What is a Flyathlon?
A flyathlon is a novel trail running race where participants must run with their fishing gear and catch a fish during the race. A photo of the fish is taken against an official event ruler and then released. The size and species of the fish will be scored and results in a deduction on your running time. Conceivably, a faster runner can be beaten by a better fisherman or vice versa. This is a fun, irreverent event which culminates in a community atmosphere around the campfire, sharing a few well earned beers and war stories of the day.
The Flyathlon originated in Colorado, USA by founder Andrew Todd. Because of our shared passion for the environment and belief in the ethos of 'conservation through recreation' I have partnered with Andrew to make this a sanctioned Flyathlon event, the first of its kind in Australia.
Key Values
Inclusion: This event is meant to be inclusive, it doesn't matter if you cant run far. If you enjoy being outdoors with like minded people then thats enough. Come run a bit, walk a bit, fish a bit and enjoy a local beer afterwards. It doesn't matter if you're just learning to fish; other participants are happy to share their knowledge and fishing guides will be stationed along the course for some free advice.
Irreverent Fun: We don't take ourselves too seriously, there are multiple catagories to compete in, all experience levels are encouraged. Run in sandals, grab some halfway snacks, drain a beer at the finish line. No RFID chips or egos here.
Conservation: Each event is set in a stunning location, with great singletrack and clear mountain rivers. We care deeply about these places and take great care to limit our impact. We believe getting people out into these places is the best way to foster responsible stewardship. All money raised will be donated back to conservation organisations working on our local rivers.
Vision
Moving forward, it is our intention to host a 2-3 event series per fishing season, all along different rivers and trails in the Mansfield area.
We plan to partner with key conservation organisations who can use funds raised to implement conservation projects on our local rivers.
We aim to encourage more people to participate in and care for our incredible rivers and forests, the life blood of our country.
We want to partner with local and national companies who share our values and passions to collectively make this event fun, inclusive and productive in terms of fundraising and environmental education. The USA events have raised over $500,000 to help preserve their native fish habitats and populations!
If you're interested in supporting us, please reach out.