Born and raised in Los Angeles, Robb Strom is one of the
few native Angelinos. For the past 21 years, he has practiced
law, focusing on civil litigation and trial work. Robb is
presently promoting the upcoming Bali International Triathlon,
the first triathlon event ever held on Bali, which will take
place on June 24th, 2007 at Jimbaran Bay.
What is your professional/educational background?
My undergraduate degree is from the University of California
at San Diego, and my law degree is from the University of
San Diego School of Law. Since I have a passion for the legal
work I am involved in, this is the primary occupation I have
had for all of my adult life.
How did you ever wind up in Bali?
I have to give credit to my wife, Yolanda, for opening my
eyes to the wonders of Bali. Before our first trip here in
2002 (we are on our fifth trip now), she had asked me to come
several times. I finally agreed, and am so glad I did.
How did you get interested in triathlons?
I have been running triathlons for over 20 years. I lived
in San Diego for eight years in the 1980’s which was
pretty much the center of the triathlon world at that time.
I continue to compete in at least 5 or 6 triathlon races every
year. In the past few years, I have shifted my focus to running
shorter “sprint” triathlons, and have regularly
placed in the top five within my age group in the last several
sprint races I have entered. I would like to think I am still
improving.
What is a triathlon?
In its simplest terms, a triathlon is a race involving three
sports - swimming, cycling, and running. The distances of
each sport vary from shorter “sprint” distances
to longer Ironman distances.
In terms of difficulty, terrain, duration, etc., how will
the Bali International Triathlon compare to other ultra endurance
events like Ironman, Le Mans, the Igorot Dogsled race, and
other multi-sport races?
The Bali International Triathlon will be an “Olympic”
distance event, which is a 1.5 kilometer swim, followed by
a 40 kilometer bike ride, followed by a 10 kilometer run.
We chose this as a middle distance event so that it would
be challenging enough for those who regularly compete in triathlons,
but also accessible to those planning their first destination
race. The race course features a warm swim in Jimbaran Bay,
a bike course through Nusa Dua which has a couple of moderate
hills, and a run through Jimbaran Village with a beach finish
in front of the Four Seasons.
What is absolutely unique about the triathlon, making it different
from other extreme sports?
Most athletes can excel in an individual sport. Triathletes
have to put it all together in a single race which involves
training and execution of three separate disciplines. This
is what makes triathlons so special and wonderful.
What businesses, associations or institutions are sponsoring
the event?
The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay is the lead sponsor. Its
general manager, John O’Sullivan, has truly been remarkable,
both in helping to shape the concept of the race, and in providing
financial support. World famous jewelry designer and humanitarian
John Hardy has recently agreed to design and manufacture all
of our awards. The Bali Tourism Board has assisted us in subsidizing
our advertising costs, particularly in Triathlete Magazine,
another one of our sponsors. In addition, we have a variety
of product sponsors, providing such items as race quality
T-shirts (Sport Science), and bike travel boxes (TriAll3).
We continue to receive calls each week from other businesses
interested in becoming sponsors.
Why did you choose to hold the triathlon on Bali?
It has always been our primary goal that the Bali Triathlon
be an event which will serve the people of Bali by helping
to promote tourism and economic development on the island.
Bali is a wonderful, unique place, and we want the triathlon
world to share in the experience. We wouldn’t think
of holding it anywhere else.
May any age group, nationality participate, as well as both
professional and amateur athletes?
The race is open to all triathletes worldwide. We expect competitors
from more than 20 countries, and have already begun discussing
bringing professionals to the race. What makes it attractive
to athletes is the fact that the event is taking place on
Bali.
What precautions are being put into place to protect athletes?
Security and athlete safety are always concerns in any triathlon
race. We are coordinating with local police, local villages,
and on-site security at the Four Seasons to address these
issues.
If the triathlon is successful, are you planning other events
on Bali?
We have already been approached with the possibility of coordinating
other running events in Bali, and Triathlete Magazine has
inquired about the possibility of shooting their annual swimsuit
issue here next year. The sky is the limit!
To learn more about triathlons, refer to the website: www.balitriathlon.com
<http://www.balitriathlon.com/>.
For anyone interested in being considered for Siapa, please
contact : <pakbill2003@yahoo.com>
Copyright@2006 Al Hickey
You can read all past articles of Siapa
at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz
