open for the 2013 kick-off event, which will take place in Naples, FL January 12-13. After receiving a warm welcome from the community of Collier County, HITS is pleased to report that the Naples 2013 event will feature larger transition areas and a newly routed bike course planned with assistance from the Collier County Sheriff's department. Athletes will be directed through less-populated intersections and onto some of Florida's most scenic landscapes.
"We appreciate all the support and collaboration that we received from the community of Naples during our 2012 event and are excited to work with them again in 2013," said Wilson. "Naples is a prime winter location, perfect for families and athletes looking to escape the cold, and we expect that this venue will become one of the most popular in the series. We've pushed the date back by one week and will be adjusting the bike course, which will really enhance the experience for all."
Registration for HITS Triathlon Series -- Naples 2013 will be capped at 900 athletes for the Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full distance races, while the free HITS Open will be capped at 300. Early registration for the Naples 2013 event closes Saturday, December 8.
For more information, or to register, please visit HitsTriathlonSeries.com.
About HighTower
HighTower is a national, advisor-owned financial services company serving high-net-worth and institutional clients. HighTower advisors are experienced investment professionals with large and established practices. As a dually-registered, multi-custodial firm, HighTower provides sophisticated investment solutions as well as an independent and unobstructed view of the markets. The company is headquartered in Chicago and maintains corporate centers in New York and San Francisco and offices around the country. See www.hightoweradvisors.com.
About HITS, Inc.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing endurance sports events and hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS is dedicated to creating high-quality events in desirable destinations with unmatched, professional operations. For more information about the HITS Triathlon Series, please visit www.hitstriathlonseries.com.
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
