2012 Pacific Grove Triathlons
Just down the street from John Steinbeck’s old haunts in Monterey, Pacific Grove is a lyrical jewel of a town on the Pacific Ocean. Lined by elegant cypress the rocky shores are inhabited by seals, seabirds and beautiful blue salt water. It’s a perfect place for a triathlon, and Tri-California has thrown a weekend celebration of the sport for 18 years now.
This past weekend, Julie Ertel proved that 40-year-old retired triathletes need not be over the hill and young Dustin McLarty showed that he could close the deal on a win in the pro races. Sixteen-year-old Dillon Nobbs proved he could win both the junior elite on Saturday and follow that up with an overall men’s title in the Sunday sprint. Seventeen year old Hannah Rae Fincham, a two-time XTERRA World Champion in her age group, showed once again she could win on pavement and took the women’s overall prize in the sprint.
All photographs © Timothy Carlson
Running up the ramp from swim to bike with a smile as bright as the sun.
Pre race pretzel stretch.
Crowds line the seawall watching a swim start.
Tri fans with fashionable hats and digital cams to catch the action.
Super fan!
Swim start at Lovers Point beach.
Diving into 58-degree water.
Lifeguard on a surfboard patrols the swimmers in early morning light.
Danny Joseph Kennedy, a war vet who lost the use of the right side of his body, gets help out of the water.
Exultation!
Volunteers help a man who fell victim to hypothermia in the swim.
Racing past the beautiful blue Pacific.
It can get crowded — riding around an S-curve.
A physically challenged competitor powers his handcycle.
Running past the Seven Gables Inn.
Pro Lauren Brandon led much of the race before Julie Ertel ran past her on lap two of the run.
Dustin McLarty wins his first pro race.
Best friends finish the run.
Pacific Grove attracts many talented young triathletes.
Junior women congratulate one another on the podium.
