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2011 SavageMan Triathlon Draws 1200 Athletes, 32-States & Worldwide 2011 SavageMan Triathlon Draws 1200 Athletes, 32-States & Worldwide
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2011
2011 SavageMan Triathlon Draws 1200 Athletes, 32-States & Worldwide Past Victors to Defend Titles in “Savage Race to Fight a Savage Cancer” Champion Charity Fundraisers Projected to Raise in Excess of $100,000
(McHenry, MD) The 5th anniversary 2011 “TRI-TO-WIN” SavageMan Triathlon Festival, slated for Sept. 17-18 at the Deep Creek Lake State Park in western Maryland, will feature athletes from all corners of the U.S. (CA, FL, ME, WA & HI), Washington D.C.; and, numerous from foreign countries including Canada, Great Britain, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Australia. This ‘TRI-TO-WIN…the fight against melanoma’ event, is organized, produced and benefits the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation known as the “voice for melanoma prevention, detection, care and cure.” Philip Graves (GBR) and the Desiree Ficker (USA) return from 2010 strong victory performances with Graves setting both new overall SavageMan 70.0 course and 55.7-mile bike records; and, Ficker a new 13.1-mile run record. The formidable 2011 starting field, includes John Kenny (USA) and Zach Ruble (USA) 2nd and 3rd places respectively in 2010; and, will be joined by the featured triathlon legend, 6x Ironman World Champion Dave Scott (USA). Also, Josh Beck (USA) considered one of the world's top duathlete champions in running and cycling, and who posted a blazing sub-6:00 minute run record on the extremely challenging 13.1-mi. run course in 2010, returns for his 5th consecutive race. And notably strengthening the women’s field is 2x-SavageMan 70.0 victor, women’s course-record holder, and the U.S.’s only Olympic triathlon medalist ever (Athens 2004) – Susan Williams – returning to ensure a very solid competition of the 70.0 women’s event. In the March 2010 Triathlete magazine article, the “100 Best Races in the World,” the SavageMan 70.0 not only was the lead-in two-page feature preface highlight, but also earned the “Editor’s Choice” distinction of “#1 Hardest Race on Earth!” – read here. Very challenging, breathtaking and beautiful, the SavageMan 70.0 and 30.0 races have built a loyal following and solid reputation among athletes worldwide, seeking a very unique lifetime experience. Extremely high marks in post race surveys reflect that 100% of athletes “recommend the ‘TRI-TO-WIN’ SavageMan Triathlon Festival to others!” and reflect the phenomenal attraction to western Maryland for the race and another consecutive “sell-out,” for the world’s most savage and beautiful triathlons. There are a multitude of viewing areas in Deep Creek Lake State Park and over Garrett and Allegeny counties for the general public – but, VOLUNTEERS are still wanted – which doubles the fun for spectators to experience this one-of-a-kind international sporting event “up-close” and helping to ensure a safe and successful event for participants from around the country and world; and, the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation’s mission! SavageMan Triathlon - 1200 Athletes, 32-States & Worldwide For further information on volunteering, visit: www.savagemantri.org/volunteers.html and for course maps and daily activities, visit the primary SavageMan website: www.savagemantri.org. To review necessary brief safety secondary road closures, please visit: http://www.savagemantri.org/road_closures.pdf The much acclaimed 2010 Foundation charity race raised nearly $100,000 in donations by individual “Champion” athlete/fundraisers who utilize personal race fundraising websites to enhance awareness for melanoma skin cancer and the Foundation’s mission of education, advocacy and research. The Foundation also greatly appreciates the very broad slate of sponsors who provide services and support for the 2011 event, most notably Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources, Railey Mountain Lake Vacations and Railey Realty, among numerous community organizations and businesses, and national sponsors, listed throughout the race website for this unique, world-renowned charity triathlon event to beat melanoma skin cancer. According to Foundation President and Race Director, Greg Safko, “The ‘TRI-TO-WIN’ SavageMan Triathlon Festival has garnered much international attention as arguably the world’s toughest and most “savage” triathlon at the long-course distance. Besides attracting the world’s most accomplished and savvy triathletes to test themselves and compete on this very challenging and unique triathlon course, we also hope to inform them as fundraising “Champions” and their donors, that melanoma skin cancer is the #1 most common cancer among 25-29 year-olds; and, is a very insidious and formidable skin cancer that, if not prevented or detected early, is extremely fast and lethal. We’re very proud that our “TRI-TO-WIN” signature fundraising event for the Foundation is supported by a multitude of athletes, to further the JMNMF mission of melanoma education, advocacy and research.” The SavageMan 70.0 “signature” event features: a 1.2-mile swim in Maryland’s largest lake at 2,000’ in the Allegheny Mountains highlands; followed by the crown jewel bike stage featuring nearly 5,800’ vertical climbing and the most savage ascent in all of triathlon – the Westernport “Wall,” and Big Savage Mountain summit over the Eastern Continental Divide; and, culminates in twice tackling the 6.5-mile loop run course along the shores of Deep Creek Lake and undulating State Park Road, to end at the exceedingly panoramic, lakeside finish. The SavageMan Triathlon courses are the result of Course Founder & Architect, Kyle Yost’s passion for triathlon. “First of all, SavageMan is the toughest of the tough,” states Yost. “There will be endless debate on the internet about what race is harder than which, but no one who has done SavageMan ever claims there is another tougher. While the bike course gets all the attention, the run is a real challenge, too. SavageMan was created simply because the venue, and in particular the roads and severe climbs for the bike course, were simply too wonderful for an event to not exist there. And, in line with our “participant experience first” mission, we strive to really put on an event that stands above all the rest, and that effort has paid off.” SavageMan Triathlon - 1200 Athletes, 32-States & Worldwide Many triathletes now recognize the famous vertical challenge – the “Westernport Wall,” at just four blocks, though not particularly long, features an average grade of 25% and a max pitch of 31%. Ascending the final block of the “Wall” takes a bit of skill, luck and a lot of ‘True Savage” determination. Those successful and able to complete the race are memorialized with a personally engraved name “brick in the wall!” Following the 2010 race, 252 “savages” now find their names memorialized in the legendary pavement of Westernport, MD, along with only nine “legacy” bricks for successful climbers of all four previous races. Besides the renowned 70.0-mile event, the Festival features the SavageMan 30.0 Olympic-distance triathlon to compliment race offerings and fundraising opportunities for everyone. Existing SavageMan 70.0 Triathlon Course Records: Overall Male: 4:29:38 - Philip Graves, 2010 -30- CONTACTS & PHOTOS: Greg Safko Kyle Yost President/USA Triathlon Certified Race Director SavageMan Founder & Course Architect Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation ‘TRI-TO-WIN” SavageMan Triathlon Festival (410) 857-4890 kyle@winthefight.org gsafko@winthefight.org www.savagemantri.org
The Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation is proud of numerous achievements to date, specifically: Ø Underwriting melanoma research at numerous prestigious cancer centers across the U.S., through the Foundation’s Research Scholarship Awards (RSA) earned by the best and brightest young graduate student scientists, to advance discovery of effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for melanoma; Ø Successfully launching and expanding a comprehensive High School health curriculum, “Teen Skin Cancer & Melanoma Awareness,” for the key demographic of students (and their families), to learn the deadly risks of melanoma skin cancer and “UV-safe” preventative and detection practices; Ø Ongoing targeted initiatives, and multi-channel outreach, to ensure broader national awareness of melanoma prevention and detection by the general public; and, Ø Providing a broad spectrum of essential advocacy and care resources for patients and the entire melanoma community. GOT SKIN? LEARN THESE ALARMING FACTS: ØMelanoma is the most serious and lethal form of skin cancer and accounts for approx. 75% of all skin cancer deaths. ØOne person dies nearly every hour in the U.S. from melanoma. ØMelanoma is the most common cancer for young adults ages 25-29; and, o Second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. ØIn 2011, 70,230 new cases of melanoma are projected to be diagnosed in the U.S.; and o 8790 individuals are expected to die. ØThe lifetime risk of developing melanoma is 1 in 52. ØMelanoma is the cancer for which incidence is rising, yet only receives approx. 3% of funding provided by the National Cancer Institute. Board of Directors
Robert Nicolay, Chairman Regina Bodnar, Vice-Chair Nancy Nicolay, Treasurer Denise Safko, Secretary Susan Bancroft Debbie Brown Nancy Crawford Sara England-D’Ovidio Martha Herman Esther Hoffberg Jennifer Martin Donna Nicolay Jane B. Shapiro Advisory Board Dr. Rhoda M. Alani Dr. Joyce Currie-Little Dr. Mukund Didolkar F. M. Gloth, Jr. Dr. Michael Gloth Roberta Herbst Dr. Meenhard Herlyn Dr. Flavio Kruter Brittany Lietz-Cicala Dr. William H. Sharfman Carol Steers Dr. John A. Steers Honorary Board Carmen Amedori Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Kendel S. Ehrlich Sen. Larry Haines Del. Anne Healey Paula C. Hollinger Del. Susan Krebs Del. Maggie McIntosh Sen. Barbara Mikulski Del Nancy Stocksdale President Gregory Safko
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