Hong Kong triathlon athletes tell us why you should give their sport a tri
With the Hong Kong Life ASTC Sprint Triathlon Asian Cup just around the corner, we get some insider tips from this year’s competing athletes
The Hong Kong Life ASTC Sprint Triathlon Asian Cup will feature top triathletes from Hong Kong and around the world. Just the cure for our post-summer blues! The Hong Kong Life ASTC (Asian Triathlon Confederation) Sprint Triathlon Asian Cup is returning once again this autumn to Lantau Island’s Sunny Bay.
A press conference was held at Olympic House for this highly anticipated competition earlier this month, so naturally Young Post made sure to nab a front seat.
We quizzed local athletes on how they plan to prepare for the big day, and got the scoop on what this year’s contest, which will take place on October 21, will have in store.
The ASTC-approved event is hosted by Triathlon Hong Kong and sponsored by Hong Kong Life, in partnership with seven other organisations.
It will include a wide range of race categories open to both international and local athletes, and will see both amateurs and professionals, including some of the best triathletes in the world, compete. If previous years are anything to go by, spectators and competitors alike are in for an exciting time, as well as the opportunity to appreciate Sunny Bay’s beautiful scenery.
This year, there will be a total of seven relay categories. For elite athletes taking part, there will be a swimming distance of 750 metres, a cycling distance of 20 kilometres and a running distance of 5 kilometres.
Hong Kong Life and TriHK have also joined forces to open the competition to disabled people, giving disabled athletes a platform to show off their skills, and providing fans with more of the sporting action they love.
Tips from the pros
As well as getting the lowdown on the event, weasked some of Hong Kong’s elite team members for advice on how non-experienced competitors can make sure they’re in top form for the triathlon. Abraham Kok, Eric Wong, Tim Law, Benny
Chu and Dickson Wong are five of Hong Kong’s best triathletes. They shared some useful tips with Young Post on how to get race-ready.
Abraham: Remember to stay hydrated. There will be tracks where there isn’t any shade, so remember to drink more water and increase your liquid intake beforehand.
Don’t overstretch before the race, as it’s a long race, and you could be easily injured if you do so.
Eric: Be sure to warm up before the race. Load up on carbohydrates to store energy in the body and drink plenty of water. Getting enough sleep before the day of the race is also really important because triathlon racing will tire you out, especially if you’re not an experienced racer.
Tim: Pay attention to the buoys when in the water so that you don’t go off-course. There will be giant floats indicating where to swim towards, but keeping a lookout for buoys every few strokes will prevent you from swimming in the wrong direction.
Benny:This goes out to disabled athletes like me; make sure to feel the current of the water before you actually swim. As this race requires a deep water start in the sea, it’s very important to test the water and get a feel of the race course beforehand.
Dickson: Good communication with your partner is very important. Benny and I always make sure we know which direction we’re headed or what transition we’re making. Especially when we’re on the bike, with lots of uphill and downhill turns, make sure you have a good strategy with your partner.
Edited by Charlotte Ames-Ettridge