Smith Point Sprint Triathlon
Shirley, United States · August · Independent (Event Power)
Course: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 16.4 km (10.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run. 500 m (547 yd) swim, 10.2 mi (16.4 km) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
Why people love it
- Called the unofficial Long Island championship by organisers.
- Swim in a sheltered bay with paddleboard lifeguards, 500 m (547 yd).
- Flat, fast 16.4 km (10.2 mi) bike.
- Run finishes at the Atlantic Ocean beach, and all legs are inside one county park.
Watch out for
- Bike route changed in 2026 to two loops; check the current course.
- Start is 6:50 am, so plan an early arrival.
- Bay water temperature and wetsuit rule are not published.
- One swimmer died in 2016; the organiser reported full safety measures.
- Very few athlete reviews exist; evidence is mostly from 2011 to 2019.
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Winners in 2019 said they love the race, and a regular on a forum found it well run; no detailed race reports exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
A regular racer called it well run with many safety monitors; a 2016 swim death led to safety review. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
500 m (547 yd) bay swim with lifeguards and a flat bike. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.8
Flat bike and a beach finish. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalCoin flip2.9
Bay water temperature and wetsuit rule are not published; August water is warm. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.4
Warm August bay; temperature is not reported. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm3.6
Sheltered bay swim; chop is not discussed. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy3.6
Triangular 500 m (547 yd) bay course. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.4
Bay swim, not described by athletes beyond its triangular layout. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.9
Lifeguards on paddleboards and canoe and rescue boats responded in 2016. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Surface is not discussed. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.5
Parkway laps in a county park; closure level is not stated. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryPleasant3.1
Park parkway; views not described. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind2.9
Open coastal parkway; wind is not discussed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.9
Flat parkway, two loops since 2026. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.3
Flat 16.4 km (10.2 mi) per description. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
Two loops of a single parkway. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.0
County park venue; crowd comments are scarce. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
Aid is not discussed. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
Run ends at the Atlantic Ocean beach. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.5
5 km (3.1 mi), finishing at the beach. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat3.7
Flat run. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.5
Early August on Long Island is hot and humid; 6:50 am start helps. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.1
Driving rain hit the 2011 race. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely3.9
Atlantic beach and bay in a county park. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Finish near the beach restaurant; 2019 drew about 550 athletes. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Long Island is at sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Suburban shore; athletes say little. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.9
Long Island prices; no athlete comments. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.9
All legs are inside one county park. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.5
Long Island park; athletes say little. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
One park for all legs, but a 6:50 am start. · Low confidence
- Town and foodFine3.0
Park setting; athletes say little. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Shirley, New York, United States
- Typical month
- August
- Latest or next date
- 2 August 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Event Power)
- Field size
- About 550 athletes
- First held
- 2010
- Distances (non-standard)
- 0.5 km (0.3 mi) swim, 16.4 km (10.2 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Narrow Bay, Smith Point County Park (bay)
- Wetsuit
- Unconfirmed
- Swim start
- wave start, four groups by gender and age
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run shade
- little
- Air temperature
- 19–26 °C (66–79 °F)
- Humidity
- high (about 71%)
- Altitude
- 2 m (7 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Long Island MacArthur (ISP), 35 km (22 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Shirley, Patchogue, Bellport
- Booking
- Day-trip race for Long Islanders. Packet pickup and parking details not found.
What racers and reviewers say
- Greater Long Island (10th annual report)Raced 2019 · article · Positive
About 550 (550) athletes in four waves, lifeguards on paddleboards on a triangular bay course, finish near the beach restaurant. Winners said they love the race and organisers stressed community and civil-servant support.
“This is my race. I love this race.”
- Slowtwitch forum: Smith Point Triathlon death threadRaced 2016 · forum · Mixed
Thread on a 69-year-old swimmer who died after a lifeguard pulled him from the 500 m (547 yd) swim; a canoe and a rescue boat responded. A regular athlete said he had done the race many times and found it well run with many safety monitors.
- Town of Brookhaven (2011 second annual)Raced 2011 · article · Positive
Town archive notice for the second annual race: over 600 (600) participants raced through driving rain, 500 m (547 yd) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run.
Raced Smith Point Sprint Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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