Avignon Mega-Pod. Gotta Start. Part 1. Kelowna.

11 Apr

Written By Ross

Out of all my unfinished podcast episodes. There’s maybe 20. Avignon is my Smile. A studio project so huge that I eventually believed it couldn’t be done. Yes. I’m comparing myself to Brian Wilson.

But I’m re-starting. As the event was an important turning point for the sport. So the story deserves to be told in long-form.

During the research, scritping and recording process I’ll be publishing my sources and what I’ve done so far as blog posts.

My aim is to go live with the episode before the end of May. Also. Please let me know if you were there. I’d love to chat.

I’ll be starting in 1988. Covering the formation of the ITF. The falling apart. And then Kelowna. That still went ahead.

Onto the spring of 1989. The formation of the ITU. The build up to Avignon. Selecting teams. Who did what preparation races.

Race day. The bus ride. The sprung start gate. The epic Canal+ live coverage. Play by play. The post-race magazine reports.

I’ll start posting my research here on the blog. To make me to read eveything again. Organise my thoughts. Write a coherent (and hopefully entertaining) script. And start recording.

So here’s Kelowna. From August 1988. The race that was supposed to be the first ever governing body santioned world championship.

I’ll post the Triathlete (USA) and Tri-Athlete (FR) reports first. Then eventually write my commentary notes below them.

Oh. When people ask me why I’m still such a huge Glenn Cook fan. I show them photo two. Absolut verrückt junge!