Bozeman Triathlon
Bozeman, United States · June · Independent
Why people love it
- Olympic and sprint both count as the USA Triathlon Montana State Championship.
- Mostly flat park trail run; one significant hill on a rolling bike loop.
- The 300 m (328 yd) super sprint suits first-timers.
- Mountain backdrop at the base of the Bridger Range.
- Bozeman airport is 16 km (10 mi) away.
Watch out for
- Water was about 17 °C (63 °F) in mid-June, so plan on a wetsuit; the swim is murky.
- Altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft) slows sea-level athletes.
- Thunderstorm and wind risk; 2022 had a storm after the race.
- Narrow dirt trails and a dirt patch on a bike corner; the 2022 run measured slightly short.
- Few athletes have written about it; parking and packet pickup details are not published.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
One 2022 racer "loved every minute" and local news called 2024 a picturesque day. Few athletes have written about it. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Race director gave water temperature and held a beach briefing; run came up slightly short in 2022; limited evidence. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.2
Cold two-lap swim over 1.5 km (0.93 mi) and altitude. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.1
Rolling bike and altitude. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalAlmost always4.8
17 °C (63 °F) mid-June water and wetsuits worn in 2024 photos; USAT legal limit 25.6 °C (78 °F). · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable2.8
17 °C (63 °F) water, cold but tolerable in a wetsuit; air only about 13 °C (55 °F) in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.7
Sheltered former gravel pit; Montana wind chop possible. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Two laps with a beach run, murky. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.5
Murky pit lake with mountain backdrop; not clear water. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Waves by ability including a first-timer group, plus a beach briefing. Kayak and lifeguard numbers are not published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Asphalt, with a dirt patch on a corner in 2022. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.0
The organiser does not say whether roads are closed. Manley Road and backroads may carry local traffic. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Farms, grassland and the Bridger Mountains, per the 2022 report. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.0
Strong wind the day before in 2022; Gallatin Valley is open. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.4
Rolling. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat3.6
One significant hill per loop, gain not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.5
Two-loop Olympic with turns near the park and a dirt-patch corner. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
Racers encouraged each other in 2022, but no spectator reports exist. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.3
Two aid stations on course for both distances. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.7
Park trails with mountain backdrop. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsModerate3.3
Narrow dirt trails, altitude. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat trails. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.7
Mid-June is typically 7 to 22 °C (45 to 71 °F); air was 13 °C (55 °F) in 2022. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
A thunderstorm followed the 2022 race and wind was strong the day before; mid-June brings a good chance of rain. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Mountain backdrop at the base of the Bridgers. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
Compact park venue; no spectator guidance found. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeHigh altitude1.2
Bozeman sits at 1,500 m (4,923 ft), which slows sea-level athletes. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.3
Summer tourist season; book early. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
No pricing evidence; Bozeman is known to be busy in summer. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.4
Single park venue; parking details not published. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.8
Bozeman airport is 16 km (10 mi) away, with connections to several hubs. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
One site and one transition (sand, grass, gravel); packet pickup not documented. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Bozeman is a lively college and outdoors town. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Bozeman, Montana, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 13 June 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- Entry fee
- About $125
- First held
- 2018
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Glen Lake, a former gravel pit in Glen Lake Rotary Park, at the base of the Bridger Mountains (lake)
- Water temperature
- 15–19 °C (59–66 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- waves seeded by ability (a 'first timers' group was used in 2022); beach start
- Swim laps
- 2
- Bike laps
- 2
- Key climbs
- One significant hill per loop
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- Not documented
- Air temperature
- 7–22 °C (45–72 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry
- Altitude
- 1,500 m (4,920 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN), 16 km (10 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Bozeman
- Booking
- Summer is Yellowstone season so book early; hotels in Bozeman.
What racers and reviewers say
- Given to Tri blogRaced 2022 · blog · Positive
Olympic race report: two swim laps in murky 17 °C (63 °F) water with a beach run between, a two-lap rolling bike with one steeper climb and a dirt patch on a corner, and a flat, narrow dirt-trail run that measured just under 10 km (6.2 mi). Overcast 13 °C (55 °F) air and a thunderstorm after the race. The writer finished 2:58:09 and praised other racers' encouragement.
“I loved every minute of it”
- Bozeman Daily ChronicleRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Local news of the 7th annual race on 16 June 2024: a picturesque Sunday with early-morning swim starts, winners listed for Olympic (2:10:47), sprint (1:09:14), super sprint, aquabike, aquathlon and relays. No participant totals given.
Raced Bozeman Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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