Thousands of competitors will converge on the Sunshine Coast this weekend for a sporting extravaganza expected to provide a massive boost to the region’s economy and profile.
Elite athletes and weekend warriors are set to take part in the Mooloolaba Triathlon festival, the nation’s best swimmers will meet at Coolum for the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships and many of the country’s top golfers will compete in the Queensland Open at Pelican Waters.
Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel said it was easy to see why the Sunshine Coast had earned a reputation as a premium events tourism destination.
“There are approximately 50 events planned across the Sunshine Coast Council’s event calendar alone for 2021,” he said.
“That’s almost one event a week, but importantly the events are concentrated into the periods where the tourism industry needs them the most and that’s to boost visitation during off-peak periods.
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“Through staging these events, the Sunshine Coast is viewed as an attractive tourism destination for athletes to combine event participation with a holiday.
“With international borders still closed it is important for the Sunshine Coast to have a successful events calendar to provide new reasons for visitors to return to the region,” he added.
Sunshine Coast Councillor Cr Jason O’Pray said the event provided a shot in the arm for our accommodation providers and worth around $5 million to the region’s economy.
“And while the athletes are out on the course, our Mooloolaba businesses are keen to serve the locals as usual,” Cr O’Pray said.
“Plenty of parking is now available within walking distance to shops, cafes and restaurants with easy access to support businesses by shopping, eating and spending locally.”
The triathlon festival will be the largest event that IRONMAN has run for a year.
“It’s looking like a big weekend,” race director Toby Keegan said.
“We’re pretty close to selling out.”
He said the festival attracted people from around the country, providing a boost to the local economy.
“I’d say about 80 per cent of them are from outside of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“They don’t just come here for the day.
“They have to check in (to the event) and check their bikes in during the days prior, so there are a lot of athletes coming to town and staying here.
“They’re going to restaurants and hopefully, they will stay here after the weekend.”
About 3500 competitors are expected for the festival, with about 2700 of them in the main triathlon on Sunday.
The feature race includes a 1.5km swim at Mooloolaba Bay, a 40km ride to Coolum Beach and back via the Sunshine Motorway and a 10km run along Alexandra Parade.
It will double as the Australian Age Group Championships.
The festival’s usual World Cup race, which has been a sprint format during the past few years, won’t be held because of the impact of COVID and travel restrictions on international athletes.
But many of the nation’s best triathletes will compete in a special Australian Elite Standard Distance Championships.
Ashleigh Gentle, Emma Jeffcoat, Emma Jackson, Aaron Royle, Jake Birtwhistle and Matt Hauser are among those set to take part.
Keegan said he was delighted the three-day festival, which will also include non-drafting and draft-league sprint races could be held.
“We (IRONMAN) were lucky to put on IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast and IRONMAN Cairns last year but places like Sydney and Melbourne haven’t put on events since August 2019,” he said.
“So, we’re really fortunate here and we’re pretty lucky we have the support of Sunshine Coast Council and Queensland Health to be able to continue to put on events here.”
Competitors are abiding by COVID Safe initiatives.
“The response from the athletes has been great,” Keegan said.
“They’ve been understanding with any protocols we’ve put into place.
“We don’t get much pushback from them when we ask them to do something that they’re not used to. They’re all adapting because I think they appreciate these events can only go ahead because we make changes and make them COVID Safe.”
Conditions should be warm on Sunday, but with relatively calm waters.
The event, which has been running since 1993, has had some significant swell in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships will be held at Oz Ski Resort Coolum.
Hundreds of athletes will take to the water for national titles in various distances.
Several Sunshine Coasters will be in the thick of the action, including Tokyo-bound Kareena Lee and Olympics hopefuls like Nick Sloman.
Golf’s Queensland Open will be held at Pelican Waters again, after a successful running last year.
A host of Australia’s best players will challenge for the title, including a selection of locals.
Caloundra young gun Sarah Wilson is among females in the field. She played last year, missing the cut by a stroke.
The Sunshine Coast cricket grand finals will also be held, and the Sunshine Coast rugby league season will kick off.
Triathlon festival schedule
Saturday, March 13
Sprint Non-Drafting, Mooloolaba Main Beach from 6.45am
Sunday, March 14
Sprint Draft-Legal, Mooloolaba Main Beach from 6.15am
Australian Elite & U23 Standard Championship from 6.35am
Mooloolaba Triathlon from 6.45am
Mooloolaba Triathlon Relay from 8.35am
Road closures:
Friday, March 12
Beach Tce and car parking (Total road and parking) 4:30am – 7:00pm Sun 14
Brisbane Rd (First Ave to Mooloolaba Esp) 1:00pm – 5:00pm Sun 14
Mooloolaba Esp* (Brisbane Rd to Venning St) 1:00pm – 5:00pm Sun 14
*Local Access Only – Deliveries, Taxis: 5.00pm Fri 12/3 to 5.00am Sat 13/3. 9.00am Sat to 4.00am Sun 14/3
Saturday, March 13
River Esp (Hancock St to Mooloolaba Esp) 5:00am – 9:00am
Hancock St (River Esp to Brisbane Rd) 5:00am – 9:00am
Brisbane Rd (Walan St to Mooloolaba Esp) 5:00am – 9:00am
First Ave (Brisbane Rd to First Ln) 5:00am – 9:00am
First Ln (First Ave to Muraban St) 5:00am – 9:00am
Muraban St (First Lane to Walan St) 5:00am – 9:00am
Walan St (Muraban St to Venning St) 5:00am – 9:00am
Venning St (Muraban St to Mooloolaba Esp) 5:00am – 9:00am
Mooloolaba Esp* ** (River Esp to Buderim Ave) 5:00am – 10:00am
Alexandra Pde** (Buderim Ave to Sixth Ave) 5:00am – 10:00am
Buderim Ave (Mooloolaba Esp to Douglas St) 5:00am – 10:00am
*Local Access Only – Deliveries, Taxis: 5.00pm Fri 12/3 to 5.00am Sat 13/3. 9.00am Sat to 4.00am Sun 14/3. ** No Parking
Sunday, March 14
River Esp (Hancock St to Mooloolaba Esp) 5:00am – 11:30am
Hancock St (River Esp to Brisbane Rd) 5:00am – 11:30am
Brisbane Rd (Walan St to Mooloolaba Esp) 5:00am – 11:30am
First Ave (Brisbane Rd to First Ln) 5:00am – 11:30am
First Ln (First Ave to Muraban St) 5:00am – 11:30am
Walan St (Muraban St to Venning St) 5:00am – 11:30am
Venning St (Muraban St to Mooloolaba Esp) 5:00am – 11:30am
Mooloolaba Esp* (River Esp to Buderim Ave) 5:00am – 1:00pm
Alexandra Pde (Buderim Ave to Mayfield St) 5:00am – 1:00pm
Alexandra Pde – South bound lanes (Mayfield St to Sixth Ave) 6:00am – 1:00pm
Buderim Ave (Mooloolaba Esp to Douglas St) 5:00am – 1:00pm
Buderim Ave**^ (Douglas St to Sunshine Mwy) 5:00am – 11:30am
Sunshine Motorway – Total Closure (David Low Way, Pacific Paradise to Coolum / Yandina roundabout) 5:00am – 11:15am
Sunshine Motorway – South bound lanes (David Low Way, Pacific Paradise to Mooloolaba Rd) 5:00am – 11:15am
*Local Access Only – Deliveries, Taxis: 5.00pm Fri 12/3 to 5.00am Sat 13/3. 9.00am Sat to 4.00am Sun 14/3. ** No Parking. ^Traffic able to cross at Mayfield St & Pettigrew St under Police supervision.
Parkyn Parade* (River Esp to The Spit) Sat 13 5:00am – 10:00am, Sun 14 5:00am – 11:30am
*Access to Parkyn Parade through the Wharf Carpark via River Esplanade,
Free shuttle bus service
Mountain Creek High School, Lady Musgrave Dr to River Esp, Mooloolaba
Saturday, March 13: 4:30am – 5:30pm and Sunday, March 14: 4:30am – 5:30pm
Bus will do a continuous loop, approx: 30 minutes loop.
COVID Safe
Mooloolaba Triathlon will operate under a QLD Health approved COVID Safe Event Plan. Key details include:
- Everyone should download and turn on the Australian Government COVIDSafe App.
- Do not come to the event if you are unwell or have been in contact with somebody who is sick.
- Regularly clean hands at hand wash and sanitation stations.
- Support crew and spectators are discouraged from attending this year’s event.
Instead, track athletes virtually via our event app.
If you do come to the event, please respect any direction given by security guards or event staff to maintain physical distancing of 1.5m.
