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A packed weekend of ITU action will take place on three continents.  In South Africa, the 2008 Bloemfontein ITU Triathlon African Cup will be staged while Huskisson, Australia will host the 2008 OCA Long Distance Triathlon Oceania Championships.

Many of the worlds top elites train in South Africa during the European winter and some will be racing in Bloemfontein to get in race mode and their competitive juices flowing.  Last years BG Triathlon World Cup series champion Javier Gomez will make his 2008 debut in South Africa this weekend.  Also in the elite mens field is Ritchie Nicholls, last years Under23 European Champion. 

A small but talented womens field will take to the start line, including Beijing-bound Ricarda Lisk of Germany and the local favorite Corinne Berg, the 2007 Under23 African Champion.

Click here for more information on the Bloemfontein ITU Triathlon African Cup

The Huskisson OCA Long Distance Triathlon Oceania Championships will also double as the Australian Long Course National Championships.  The race will be held in and around the beautiful south coast town of Huskisson. Huskisson, the gateway to Jervis Bay, is approximately 2.5 hours south of Sydney and east of Canberra. One of several coastal communities that lie on the shores of Jervis Bay, now classified as a Marine Park, Huskisson provides the ideal location for triathlons. The transition area and major activities will be at White Sands Beach Park.

The swim course will be a 2-kilometer open water swim in the crystal clear waters of Jervis Bay. Commencing with a deep water start at Huskisson Beach, competitors will complete a one-lap counter-clockwise course. Competitors will then leave the shore and run up to the transition area.

The 83-kilometer bike leg will consist of a 3-lap course. The majority of the bike course will have road restrictions allowing for a safe and challenging ride. Athletes will leave the township of Huskisson for approximately 3 km and complete 3 x 27 km loops, heading inland on an 80 % flat and 20% undulating, course. Each lap goes through the small community villages of Woollamia and Vincentia, where many locals will be in support of this unique event for the City of Shoalhaven.

After leaving the bike leg and commencing the final leg, athletes will have wished this to be a marathon. The 20-kilometer run leg will be a 2-lap out and back course. Runners will exit from White Sands Beach Park and run along the footpath / cycleway that snakes along the foreshore of Jervis Bay. The gentle ocean breeze that wisps across the bay will be a delight to the many athletes as they set out to chase their dreams, beat their mates, or just finish yet another race.

Click here for more information on the Huskisson OCA Long Distance Triathlon Oceania Championships