GOING OUT: Passion powers TriDubai

Sport360 staff 14:28 17/04/2014
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  • When thinking about sports that are fun as a hobby, attempting a triathlon certainly doesn’t come to mind. Don’t tell that to the hundreds involved with TriDubai, a triathlon club in Dubai, though.

    “It’s one of those sports that’s incredibly addictive,” Paul Venn told Sport360°. “Whenever you say that to someone who’s never done one, they look at you like you’re an idiot.”

    Venn, a triathlete himself, is responsible for communications as part of the 2014 TriDubai committee and he has been with the club since its early stages when it was founded in 2012.

    One of the co-founders, Roy Nasr, was tragically killed while doing what he loved, riding his bike, by a motorist on September 6, 2013.

    TriDubai continues on with his spirit, bringing together triathlon enthusiasts.

    Anyone can join TriDubai, free of charge, which encourages men and women of all ages to take part.

    All it takes to do so is joining the Facebook group, which currently has over 1,700 members, though Venn notes there’s 400-500 active members who show up for training sessions.

    “It really is a very multicultural group,” Venn added.

    “Everyone has a passion for the sport of triathlon. That’s really the only binding commonality amongst them all. It would be very difficult to describe a typical TriDubai member other than the love for the sport of triathlon and wanting to train and race with other people.”

    While TriDubai does do marketing, it’s very minimal, Venn notes. Most of the growth occurs organically through word of mouth and social media websites.

    Venn even notices many passersby coming up to the group during training sessions and asking how they can be part of the club.

    As for a requirement or baseline skill level that is necessary to become a member, there is none. 

    “We’ve got people who’ve never learned triathlon before,” said Venn. “We’ve got people who can’t swim and want to learn to swim. Right up to people who’ve won their age group at the world championships and everything in between. It’s designed to be that. It’s not meant to be exclusive. It’s meant to be inclusive.”

    Not only can you become a member free of charge, but you receive benefits by being one. 

    TriDubai cycles all of its funding and sponsorship back to its members, providing towels, hats, water bottles, t-shirts and more.
    For Venn, however, the best part of what the club provides is the camaraderie and motivation by training with others.

    “It forces me to get out of the bed to go swim,” said Venn. “If it was just me going to the beach by myself for a swim, nine times out of 10 I’d switch the alarm off or not bother setting the alarm the night before.

    “When you start to suffer and it hurts and you’re pushing yourself harder than you’ve pushed yourself before, knowing there’s someone besides you whether you’re running, cycling or swimming, makes an enormous amount of difference.”

    What: TriDubai
    When & where: Throughout the day all over Dubai
    Founded: 2012
    Cost: Free to join
    Open to: Men and women No. of members: 1,700+
    Contact & info: Visit www. tridubai.org
    Social media: Visit the TriDubai Facebook page or @TriDubai on Twitter

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