Adopt a PRO

I’m posting up top a current list of Angelas needs. Read below the list for why I adopted Angela and what to do to help!

Here is a list of Angela’s current needs:
#1) BIKE: Anglea is one of the fastest bikers in the entire pro field. She is a beast on the bike, and had the fastest bike splits at California 70.3, Boulder Peak, Wildflower, and Buffalo Springs 70.3. But Angela does not have a bike sponsor, and she needs one, because she REALLY needs a new bike.

#2) BRAKES: yes, Angela, despite flying down hills with scary abandon, has really crummy brakes on her bike, the girl needs better brakes pronto! I’m hoping to get her Shimano Ultegra, or Dura Ace preferably.

#3) COMPONENTS: in hopes that we can get Angela a new bike frame soon we are going to need new components for it. We just can not use the ones on her current bike as they are no bueno. Again, I’m hoping for Ultegra or Dura Ace.

#4) TIRES: We’re making do here, sorta, and Angela has a great wheel sponsor (Rolf Prima) but she is in need of both tubular tires for racing, and clincher tires for training.

#5) LUBE: Both of the chain and the body variety. The girl rides her bike…a LOT, and is always running out of small things like this.

#6) FLIGHTS: Again, these developing professionals have to pay for their flights and hope that they can win the money back. We need to get Angela to Clearwater (and she needs a home stay here too), Branson 70.3, Timberman 70.3, Miami 70.3, and Longhorn 70.3. If you travel a lot and have miles piling up that you aren’t going to use, think of cashing some in for a ticket for Angela.

How to help? Contact me through the “Contact Me” at the top of this blog if you are willing to donate or purchase any goodies for Angela. She will put you on her website, and you will get the warm fuzzy feelings of knowing you are helping one of the best in the sport make it out there.

Spread the word via twitter, facebook, or your own blogs.

Adopt Angela with me. I’ll even make you a button for your blog!

More on Angela:
- twitter: @tri3angela
- website: http://www.angelanaeth.com/
- blog: Angela’s Blog

WHY???????
Where is the sport of triathlon going? It’s not like football, or gymnastics, it’s a new sport, not a lot of history. Most average people don’t even understand the difference between Olympic distance and Ironman distance. When most people think “triathlon”, they think “Kona” since it gets played on TV every year, but the only Kona parties that happen are amongst triathletes.

We have a great professional contingent in triathlon but I feel that the age groupers run the show. We are the ones paying entry fees, and deciding which races make it.

Taking this one step further, I feel it’s really important for us age groupers to invest in our professionals. They are the ones out there training day in and day out, putting their formative income earning years on hold to chase the dream of swim/bike/run. And training at the professional level is very much a more than full time job.

I think we as age groupers should step up, just like numerous bike/wetsuit/shoe/saddel/wheel/tire/goggle companies have to support and nourish some of the professionals that are developing in our sport.

This year I have “Adopted a PRO”. Her name is Angela Naeth and she’s Canadian, but living in Boulder currently. This is her second full year of triathlon as a professional and she has had some fantastic results this year. She races around the country to chase the prize money to pay her rent.

Why Angela? Well, I saw a need. She is coached by my coach and I get to see the talent that this girl has, the dedication she brings to her training and to the sport, but I also see the need for support. When I see a need, I seek to fill it, that’s just the girl that I am.

You see, professionals pay for their travel trips out of pocket and then hope to earn enough money at the race to break even, or even make some headway on paying rent/food/expenses. When they are developing pros they don’t necessarily have their sponsors helping with any of the monetary costs of racing and living. A 70.3 typically pays 5 deep, and 4 of the 5 will most likely pay for their trip. 5th may or may not, depends if she had a homestay and got a cheap flight.

So, I’m asking for your help! Adopt Angela with me this year and see what it’s like to follow along in her shoes. She’s qualified for Clearwater and has many races left on her 2010 schedule.