Eighth Annual | Olympic Distance Triathlon

swim

Swim

1.5 km two-lap triangular course in Flathead Lake

bike

Bike

40 km loop course through the valley southwest of Polson

run

Run

10 km single loop course through scenic Polson

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Unfortunate News: The 2021 edition of the Polson Triathlon will be the last, at least for the next several years. I thought we offered a high quality event, and we always had incredible sponsorship, community and volunteer support, but the number of participants has continued to diminish. I was hoping 2021 would see a resurgence, but instead we had another tiny group of individual finishers. In my mind, this minimal level of participation just doesn’t justify the multiple weeks of time sacrifices necessary to coordinate all aspects of the event. Some folks have said that the course was just too hard (choppy swim, rough bike surface, hilly run) so it is possible that we will return with a more user friendly version in the future, but that could take a few years. I want to again thank all of the heroic participants, inspiring volunteers and generous sponsors who made this event so special every year. Sorry to not have the available time and energy to keep it going. Matt

2021 Results with splits now posted on the Results page.

Polson Triathlon Results

Thanks to all the participants, volunteers and spectators who helped make it another great event on Saturday.

PolsonTriRacerGuide2021

The Polson Triathlon returns on Saturday, August 21, 2021

Thanks to so many energetic volunteers, generous sponsors, and determined racers, we had another great event this  year and our local group of dedicated race organizers are inspired and committed to raising the bar again in 2021.  The word is spreading that this is one of the very best regional multi-sport events so we know that it will continue to grow and reward participants with an unforgettable Montana racing experience.  Whether you are an experienced veteran or intimidated beginner, we hope that you will make the trip to Polson and take the plunge in 2021.

Event Highlights:

  • Unforgettable venue with lake, mountains, and expansive valley vistas
  • Challenging course with a great mix of hills, turns, and fast flats
  • Well-organized support with enthusiastic volunteers and aid stations
  • Bridge top spectating along the swim course
  • Safe, low traffic roads on a loop bike course
  • Single loop run with varied terrain, lakefront views and a Riverside Park finish line
  • Post race picnic for all racers, music, and a riverside award ceremony
  • Prize money, special awards, and great souvenir goodies

Most Recent Updates

Stay up-to-date with the latest news about the 2021 Polson Triathlon!

New 2021 Racer Gear

Huge thanks to our awesome event sponsors!

Open Water Swim Clinic – Sunday, Aug 15

Our local expert Mark Johnston will offer a free clinic for open water swimmers of all ages and experience levels.  He will emphasize proven methods for breathing, sighting and efficient open water swim technique while providing participants the chance to practice and get feedback.  Participants should gather at 7:00 am at the Salish Point swimming […]

Two Wave Start – 8:30 and 9:00

We have made a change to the start sequence this year.  Wave 1 will start at 8:30 am with the solo women and team swimmers.  Wave 2 will start at 9:00 am with the solo men.  The starter will fire an airhorn from the bridge, directly above the start line.  It is a deep water […]

2021 Kids Mini Triathlon

Once again, we will be staging a kids mini triathlon this year for budding triathletes 12 and under.  Bring your gear and look for a sign-up list starting around 11:30 as the adult race is starting to wind down.  The planned start time for the kid’s triathlon will be 12:30 pm.  If you have questions […]