One Lake County triathlon becomes a pair

After 11 years, the Lake Zurich Triathlon is moving to Wauconda's Bangs Lake.

The event's new organizers say they didn't want to pay higher fees this year to the Lake Property Owners Association to use Lake Zurich.

Now, area triathletes can choose between two competing events on Aug. 10 -- the Bangs Lake Multisport Festival being held in partnership with the Wauconda Park District, and the Lake County Triathlon put on by Lake Zurich's lake property owners group.

"It's unfortunate how it turned out," said Steve Skora, Lake Zurich Triathlon's race director for the past 11 years. "Somehow Lake Zurich has lost the second-largest triathlon in Illinois."

Skora, who established the not-for-profit Lake Zurich Triathlon years ago, sold the event's rights to Running Away Multisport of Chicago because he didn't have time to organize the race this year.

Rich Sustich, president of Lake Zurich's Lake Property Owners Association, said that was the problem.

The Lake Zurich Triathlon always had been organized in partnership with the association and the village.

"It basically was sold by a nonprofit to a for-profit company," Sustich said. "We were basically losing money on the deal. As a not-for-profit, the village was subsidizing the race and the lake owners' fees have been constant for the past 11 years."

Yet, the costs of lake management, such as weed control, have gone up, he said.

"We thought it was an appropriate time to evaluate our fee structure," Sustich said. "We truly wanted to keep that event because it has a history."

The association changed its fees from $5 per race participant to $30 per participant.

"That was insane," said Steve Ginsburg, co-owner of Running Away Multisport. "It would make the race impossible to pull-off money-wise."

The company, which organizes and sponsors triathlons and other races throughout the Chicago area, established Ram Racing NFP to continue operating the Lake Zurich Triathlon as a nonprofit event under a different name.

"All our other events are affiliated with charities," Ginsburg said.

Ginsburg said Wauconda's Bangs Lake is also a much better backdrop for the race.

"It's such a pretty venue," he said. "It is just a wonderful little town that has really pretty comfortable restaurants on the lake. The roads are in better condition and safer. Part of the bike course is through a forest preserve."

Ginsburg is expecting 700 to 1,000 participants. He said Lake Zurich's new race won't have much of an impact on participation.

Wauconda's event includes two shorter courses with combination bike/run and swim/bike races.

Lake Zurich's new triathlon will follow the same course as the original race. Organizers are hoping for 1,000 participants, but expect about 500.

"This year is the first year of the Lake County Triathlon, but we are also looking at how can we enhance more competitive events on the lake for coming years," Sustich said.

Competing triathlons

Lake County Triathlon

• The event, organized by the Lake Property Owners Association and Articulate Promotions, will begin 7 a.m. Aug. 10 from Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich.

• The standard distance for a Sprint course: 750 meter/.5 mile swimming; 20 kilometer/12.4 mile cycling 5 kilometer/3.1 mile running. The standard for an Olympic course: 1.5 kilometer/.93 mile swimming; 40 kilometer/24.8 mile cycling; 10 kilometer/6.2 mile running.

• Registration fee: $85.

• For more information or to register, visit www.thelakezurichtriathlon.com/default.aspx

Bangs Lake Multisport Festival

• The event, formerly known as the Lake Zurich Triathlon, will begin at 7 a.m. Aug. 10 from Cook Park, 600 N. Main St., Wauconda.

• The event offers three distances: triathlon, 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike, 10 kilometer run; dual race, 5 kilometer run, 40 kilometer bike, 5 kilometer run; aqua-bike, 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike.

• Registration fee: individual $89; relay, $165.

• For more information or to register, visit www.bangslaketriathlon.com