What does it take to produce one of the largest youth triathlons in the country?
On this episode of California Triathlon Soup, Ryan Dell and Thom Richmond sit down with Tony Sapp, owner of Negative Split Productions, to talk about the Houston Kids Triathlon, an event that has grown to 1,600 young athletes and attracts more than 10,000 people over race weekend.
Tony shares how the event has evolved since its debut in 2016, what goes into creating a safe and beginner-friendly experience for young athletes, and why his Athlete First Initiative puts communication, flexibility and the athlete experience at the center of race production.
We also go behind the scenes of race weekend — including managing thousands of parents and spectators, creating a stadium-style experience at the swim start, and the unforgettable moment when 500 kids started chanting “LET US START!”
Plus, we talk about Cal Tri Houston, the new adult-only reverse triathlon coming to Typhoon Texas on September 13, and look ahead to the TriFind Race Director Summit at Newport Dunes.
Whether you're an athlete, parent, race director or just curious about what happens behind the scenes of a major endurance event, this episode has plenty of great stories and lessons from the race industry.
Learn more about Negative Split Productions at mynegativesplit.com.