Triathlons are massive in the Alps, and with its abundance of stunning lakes, trails and cols, it’s easy to see why. Awe-inspiring settings crossed with beautiful sunny weather makes the idea of running, cycling and swimming all in the same day seem much more appealing!
Morzine has long been home to triathlon camps, cycling holidays and many a sports club, but today saw the launch of the town’s first dedicated triathlon club, Tri Montagne. The club was founded by a group of nine locals, whose aim is to create a welcoming, community atmosphere for people living in the valley, from beginners to experienced triathletes. After all, going it alone isn;t nearly as much fun. Tri Montagne will be hosting weekly training sessions from the beginning of June, for all experience levels, and will provide a supportive and informative platform for Morzine residents looking to compete in triathlons around the area.
Lots of eager triathletes at the club launch.
Tri Montagne is a fully registered and insured French association (which is no easy feat!), ensuring that members are trained by fully registered, experienced professionals. It’s also registered with the Rhone Alps Triathon Ligue and the French Federation of Triathlon. We spoke to Tri Montagne team member, ex-professional triathlete and club coach, Amelia Pearson. “I am qualified and experienced coach, which is not easy in France!” she told us. “So the goal of the club training sessions are to provide people of all levels, adults and juniors, the opportunity to learn and develop skills in swimming, cycling and running and support them in participating in triathlons. It is such a fun sport that anyone can compete in so if we can get everyone having fun while being active together that would a great thing.”
We also spoke to team member and certified coach, Joe Pearson, who has been watching the sport develop in Morzine and wanted to bring more of a community feel to it: “We have seen the interest in triathlon increasing in Morzine and the surrounding area steadily grow over the past 5 years and wanted to create a club for locals. The aim of Tri Montagne is to provide opportunities to help beginners get into the sport, offer opportunities for people to be able to train and socialise together as well as having an identity at triathlon events around the area. We would also one day love to have a triathlon event here in Morzine.”
Club president Hanine El Ouali and coach Amelia Pearson
Helen Watts runs Alpine French School and is the club’s trusty secretary. She seconded Joe and Amelia’s motivations, telling us, “I got back into triathlons after having 2 kids and wanted to get fit again. With Joe and Amelia’s help, I’ve gone from hardly being able to run and having a really weak core to feeling fit and strong again. We want Tri Montagne to be accessible to everyone, not just people who already do triathlons but anyone who would like to have a go, or anyone who just wants to get fit in a sociable environment. All of us started as beginners and we all remember that. Our love of the sport is why we want to encourage others to give it a go!”
So there you have it. If you ever needed a push to get into triathlon, now you can do it in a fun and supportive atmosphere, and benefit from Amelia’s experience and professional coaching. Everyone involved is super passionate about it, so if you feel like giving it a Tri (sorry!), check out the brand new Tri Montange website or visit their Facebok page for more information, advice or a friendly chat.
