The ongoing Zwift Academy Tri program has undergone a few revisions for the 2022-2023 season. The tryout program last year saw more than 120,000 athletes register for the bikes and runs that comprise the program. In this fourth year of ZA Tri, six age group triathletes (three men and three women) will be selected to qualify for the 2023 Zwift Academy Tri Team. Registrations close on November 20th.

The team will be selected in part based on geographic representation as well as performance during the course of the six workouts in the program, keeping with Zwift’s commitment to diversity and equity. In the words of Jan Frodeno, “The Zwift Academy Tri Team is like hitting the lotto.”

The level of support for the Academy team is among the highest in the amateur ranks, and has fostered an environment where athletes are able to flourish further. For example, Ruth Astle graduated from the Zwift Academy Tri program in 2019 and turned professional the following year. Ruth finished fifth at the 2021 IRONMAN World Championships held in St. George.

Building on this run of success, Zwift Academy Tri has partnered with Canyon with the explicit goal of potentially identifying the next generation of professional talent. According to a press release, Markus Fachbach, Canyon’s Brand and Marketing Manager, sees this partnership with ZA Tri to potentially parallel the success of Zwift Academy Road for identifying athletes who can compete at the pro level and secure them a pro contract. Fachbach stated that, “It is our hope that by working with Zwift we will be able to inspire greater performance and uncover hidden talent from a global pool of athletes.”

The use of Zwift Academy Tri for professional talent identification for Canyon has the potential for providing continuity across the support offered by the academy and what Canyon offers their pro triathletes. Canyon has stated on their website that they hope to grow the talent pool by focusing on the sponsorship of younger athletes.

Additional partners for this year's ZA Tri Academy see SRAM, ZIPP and Precision Fuel and Hydration. The ZA Tri team will be equipped with the Canyon Speedmax built up with SRAM RED eTap AXS and ZIPP 303 Firecrests for training and the Zipp 858 NSWs for racing.

Photos Nils Nilsen