What You Had to Say about Johan's TriFest 2006

What did you like best:  Beautiful site; well organized; nice volunteers!
What did you like least:    There was NOTHING not to like
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:    Friends
What improvements would you like to see:  More triathletes; people are 
missing out not participating in this race.  
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest? YES! 
It is very important that races and athletes support their national organization.
Additional comments:  This is simply a really nice race!  Keep up the great work in 
memory of your friend, Johan!


What did you like best:  It is a race that honors Johan.  It is close.  It is organized 
by Triathletes
What did you like least:  Wait for finishers to cross before awards
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  Other triathletes
What improvements would you like to see:  This is a very well run race.  Everything was 
perfect, but encourage new comers to the sport. 
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest?  No
Additional comments:  Well done!


What did you like best:  Well organized
What did you like least:  Too warm!
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  Trifind.com
What improvements would you like to see:  More room in transition area (bikes)
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest?  No


What did you like best:  Well organized!  Everything was well done.
What did you like least:  Running on the dirt road.
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  Friend -- former triathlete
What improvements would you like to see:  Whistle on gun start.  It was hard to hear 
the "start" command.  
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest?  Probably not
Additional comments:  This was my first tri.  I had a blast! The people at the finish 
line treated me like a champ -- and I appreciated it!


What did you like best:  I like the rural setting, lack of vehicle traffic and most of all 
the large number of fabulous volunteers.  The traffic control and route assistance is the 
best of any event I've ever participated in.
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  I'm a local (Wayand) so I've been aware of Johan's 
for some time.  
What improvements would you like to see:  I would like to see more "hose showers" set up 
near the transition area for use after the race. 
Additional comments:  Great Job!


What did you like best:  This was a very nice event and was the best race I have been to 
since I started tri-ing.  I can't wait until next year.  I like that every mile was marked 
on the run, this helped me optimize my performance.  I liked all the volunteers.  They made 
this event really special.  I liked the singing of the National Anthem.  The course was 
really awesome too.  I also like the fact that it was a USAT sanctioned event and the rules 
were enforced.
What did you like least:  I didn't think there was enough space in the racks for ten bikes 
and equipment in the transition area.  I had to stage my equipment away from my bike and I 
just felt it was over crowded.  The corners could have been swept a little better on the 
bike route.
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  www.trifind.com
What improvements would you like to see:  More room for equipment and bikes in the transition 
area.
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest?  Yes, I like the 
fact that the course was being monitored by marshals and imposing penalties/warnings.
Additional comments:  This was my third tri and my first Olympic distance and I thought it was 
awesome.  I like that it was a one loop course on all three events an I hope you keep it that 
way.  I am looking forward to coming out next year and participating.  Fine job on putting on 
an extremely nice race.


What did you like best:  This was my first time at Johan's and my 9th triathlon in 16 years.  
I thought the race was well-organized before and during the event.  You have a good course 
that's not too easy, but potentially makes for fast times.  Road quality and racer support 
were good.  I appreciated the cold wet towel, cold yogurt and rapid results postrace.
What did you like least:  I really don't have anything negative to say about the race.  
It seemed the awards were generic though.  If that is accurate, perhaps you could distinguish 
among the places.
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  I don't remember how or where I first heard about Johan's 
but I was aware of it the first year that it was run.  Injury or something else prevented me 
from racing it before this year.  I remember seeing Johan at races in the early 90s and sat 
with him and Laura Sophiea at the Hawaiian ironman awards banquet in 1997.
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest?  USAT sanctioning 
has no impact on my choices as long as the events have a good course and are conducted safely.
Additional comments:  I enjoyed the music played at the event.


What did you like best:  I was a finished on Saturday and it was my first race a Johan's.  I 
thought you had very helpful and friendly volunteers.  The course was well marked.
What did you like least:  The towel I got didn't have any print on it.  You must have run out 
of the printed ones.
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  I heard about it from a friend.
What improvements would you like to see:  The only thing I would change is giving out finishers medals. 


What did you like best: Location, course, people
What did you like least:  USAT rules
How did you hear of Johan's TriFest:  Another athlete recommended at a different race.
What improvements would you like to see:  Hammer gel or food in packet.
Does USAT Sanctioning effect your choice of participating in Johan's TriFest?  I don't think it's 
necessary.  I'm there to compete, but also have fun.  I don't need the threat of being DQ'd.
Additional comments:  I would prefer my extra $9 go to better food after the race and food in the packet.  
I don't think USAT rules are consistent.  I did like the event though and plan on participating next year.


What did you like best:  Great race Saturday.  Very well organized, great volunteers, great cause 
and the fact that it is local really makes it a fun event every year.
What did you like least:  One of the more experienced triathletes from out of state after the race  
was questioning why there wasn't any drafting penalties assessed on a few racers at the front of the pack.  
It seems the number of drafting penalties (1) is low.
Additional comments:  Other than that, I didn't hear of any other complaints, other than the heat and 
that there could have been another water station on the run course (Note: there are 4 water stations on the 
run).  Maybe a different flavor of gatorade next year.


Comments from DH:
Swim.  A beautiful course--clean and safe.  It would be nice to have more sets of buoys for navigation.  
It would, likewise, be really nice to have more waves.
Bike. Very well-marked and easy to follow--probably the best I've experienced.  The volunteers waving 
their flags made it really easy to set up the proper line through the tight turns.  I actually saw some 
draft marshals and very little drafting, which is the opposite of what I normally see at races.
Run.  Having us run through all the moving golf carts and SUVs of the resort is dangerous.  The traffic 
directors need to get better training.  The people with garden hoses spraying the runners deserve, at the 
very least, a congressional medal of honor.  
Overall.  A nice venue and a good race; lots of volunteers and enthusiastic spectators.  The weather stunk 
and so did my time, but I'll be back next year to redeem myself.


THANK YOU:

A sincere thank you to the volunteers who made Johan's TriFest 2006 such a success.  We 
received so many positive and encouraging comments from the athletes, spectators, Sandy 
Pines residents and volunteers themselves.  We couldn't have celebrated this event without 
YOU!  You all played a huge part in making Johan's the successful triathlon it is.

Thank you too to our sponsors:  DeBryun Seed Co., GR Sports Center, Hospice of Michigan, Jay & Betty Van Andel 
Foundation, The Printery, Rohde, Sandy Pines, Spartan Stores, Striders, Triangle Window 
Fashions, Ultima, Van Andel Institute Hope on the Hill, and Village Bike Shop.

We look forward to seeing you all again at the Johan's 2007 TriFest Event on June 16,2007.

Johan's TriFest Race Committee