NEWS

An Open Letter From Mark ‘Emo’ Emerton

To our valued triathlon community,

The Shimano Huskisson Triathlon Festival will celebrate its 21st year in 2026. For over two decades, this event has ignited the small town of Huskisson, transforming from a local race with just 235 participants into an iconic festival welcoming over 6,000 competitors annually — an evolution we’re proud to have shared with you.

Over these 20-plus years, Huskisson (and Jervis Bay) has remained the hidden jewel of the South Coast – just the way we love it. Our event has been a significant economic contributing factor to this haven, and during the weekend of the event, our town is bursting at the seams. As someone who has called this region home for over 45 years, I’ve worked closely with the community, Council, and Tourism bodies to ensure the event benefits both those visiting and those who call this place home. With that in mind, and through open discussions with stakeholders, we are making some changes.

Many times in life, we resist change because we usually like to stay in our comfort zones. I (as the CEO of Elite Energy) believe that the changes we make for 2026 will only enhance the Huskisson Festival giving more opportunity for growth while allowing for positive engagement with the local community.

The revised date for the Shimano Huskisson Triathlon Festival will now see triathlon events consolidated into one day on Saturday, March 28. For the first time, all our incredible triathletes will now have the chance to celebrate their achievements together on Saturday night— creating an even stronger sense of camaraderie that hasn’t been possible with staggered race days.

On Sunday, 29 March, we’re introducing open water swim events, giving athletes a chance to recover or continue their race weekend in a different way. Additionally, we will have an Aquathon and new kids events.

Furthermore, we are thrilled to unveil a brand new running festival on Sunday March 29, the Jervis Bay Marathon Festival (JBMF) which will include, Marathon, half marathon, an Ultra-Marathon and shorter distance running events. We believe these additions will offer exciting new challenges and attract a broader range of athletes to our beloved Huskisson.

These changes have been made with careful consideration of the local area. Huskisson has become a significant tourist destination since we started our event over 20 years ago. These changes significantly reduce the number of road closures and disruptions to the local area. As a local business, Elite Energy loves being a part of the Huskisson community, and it is always our priority to deliver the best possible event with the least disruption to the residents and businesses who so generously host us year after year.

We are committed to ensuring the Shimano Huskisson Triathlon remains a fantastic experience for everyone involved. Our team is working diligently to update all event information, and we will be in touch shortly with details regarding registration and new 2026 schedules.

Thank you for your continued support and trust as we embrace this new chapter. We can’t wait to welcome you back for a bigger, better Shimano Huskisson Triathlon in 2026 and for many more years to come.

Sincerely,

Emo and the Elite Energy Team