Long time triathlete competitor, Scott Fricks gives some advice on what athletes expect when participating in the St Croix's Beauty & The Beast Triathlon.

WEATHER: Try to arrive a few days early to acclimate to the heat. St Croix is relatively temperate in November (compared to the previous race date in May) but can still be hot, especially for those coming from colder climates.

TRAVEL: For those traveling with bikes, consider flying as direct as possible and be careful of connecting flights through San Juan. While we love our neighboring island, many airlines fly very small aircraft from there to St Croix. Some of these aircraft simply cannot accommodate bike cases which may delay the arrival of your bike. If in doubt, email info@vitf.org for more information.

COURSE: For Olympic Distance Course athletes, this course is truly about the run. Leave enough in the tank for the climb to Point Udall. Don’t let the challenge of this event haunt your dreams. You’re going to enjoy the experience!