2014 Oceanside 70.3 Prerace

Timothy Carlson Fri Mar 28 2014

Maybe 14 hours before the prestigious Ironman 70.3 California begins with a swim in the Oceanside Harbor, a mix of elite pros, sponsor reps, agents, mechanics and fans gathered at the pre race expo.

All photographs © Timothy Carlson

American uberbiker Andrew Starykowicz high fives a fan at the autograph table. Yes, he plans to kamikaze the bike and hang on as he did in Panama 70.3.

Slideshow

Jordan Rapp and Lukas Verzbicas made an appearance at the Compex tent.

Trevor and Heather say that the Wurtele who finishes further down in the standings does not have to make dinner for the higher ranking spouse. "We just trade off - one of us makes dinner, the other does the dishes," said Heather.

Andy Potts does not fear the international invasion that includes Sebastian Kienle, Jan Frodeno and Pete Jacobs. After all he's won this race five times.

If not for local knowledge, Sebastian Kienle should be the favorite - he is a two-time defending Ironman 70.3 World Champion.

The great Michellie Jones - two-time ITU Olympic distance World Champion and 2006 Ironman World Champion -- turns the tables on this correspondent, drawing her Canon and ready to fire.

Julie Dibens and her able PR liaison/agent Wendy Ingraham relax in front of a classic Woody station wagon at the expo.

Mother and child ride a tandem past the Oceanside pier.

Defending Ironman 70.3 California champion Heather Jackson at the press conference.

The graceful architecture of the stairs near the Oceanside pier.

One of the best T shirt mottos of the day.

The Greatest - 8-time Ironman World Champion Paula Newby-Fraser -- sports another of her stylishly casual ensembles while representing at the expo.

Previous Oceanside winner Matty Boom-Boom Reed represents at the expo.

Bob Babbitt with Compex director of sales Greg Houlgate.

Pete Jacobs, 2012 Ironman World Champion, at the press conference.

Heather Fuhr, 15-time Ironman winner and 1997 Ironman World Champion, sees the world through orange-tinted glasses - the same shade she wore while winning this race in 2001.