Bluff Busters Tri Team is located in the 7 Rivers Region, including western Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota and northeastern Iowa. Bluff Buster Triathletes have a wide range of talent, experience and time to train. We pride ourselves on inclusion and having fun while meeting personal athletic expectations and goals.
No matter what your goals are, you will find compatible training partners and have fun along the way.
Group training activities - weekly scheduled training activities as well as spontaneous training sessions organized and led by different members of the team during the season. Click "News" to find training activities (available to current members only).
Workshops - led by experienced team members to assist other members with a specific event or aspect of triathlon competition or training (planning your season, nutrition, transition, emergency bike maintenance, etc.). If you feel you'd like to host a workshop, please contact a board member.
Clinics - led by experienced coaches either in triathlon or one of the disciplines of triathlon. Swimming, biking, running nutrition and transition tricks/tips are some of the clinics we've held for members and the general public.
Team Triathlon Events - opportunities to ride together, compete and socialize with other team members at regional events.These focus specifically on tri training practice.
La Crosse Area YMCA/Touchstone Energy Triathlon - Assist in organizing the Got Energy? La Crosse Area YMCA/Touchstone Energy Triathlon each June in West Salem.
"Dry Run" Training Events - Organized "dry run" training events on the West Salem course prior to the race and provide first-time triathletes with opportunities to train, ask questions and experience their first triathlon with the help of experienced triathletes.
Social Activities - fun activities that involve family and friends.These are held through the year.
Volunteering - volunteer at triathlons, running, cycling and other multisport events. If Bluff Busters can't compete, they are often there to provide support to fellow teammates by cheering and volunteering at the race. Every member is encouraged to volunteer because without volunteers, we would have no races.
Distance-specific training - train with various member-leaders for the following distances.
No matter what your goals are, you will find compatible training partners and have fun along the way.
BluffBuster Activities:
Group training activities - weekly scheduled training activities as well as spontaneous training sessions organized and led by different members of the team during the season. Click "News" to find training activities (available to current members only).
Workshops - led by experienced team members to assist other members with a specific event or aspect of triathlon competition or training (planning your season, nutrition, transition, emergency bike maintenance, etc.). If you feel you'd like to host a workshop, please contact a board member.
Clinics - led by experienced coaches either in triathlon or one of the disciplines of triathlon. Swimming, biking, running nutrition and transition tricks/tips are some of the clinics we've held for members and the general public.
Team Triathlon Events - opportunities to ride together, compete and socialize with other team members at regional events.These focus specifically on tri training practice.
La Crosse Area YMCA/Touchstone Energy Triathlon - Assist in organizing the Got Energy? La Crosse Area YMCA/Touchstone Energy Triathlon each June in West Salem.
"Dry Run" Training Events - Organized "dry run" training events on the West Salem course prior to the race and provide first-time triathletes with opportunities to train, ask questions and experience their first triathlon with the help of experienced triathletes.
Social Activities - fun activities that involve family and friends.These are held through the year.
Volunteering - volunteer at triathlons, running, cycling and other multisport events. If Bluff Busters can't compete, they are often there to provide support to fellow teammates by cheering and volunteering at the race. Every member is encouraged to volunteer because without volunteers, we would have no races.
Distance-specific training - train with various member-leaders for the following distances.
- Sprint & Olympic
- Half-Ironman
- Ironman
History of the Club
Bluff Busters has was created in early 2004 as a competitive group of Triathletes with a desire of corporate sponsorship. Over the years it has transitioned to an open group that welcomes all levels of triathletes.
Below is a short description of the founding of the Bluff Buster Tri Team as told by Berry Clark, the first president and founding member.
In early February, 2004, Barry Clark sent out an invitation to local triathletes to attend an organizational meeting for a new triathlon club. On a snowy Friday evening, ten triathletes (Barry Clark, Bill Markwardt, Greg Olson, Keith Stubbendick, Dee Dee Stoker, Bob Schmidt, Jeff Fleig, Bill Nelson, Brian Huebner, and Nate Berkeley) met at the home of Bob Schmidt. The first order of business was election of officers. Barry Clark became President, Jeff Fleig was Vice-President, and Bill Markwardt was treasurer. Various responsibilities were delegated to individuals: Brian Huebner would begin the process of setting up a website, Barry Clark would prepare a mission statement, Dee Dee Stoker and Jeff Fleig would become newletter editors, Nathan Berkeley would set up a Yahoo email site, and Jeff Fleig would look into club insurance and develop a membership application form. The remainder of the meeting consisted of a spirited discussion of possible team names. The agreed-upon criteria were that the name should be unique to the Coulee Region and that it should by dynamic. Names like La Crosse Triathlon Club, Coulee Region Multi-Sport Club, or Tri La Crosse were unique but not dynamic. Names like Team Tsunami (or Lightning, or Landslide, or Eclipse) were dynamic but not related to our region. Finally, Barry Clark suggested Bluff Busters, and there was an immediate positive response. However, the final decision was made a few months later through ballots cast by all team members on a ballot with a half dozen alternative names. Bluff Busters was the most popular choice. Within a year, the membership topped fifty. During that first year, several individuals put their shoulders to the wheel and deserve credit for making Bluff Busters what it is today. Pam Culver and Mark Thorn took the lead in funding, designing, and ordering team uniforms. Greg Olson organized bi-weekly training sessions at Lake Neshonoc. Scott Cooper developed the team logo that appears on our uniforms, t-shirts, and bumper stickers with help from Pam Culver from Gather Waters Design. Maureen Kinney, Dee Dee Stoker, and Bob Schmidt secured team sponsors.
The success of the Bluff Busters in competition was evident after the end of the 2004 season. During that year, team members competed in 43 different events, winning three of them outright, placing second in eight races, and third in three races. In age-group competition, the results were even more impressive. Team members won their age group 45 times, placed second 22 times, and finished third 21 times. As the team grew and matured, new individuals added their energy to the organization. Particularly noteworthy during the early years are the contributions of Pam Starcher, Karen Markwardt, Larry Schmidt, Francis Schmitz, Stacey Huebner, Don Stoeckly, Paul Ricker, and Amy Cooper. Today, eight years after its founding, this brief history should make us all more even more proud of the Bluff Busters Triathlon Team.
Private Members Club Insurance can be very good in that like-minded people can come together for informal discussion and the trading of ideas. These people need not be afraid of being hassled, or of people overhearing who should not be overhearing. If someone wishes to join a private club, then so be it.
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