Santa Barbara Long Course - less than 200 spots

I agree with thikneck, you have to train for this like it's a HIM (I didn't) and train hills or the bike will spank you

As for a wetsuit..... I hate to say it, no you don't need one, you'd probably survivie without, but last year you would have frozen your azz off.  I was shocked at how cold that water was in SB in August.  Make sure you get in well before hand to get acclimated.

The worst part is swimming straight into the rising sun

uhhh. I signed up and i rarely bike. Way to freak me out Chris!

I'm running the SF marathon so I figure I have a solid 3 weeks to train for the biking/swimming sections of the tri (my weakest sections). Luckily I'll be out of school and only working during that time.

Can you describe how hilly it is a little better?

Thx 

Better to find out now than on race day    The climbs aren't long, but there are three of them.  The last one has a couple steep sections/  It's an out and back, so you see what you'll be riding up when you're going down it.

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Thanks for the honest posts ... I'm glad I pick the LA tri over this one ... have HIM on the books for 2009 but it is a little too soon to try to pull of a much longer race. Good luck everyone!!