Triathlon could race again

Organizers of the Newport Beach Triathlon may still get their permit to hold the event.

Although the Newport Beach City Council voted at an appeals hearing Tuesday to uphold its previous denial of the permit, race director Jack Caress said he was approached after the vote by city recreation director Marie Knight and Councilman Steve Rosansky to talk about the issues again.

Caress said, however, that the race probably would not take place this year, or at least not on the planned date of May 21 at Fashion Island. Organizers must file their application with the city 120 days in advance of an event so traffic plans and other issues can be worked out.

“But I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said of a race this year.

Rosansky said he is open to discussion about the triathlon and volunteered to act as an intermediary between event organizers and the city.

“That particular event doesn’t work for the course where they want to have it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a course,” Rosansky said. “The door’s open. I believe that some kind of course can be worked out and they can have their event?. If they’re willing to be flexible and compromise.”

City Manager Homer Bludau said the event as operated in the last two years unreasonably inconvenienced residents.

Sgt. Dale Johnson of the Newport Beach Police Department said the police had tried “unique things” to make the race work. Officers even tried escorting cars out of neighborhoods in an effort to minimize the traffic control problem.

Newport Beach resident Dolores Otting said Fashion Island, part of the course, is a “ghost town” on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and that the race would not inconvenience businesses there.

“I don’t know where all this negativity comes from,” said Newport Beach resident Robert Mortensen, a proponent of the race. “There are all sorts of alternatives [rather] than just denying it. Don’t throw the event under the bus.” dpt.30-triathlon-BPhotoInfoV41PEQ2020060330hy6srgkfKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Triathletes wade through algae and knee-deep mud as they enter the water during the 2004 Newport Beach Triathlon. Organizers are facing equally difficult obstacles in keeping the race afloat.