The Wildflower Triathlon is a triathlon (swim-bike-run race) held at Lake San Antonio in Central California since 1983, the first winner being Dean "The Machine" Harper. It is held the first weekend in May each year. The original course was expanded to the standardized half-Ironman distance (1.2 mi / 56 mi / 13.1 mi) in the late 1980s, and is often referred to as simply the long course. Two more races have subsequently been added to the event: an Olympic-distance (1.5 km / 40 km / 10 km) race and a short or "sprint" mountain-bike triathlon (0.25 mi / 9.7 mi / 2 mi). Known for a particularly hilly and grueling course, it is one of the largest triathlon events in the world, with 7,500 athletes and 30,000 spectators attending each year at its peak. Traditionally it is associated with a Wildflower festival, though in recent years the festival had been eclipsed by the increasingly large athletic event. A drastic drop in lake level in 2014 led to a modified course and lower attendance. Shortly after the 2015 event, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors announced it would close Lake San Antonio due to low water levels. The event was canceled in 2017 and 2019. It was canceled in 2020, and was not scheduled for 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Events Long course Distances 1.2 m Swim, 56 m Bike, 13.1 m Run Swim course The swim course begins at the Lynch Ramp. The race starts in waves, with the professional men, the professional women, age group men, age group women, and relay teams. Swimmers swim in a clockwise direction on a rectangular course. There are course marker buoys and lifeguards on kayaks lining the course. Swimmers exit the water, go up the ramp, through the timing area and into the transition area. Bike course The course is long and is considered relatively difficult. Triathletes leave the transition area to the north and make a quick left through the finish line chute. Athletes follow the road down Shoreline Drive to the beach area and as it turns right up "Beach Hill", a steep climb. The course proceeds onto San Antonio Drive and out of the park onto Interlake Road past the first checkpoint at mile six. Bicyclists will proceed on Interlake Road over rolling hills before turning onto Jolon Road (19 miles). Triathletes will have small rolling hills