Brewhouse Preview...

July 29, 2010

After 14 Bichful years, the Brewhouse Triathlon will be a Bich-Free Zone on Sunday, August 1. It's gonna feel strange.

Since the turn of the century, Duluth family man / college professor / stud triathlete Brian Bich has won 40 races, was named US Master of the Year (2008) and collected nine MMAs, four for Triathlete of the Year. His first of nine victories at Brewhouse was turned in in 1998.

Soft spoken and classy, Brian has been both the face and the soul of this great race. A perfect poster boy, if such a poster were...

to exist.

Photo Above: Bich family at Heart of the Lakes '08. L-R - Brian's dad Howard, a totally cool guy, Brian's two great kids, once of whom is named Connor, Brian, Brian's terrific wife Kirsten.

Brian and his family will be vacationing in Canada this weekend. Part of their adventure includes a stop in Calgary for that community's 70.3 event, where BB can be expected to totally rock. Meanwhile, the Brewhouse Triathlon will be contested in his, and Kirsten's, absence. The Bich's will be missed.

Even without Brian, the men's field in the long course will be formidable. It'll feature three-time winner and course record holder David Thompson, 2008 amateur champ Curt Wood (the first amateur to beat Brian at BH in a six year period!) and Brian's best friend and training partner Rhett Bonner. It's also possible that Kevin O'Connor and Devon Palmer, the guys who were ranked #2 and #3 on Team Minnesota last year, will choose to race. They will be in the neighborhood after teaming with DKT and Curt at the Firehouse 50 the day before. And we won't be surprised if a few more elites--Josh Blankenheim, for instance- will pop in on race day, as well.

Times should be fast on Sunday.

On paper, the women's long course podium race should come down to a battle between northland stars Angel Hohenstein, Christel Kippenhan and Diane Hankee, who is coming off two straight 2nd place finishes (Heart of the Lakes and Chisago Sprint). Other podium hopefuls include Wendy Bengston and especially Utahan Lesley Rockwood (photo), who placed 3rd here in 2009. If course record holder Marlo McGaver decides to race, she would assume the role of "prohibitive favorite."

We suspect that "usual suspects" Tim Andrew and Jean Ogston, both Duluthians, will lead the way in the companion short course event. BH WEBSITE