Whether you are thinking about doing a triathlon for the first time or you are already an experienced triathlete, California’s Central Coast is a stronghold of triathlon activity every year.

With Santa Barbara having numerous opportunities to compete within short driving distances, S.B. has become a haven for triathletes and endurance athletes.

Here’s a catalogue of triathlons in the area with basic information about each one.

2014 TRIATHLONS

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(Ordered by event date; all events within 200 miles of Santa Barbara)

Kendra Payne Memorial Triathlon
Saturday, April 19 * Campus Point, Goleta * Website

The Kendra Payne is a sprint course tri sponsored by the UCSB Triathlon Team, to benefit the Kendra Fund in honor of the late UCSB triathlete who was killed in 2006 while training. The swim course consists of a 1/2 mile ocean swim starting at Campus Point Beach, the bike course consists of a 16 mile loop through the City of Goleta and Santa Barbara County, and the run course consists of a 1-loop run over a rolling 3 mile course. The race serves as the UCSB Triathlon Team’s big fundraiser for the year, and brings the Santa Barbara community together for one of the best sprint triathlons on the West Coast.

Wildflower Triathlon
May 2-4* Lake San Antonio, Southern Monterey County * Website

Wildflower is happening! Even though Lake San Antonio is currently at a record low, the lake level as it stands today, still has a capacity large enough to run all of our swim course distances. As one of the longest running triathlons in the world, the Wildflower is one of the most prestigious events around during the year. The events include the Ultimate Wildflower Challenge, Long Course Triathlon, Olympic Distance Triathlon, and Mountain Bike Triathlon.

Tri-the-Bull Triathlon
Saturday, June 28 * Pioneer Valley H.S., Santa Maria * Website

Test your endurance along Bull Canyon Road! Triathlon: 15 years and up; distance: 1/4 Mile Swim, 10-Mile Bike Ride, 3-Mile Run; Junior Triathlon Distance: 7-14yrs. 150 Meter Swim, 2-Mile Bike, 1-Mile Run; Fun Run: 7 years and up, 5K.

Ventura Triathlon
Sunday, June 22 * Harbor Cove Beach, Ventura * Website

Breath of Life Triathlon offers a Sprint or Olympic course with swim, bike, & run portions through the scenic Ventura Harbor.  Breath of Life is a fundraiser and is the primary source of charitable donations for the Dina LaVigna Breath of Life Fund for people diagnosed with Primary Immunodeficiency. 

Oxnard Triathlon
July, exact date TBA * Oxnard State Beach Park, Oxnard Shores * Website

Otherwise known as the Strawberry Fields Triathlon.  Distance-S: 1.5km B: 40km R: 10km / S: 1/4mi B: 12mi R: 3mi. Runners during both events will be running along Mandalay Beach Road, Sunset Lane, and Ocean Drive. During the triathlon, the bicycle riders will be traveling on Harbor Boulevard, Gonzales Road, Victoria Avenue, and Channel Islands Boulevard.

San Luis Obispo Triathlon
Sunday, July 27 * Sinsheimer Park, San Luis Obispo * Website

35th annual SLO triathlon. This short course (or sprint) triathlon consists of a 0.5 mile swim, 15 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. Participants must be at least 15 years old.

Goleta Beach Triathlon
Sunday, July 27 * Goleta Beach, Goleta * Website

Events include Sprint Triathlon (1/4 mile swim, 11 mile bike, 2.5 mile run), long Course Triathlon (.93 mile swim, 22 mile bike, 5 mile run), duathlon (2.5 mile run, 22 mile bike, 2.5 mile run), and aquaBike (.93 mile swim, 22 mile bike). Medals will be issued to top finishers, and all participants will receive a commemorative Goleta Beach Triathlon T-shirt with their registration. Benefits the Santa Barbara County Park Foundation.

Santa Barbara Triathlon
August 22-24 * East Beach, Santa Barbara * Website

The Santa Barbara Triathlon’s reputation has been built around a challenging but scenic course and a long history dating back to 1981. A full weekend of activities surround the SB Tri, including a sports expo and a parent/kids race. This year we will support the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.

Nautica Malibu Triathlon
Sunday, September 14 * Zuma Beach, Malibu * Website

The  Nautica Malibu Triathlon presented by Equinox Classic Distance course features a half-mile ocean swim, an 18 mile out-and-back bike course, and a 4-mile out-and-back run course. The course goes through some of the most beautiful roads in Malibu, with spectacular views of the mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

Carpinteria Triathlon
September 28 * Beach State Park, Carpinteria * Website

The Carpinteria Triathlon comes late in the season and is considered fairly challenging due to its difficult bike and run courses. Both the olympic and sprint courses offer the competitor a challenging ride, although the sprint course is also very well suited for the novice triathlete. Carpinteria is a beautiful beach town on the Central Coast located between Santa Barbara and Ventura. The Carpinteria Triathlon is a benefit event for the City’s Parks & Recreation youth programs. Proceeds will help to provide scholarships and additional equipment for programs such as Junior Lifeguards and our ocean recreation programs

Morro Bay Triathlon
November 2 * Coleman Park, Morro Bay * Website

There is a short-course race in addition to an Olympic-Distance course. Competitors can opt to kayak swimming leg of Olympic Course. Come out and enjoy some of the finest multisport terrain on the west coast and be the RockStar you know you are.