In 2024, the Spudman Triathlon in Burley, Idaho, saw its 2,400 entries sell out in a record 10 minutes. This year, the organizers moved to a lottery system; and they received 3,300 entries for the event’s 2,400 places.
Originally named after Idaho’s tradition of potato production, this year’s Spudman event will be held on July 26, 2025.
Founded in 1987 and taking place ‘always the last Saturday in July’, Spudman is one of those events that appears to defy gravity – building scale when many triathlon event organisers have scaled back. Based out of Burley, Idaho, Spudman has consistently sold out its 2,400 race slots. This might seem remarkable given that Burley is a small community of around 12,000 people in the rural counties of Cassia and Minidoka.
With fundraising at its heart, Spudman has built a loyal following and remained focused on short course racing. This is while many triathlon events in North America over the years have taken more of a long-course focus. The Spudman Triathlon is produced by the Burley Lions Club. It includes a river-assisted downstream sprint and an Olympic distance race.
One Spudman feature worth noting is the ‘Family and Friends’ wave, which accommodates athletes who want to participate for fun and engagement without competing for podium awards. From the first event in 1987 – which attracted 189 athletes – co-founders Scott Bloxham and Ron Ploeger focused their efforts on creating a family experience. While also welcoming elite athletes, the event has grown with a ‘participation over performance’ emphasis.
The Burley Lions Club is the main sponsor of the Spudman Triathlon – with the Burley Lions Club originally founded in 1938. It has been working to enhance its local community through service ever since; and the Spudman Triathlon, from its origins in the late 1980s, has evolved as a key fundraiser event. The event’s success has enabled the organizers to contribute significantly to the local community. In 2024 Spudman donated US$43,000 to local organizations who supported the race in some way.
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