In-Person Connections: Endurance Exchange Attendees Learn, Network, Grow at USA Triathlon’s Industry Conference

February 6, 2023

Endurance Exchange attendees share their key takeaways from USA Triathlon’s Endurance Exchange.

AUSTIN, Texas /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Coaches, race directors, endurance sports athletes and professionals gathered in person in January for USA Triathlon’s fourth annual Endurance Exchange presented by BOA Nutrition, the premier industry-wide conference for endurance sports hosted by USA Triathlon.

Held in person for the first time since the inaugural conference in 2020, Endurance Exchange was abuzz with activity at the Austin Convention Center as attendees networked and learned during the more than 30 live sessions presented by the industry’s top coaches, race directors and industry professionals. The conference featured a mix of hands-on, experiential learning workshops — including in-water sessions at the University of Texas Jamail Texas Swimming Center — and lecture experiences to educate athletes, coaches, race directors and more members of the multisport community.

“Change makers are people who take a risk, pursue what will make them better and take their learning and their connections home to share with their family, friends, athletes and colleagues. A huge thanks to every person who joined us for the 2023 Endurance Exchange,” said Earl Walton, USA Triathlon Director of Education. “We’ve started a great conversation — let’s keep it going until we are together again. This is how we build the future of the sport.”

Attendees also had the opportunity to dive into the full report and key findings from USA Triathlon’s State of the Sport Survey. Produced by Sponsorship Research International (SRi), the USA Triathlon State of the Sport Survey provides valuable insights on the current state of the endurance sports industry and the first true ‘post-pandemic’ view of the endurance sports industry and USA Triathlon membership.

Led by USA Triathlon CEO Victoria Brumfield, a panel of endurance sports industry experts discussed the key trends and findings from the State of the Sport Survey and strategies industry leaders can implement in 2023 and beyond. USA Triathlon annual members, including coaches, race directors and club leaders were surveyed to help identify key trends in the endurance sports industry.

Click here to see a preview of the State of the Sport Survey.

Also at Endurance Exchange, 10 coaches, race directors and leaders in the multisport community were honored with the 2022 USA Triathlon Coach of the Year, 2022 Heart of the Race Director and 2022 Service to the Sport Awards.

Attendees at Endurance Exchange enjoyed an expo with more than 50 exhibitors, including USA Triathlon corporate partners and other endurance sports brands that showcased the latest products and innovations in the endurance sports community.

Endurance Exchange also included the Race Director Summit, a day dedicated exclusively for race directors, including a panel discussion led by USA Triathlon Race Director Committee co-chairs, Eva Solomon and Joe Fleenor. Race directors learned via expert-led work sessions — including medical, safety and business planning — and workshops to set them up for their most successful season yet. Race director-specific content included marketing events for a sold-out 2023 season, finding and retaining athletes, how to make your event more sustainable and timing and reporting best practices.

Race directors and USA Triathlon Certified Coaches at Endurance Exchange had the opportunity to earn 12 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to further their professional development. More than 30 sessions at Endurance Exchange were recorded and are available for registered attendees to view at enduranceexchange.com. Sessions will also be available to watch for CEUs at USA Triathlon’s education platform, triathlonlearning.com.

What attendees are saying about Endurance Exchange:

Eva Solomon

Race Director | Epic Races

“I come here, I feel at home. Where else can I have conversations at dinner about zip ties? These are the kinds of topics I bring up at home with friends and family and they’ve had enough of me talking about it after 30 seconds. But here I can talk about these things that are on my mind all the time. And we had the chance to learn about the state of the sport report. Where else are you going to learn about the key data and trends in our industry? Any race director should go to Endurance Exchange every year if they’re able.”

Angela Klick

Race Director | She Tris

“Why not come? You’re surrounded by this whole community that wants to see you succeed as an event. People are really open to sharing what’s going on in their race communities, how they can help you, who they can introduce you to and how you can work together. That’s the most beneficial piece I walk away with, the relationships you make while here.”

Sarah Hays

Race Director | She Tris

“The networking is 100 percent one of the best takeaways from the evet. Getting to work together with other race directors and stakeholders in the industry to find solutions to things we’re struggling with or maybe someone recently struggled with and has an answer for now. And just getting all the new industry information so we can make good decisions this year.”

Scott Bennefield

USA Triathlon Certified Coach

“Endurance Exchange is like a reunion. We get together with friends we haven’t seen for a while in person. There is so much to learn and share at Endurance Exchange, so from what you receive and what you give, you grow. That’s a big goal as a coach, and as a person, to grow and evolve and be better tomorrow than I was today. Endurance Exchange offers that opportunity with the various sessions and engaging hands-on learning experiences.”

About USA Triathlon

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 races and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

– usatriathlon.org –