The Byron Bay Triathlon traditionally signaled the last race of the QLD/NSW triathlon calendar. Now with Challenge Cairns lifting off, it has become the perfect tune-up race.

This race is steeped in history and continues to grow each year as the organisers continually strive to make changes that will give the competitors the best race experience possible.

• The goodies bag just keeps getting better every year and the value for money early bird entry fee of $160 for an individual saw competitors walk away with a cool set of multi coloured sun-arm protectors and a pair of 2XU compression socks and some great tasting sports bars from Megaburn. The great thing about 2XU and Megaburn is that they are both local companies and they love supporting local events so it is a win-win situation for all involved.

• The swim was tweaked from last year to a much simpler U-shaped course that saw a 250 metre swim out to the first buoy, then travel parallel to the beach for 1000 metres. culminating with 250 metres back in to the finish.

• The bike this year was reduced to 36 kilometres thanks to unsafe roads due to all the inclement weather over this never ending wet season.

• An expo was set up in the old transition area and this doubled as a great viewing platform for the hundreds of enthusiastic spectators.

• And finally, the run course had always measured long in the past but now the four-lap, spectator-friendly, flat course, that included a section of sand each lap, was now a dead accurate 10 kilometres in length.