In October 2024, natural disaster Hurricane Helene left more than 230 dead across six states, making it the second deadliest storm to hit the mainland United States in more than 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina. Many of those areas and communities are still feeling the storm’s impact and will be forever changed.
When 2024 Cal Tri Charlotte, scheduled for October 5, was unexpectedly canceled, the news hit hard. It was a stark reminder that even the best-managed multisport events are vulnerable to unpredictable “acts of God.” Behind the scenes, the team reflected on what it meant to truly take care of their athletes, not just when things went right, but especially when they didn’t.
Cal Tri Events had long prided itself on what it called the best 15 words in triathlon; Free race transfers, deferrals & participant transfers as late as the day before the race. It’s a simple promise built on fairness, flexibility, and the belief that athletes deserve confidence when they register. But in October 2024, that didn’t feel like enough.
Out of that moment came something new: the Divine Intervention Refund Policy. Announced in November 2024 and put into effect immediately, it marked a renewed commitment to the community; proof that even in the face of uncertainty, Cal Tri Events would stand by its athletes. If an entire Cal Tri Events race is canceled due to an “Act of God” (meaning a natural disaster, accident or other incident outside of human control) by either Cal Tri Events or the municipal authority, then registered participants will be automatically refunded their full registration fee.
Cal Tri Events absorbs the cost of increased protection, 2% of the registration fee, so that athletes would not be left out of pocket simply because a storm, flooding, or other unforeseeable event canceled the event. Cal Tri Events’s rationale is rooted in protecting athletes from the financial and emotional frustration of a canceled race.
As Cal Tri Events CEO Thom Richmond put it: “Our athletes have reached out in high numbers to express their gratitude and delight in the policy. It’s clear that when you give people choice and protection, they feel seen and respected.”
It’s worth recognizing that in August 2025, USA Triathlon reversed its long-standing no-refund stance when its 2025 Sprint & Paratriathlon National Championships in Milwaukee were canceled due to extreme flooding. USAT announced full refunds for affected athletes, despite their prior waiver language forbidding such refunds. This is a positive step, and there is hope that they will use this moment to permanently revise its policies more meaningfully beyond emergency situations, moving toward a consistent athlete-friendly standard in 2026 and beyond.
The Divine Intervention policy from Cal Tri Events represents a thoughtful evolution in athlete focused policy: with a clear trigger (full race cancelation due to external cause), a transparent response (full refund), and built-in cost absorption. While no policy can eliminate risk entirely, this sets a high bar in the multisport event space. It also raises the question of whether other organisers will follow suit with more generous, overdue athlete protections moving forward.