Pat Griskus Olympic and Sprint Triathlon at Quassy (formerly Rev3 Quassy)
Middlebury, United States · June · Independent (Pat Griskus Triathlon, Quassy Amusement Park; USAT sanctioned)
Course: 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 16.9 km (10.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. Half-mile (0.8 km) swim, 10.5 mi (16.9 km) bike, 3.1 mi (5 km) run.
Why people love it
- Calm, clear lake swim at 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F), usually wetsuit-legal.
- Sprint has a first-timers division and drew about 100 or more first-timers a year.
- Parking, swim, transition and finish at one amusement park venue.
- Shaded farm-country roads on the 40 km (25 mi) Olympic bike.
- Olympic doubles as the Connecticut age-group championship.
Watch out for
- Olympic bike and run are hilly, with three hard run hills; no elevation figures published.
- Heat reached near 38 °C (100 °F) at the 2010 sprint; two ambulances were called.
- Early waves crowded the swim and bike in 2007.
- Fog delayed the 2016 start by 30 minutes.
- Most write-ups are from 2004 to 2016; check current course details.
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
Reports from 2004 to 2016 praise the director, volunteers and family park setting. Heat and hills are the complaints, and recent write-ups are few. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
A 2007 racer called it extremely well organized with police at every intersection, and a 2016 fog delay of 30 minutes was handled. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.2
A 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 16.9 km (10.5 mi) bike and 5 km (3.1 mi) run, with a first-timers division. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.3
A short 16.9 km (10.5 mi) bike loop around the lake; terrain is not documented. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.0
The lake read 20 °C (68 °F) in 2011 and 25 °C (77 °F) in 2010, under the 25.6 °C (78 °F) limit. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable4.0
Mid-June readings of 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77 °F) sit in or just above the comfortable range. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.4
Sheltered inland lake, glassy in 2010 and calm in 2011. Fog delayed the 2016 start by 30 minutes. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.3
0.8 km (0.5 mi) in a calm, clear lake with wave starts. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.9
Clear, spring-fed lake in calm conditions, with wave starts that keep it manageable. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Wave starts and a first-timers division help. Racers do not describe the water safety set-up. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
Rural New England back roads. No surface reports found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.3
Police at intersections in 2007, but full closure is not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.0
Farm country with red farmhouses and pastures, noted by a 2011 racer. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.8
Wooded inland hills, and no report mentions wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedAverage3.2
A 16.9 km (10.5 mi) loop, less hilly than the Olympic. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling3.2
Loop around the lake; elevation is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts3.2
Rolling country roads with some descents, and police at intersections in 2007. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.2
Hundreds of spectators lined the 2010 sprint, but the Olympic run is on quiet back roads. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.6
Aid stations on the run, but reports give little detail. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Shaded country roads and the park finish. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
5 km (3.1 mi) with shade in places. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessRolling3.4
5 km (3.1 mi) out-and-back through the park area; no profile published. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.1
Ranges from ideal in 2012 to near 38 °C (100 °F) in 2010; mid-June is usually 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Fog delayed the 2016 start by 30 minutes, and a storm forecast did not arrive in 2010. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
Lake, wooded hills and farm country around a family amusement park. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.0
Rides and a lively post-race scene keep families busy, and the lake start and finish are close together. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.5
About 190 m (620 ft) above sea level, approximate. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Hotels in Waterbury and Southbury are 16 to 24 km (10 to 15 mi) away. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.3
No race-week price data; ordinary regional rates assumed. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Race is based at Quassy Amusement Park: park once, then swim, transition and finish in one place. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
About 40 km (25 mi) from Tweed New Haven airport; most athletes drive from New York or Boston. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
One venue, one transition and a 7:00 AM start. Packet pickup details were not found. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Small town. A 2011 racer found the post-race food of burgers and hot dogs limited. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Middlebury, Connecticut, United States
- Typical month
- June
- Latest or next date
- 20 June 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Pat Griskus Triathlon, Quassy Amusement Park; USAT sanctioned)
- Field size
- About 500 athletes
- First held
- 1987
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 16.9 km (10.5 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Quassapaug (spring-fed), start at Quassy Amusement Park beach (lake)
- Water temperature
- 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal (USAT: legal to 25.6 C / 78 F)
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 1
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- Shaded back roads on the Olympic run
- Air temperature
- 18–30 °C (64–86 °F)
- Humidity
- Can be humid
- Altitude
- 190 m (625 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Tweed New Haven (HVN); Bradley (BDL) for more flights, 40 km (25 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Waterbury, Southbury
- Booking
- Hotels in Waterbury and Southbury, 10 to 15 mi (16 to 24 km) away. Airport distance approximate.
What racers and reviewers say
- Slowtwitch forum: Pat Griskus best tri's in CTRaced 2004 · forum · Positive
A racer thanks the race director and volunteers, calls the sprint the best value in the area, and notes first-timers enjoying it. Praises the post-race food and amusement park rides for kids. Over 500 sprint starters.
“can't be beat for country scenery”
- NBC ConnecticutRaced 2010 · article · Mixed
News report on a sprint run in heat near 38 °C (100 °F) with over 500 starters, 130-plus first-timers and hundreds of spectators. Two ambulances were called; nobody needed serious care. Swim was the coolest leg.
Raced Pat Griskus Olympic and Sprint Triathlon at Quassy (formerly Rev3 Quassy)? 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.
Training for Pat Griskus Olympic and Sprint Triathlon at Quassy (formerly Rev3 Quassy)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.