By Cassandra Pulver

With a picture perfect backdrop, Four Mile Beach sets the scene for some of the most popular athletic sporting events in the world.

Thousands of athletes and their supporters are expected to converge on Port Douglas as the region prepares for a number of big ticket and new sporting action events over the coming months.

Kicking it all off this weekend will be the Triport Triathlon Festival on Sunday, August 23. Other events include the international Croc Trophy taking place on October 25, Whitelion Jungle Ride on October 31, and the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon on November 1. 

Now in its 8th year, TriPort event coordinator Irene Cats said the TriPort Triathlon Festival was the feature annual event of the Crocs Triathlon Club series and a highlight for athletes with it reaching its 2015 target of 300 entries.

“TriPort is famous for being one of the only two Half Iron distance triathlons in North Queensland and offers the perfect training ground for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. 

“The course also delivers a challenging Olympic distance and sprint distance race. Exposing triathletes to a tough course through the beautiful sites of Port Douglas combined with the Tropical North Queensland climate makes this a triathlon not to miss,” she said. 

Ms Cats said she was also excited to introduce the newest sporting event to take place on Port Douglas’ Four Mile Beach on October 17 – the Swim Fit Ocean Swim. 
“We want adults and children to be excited about ocean swimming and October is such a beautiful time of year. The event will feature a ‘four mile’ or 6.4km swim, as well as 3.2km and 1.6km options and kids races,” she added. 

The Croc Trophy also returns to Port Douglas in 2015, finishing the internationally acclaimed eight-day endurance mountain bike race on Four Mile Beach. While not a competitive event, the Whitelion Jungle Ride also attracts around 200 cyclists helping to raise money for the Whitelion Charity. 

The event offers a chance for these athletes to test their endurance skills over a longer distance, with participants either choosing to ride the 90km one way trip from Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation or 180km, pushing from Port Douglas through to Daintree and into Cape Tribulation before turning for home.

Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Tara Bennett said the region’s calendar of world-class sporting events leading up to the premier 2015 Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival was becoming more and more important, attracting valuable tourist dollars and showcasing this region not only in Australia but internationally.

“To offer five really strong sporting events is a huge drawcard for the region. The Croc Trophy event is featured globally across the world with world champion mountain bike riders, while these other events not only attract competitors but also families and supporters closer to home. 

“There is no doubt that businesses locally see great benefit from these events. They are also not just coming for the event, many stay afterwards and go on to visit the reef, the rainforest and enjoy some R&R after the race to recover,” she added. 
A reminder that this Sunday 23 August there will be road closures and  changed traffic conditions due to the TriPort Triathlon Festival.  

The following roads will be closed from 7:00am - 1:00pm.
• Garrick Street from Esplanade – Blake Street?
• Mowbray Street from Esplanade – Port Douglas Road?
• Blake Street from Garrick Street – Port Douglas Road?
• Port Douglas Road closed from Mahogany – Blake Street?
• Old Port Douglas Road (local traffic only from Highway to Downing Street)
?• Mowbray River Road (Local traffic diverted to highway via Trezise Road)

D-Tours will be in place to divert local and visiting traffic in and out of Port Douglas.

Minor delays might occur on the Captain Cook Highway travelling to and from Port Douglas.

If you have any questions regarding these changed traffic conditions, please feel free to contact Irene Cats, TriPort Event Manager on 0428 875 275 or email on triport@cairnscrocs.org.au