In 2010 a number of triathlon's heavily invested brands across a number of categories met in New York City to discuss the future of the sport. Out of that meeting an industry organization was formed, Triathlon Business International (TBI). This group meets at least twice a year around two signature events: TBI's Triathlon Pavilion inside the bicycle industry's Interbike Trade Show, and TBI's own North American Conference.
On January 24 thru 26, in Marina del Rey, on the ocean between the LAX airport and Santa Monica, TBI will host its 5th annual conference. The featured speakers will be U.S. Congresswoman and triathlete Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), Ironman's CEO Andrew Messick, USAT's president (and ITU eboard member) Barry Siff, and Strava's VP of Strategy and BizDev David Lorsch.
Reporting from deep inside the sausage factory will be triathlon's eminent statistician and prognosticator Gary Roethenbaugh from Multisport Research and ACTIVE Network's GM Sam Renouf.
Of specific interest to me is Kelly Burns Gallagher, Esquire, who was a huge hit last year as she (appropriately) scared the living beejesus out of all the RDs who aren't properly using their volunteers, and I'll be interested to hear what the CEO of Challenge Family, Zibi Szlufcik, has to say about his company's North American plans, and the guidance of this brand in the wake of Felix Walchshöfer's withdrawal from the management of Challenge events other than his own in Roth.
But I must say that I'm most eager to hear what Dag Oliver has to say. Dag of Norseman. Dag who is, in my opinion, providing us a template for triathlon, even if not very many people in our industry are aware of it. Just as it's dog, not human, heaven I'm aiming for when I die, it's Dag's idea of triathlon that most captivates me.
John Cobb and Andy Potts are going to present on amateur club-teams, John as a manufacturer who is successfully building a really nice thing with the Cobb Mobb, and Andy as the most high-profile pro to start his own club-team, Andy Potts Racing. What are these teams? What is their purpose? Their future?
I think part of that future might be properly discussed in a panel on Omni-channel. This is the most dynamic topic in the bike, run and associated product business today. What will the future of retail look like? This conference promises to tackle head-on this very topic, with both manufacturers and retailers on a panel who each think they know what the future will look like. Each thinks it's going to look very different than it looks today.
Other presenters at the conference will include Travis Snyder, founder/CEO, The Color Run; and Dave McGillvrary, founder, DMSE Sports; race director, Boston Marathon. Also Staci Brode, owner, Playtri and USA Triathlon Boardmember; Ryan Coelho, president, USA Productions; Jenna Ginsberg, president, All Sports Events; Mark Walter, president, Sun Multisport; among others.
A part of the conference is an annual banquet, during which industry awards are presented including the top-10 triathlon industry retailers during the 2015 selling year.
