CHALLENGE NORTH AMERICA, known for production of triathlon festivals such as CHALLENGE DAYTONA® and CHALLENGE MIAMI®, recently announced its rebrand to CLASH – an endurance sports brand. At its core, CLASH offers professional and age-group races as part of family-friendly festivals at iconic destinations. In addition, CLASH will offer a wide variety of endurance sports unique to each venue as well as the opportunity for more athletes to experience endurance sports with mountain bike, relay and half/full marathon events, to name a few.
“We are rebranding as CLASH, due to endurance sports being the ultimate CLASH of mind and body. The fierce competitions push athletes to finish and succeed while the body is ready to quit, a clear CLASH of desires every athlete faces,” said CEO of CHALLENGE NORTH AMERICA, Bill Christy. “We have enjoyed working closely and collaboratively over the last three years with the CHALLENGE FAMILY delivering quality events throughout the U.S. and Europe. While the scope of the North American brand is expanding and taking on the new CLASH name, we look forward to further engagement together leveraging both our brands for an enhanced athlete offering.”
Jort Vlam CEO of CHALLENGE FAMILY commented, “While CLASH USA is diversifying into more sports, CHALLENGEFAMILY remains a core triathlon brand. For this reason we saw the opportunity to develop our future in different ways. The nature of our strong relationship is reflected in the fact that we are still working closely together. Our joint team has put on wonderful events. For all those great races and unforgettable memories, we are grateful to CHALLENGE NORTH AMERICA. We plan on building upon those synergies and are excited to announce today that:
*All CLASH triathletes placing among the top six in their age group will qualify for an opportunity to compete at CHALLENGE FAMILY in Samorin, Slovakia.
*Further promote the 20m draft rule series-wide at all CHALLENGE FAMILY and CLASH events
*Contribute to the CHALLENGE FAMILY Worldwide Point Bonuses for Professional Triathletes
Also Zibi Szlufcik, President of the CHALLENGE FAMILY Board, comments. “We’ve started this journey together, creating something extraordinary and bringing a complete new approach into the world of triathlon. We broke boundaries with the best broadcast of a triathlon race ever, during the PTO Championships at Challenge Daytona. Our bond will remain strong and we wish the future with both brands remain bright for all of us.”
About CLASH
CLASH, previously known as CHALLENGE NORTH AMERICA, is led by athletes to enhance the race experience for athletes and their families and delivers exceptional endurance sports events at speedways across the US. Our mission is to advance the sport with family-friendly, professionally managed inspired races for all ages and all race abilities. CHALLENGE NORTH AMERICA initially founded the first two hallmark events CHALLENGE DAYTONA and CHALLENGE MIAMI, and now the company is taking on additional endurance sports and expanding offerings beyond the triathlon festival. DAYTONA will be held in place of CHALLENGE DAYTONA at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, home of “The Great American Race”—the DAYTONA 500. In addition, the new “bucket-list” event of 2021 CHALLENGE MIAMI at Homestead-Miami Speedway® will now be known as CLASH MIAMI held in March 2021. The company will also be hosting two additional races in 2022, Watkins Glen and Atlanta. CLASH will further expand its portfolio to seven or more races in 2023, all of which are planned to include professional races with prize purse offerings televised globally.
About Challenge Family
CHALLENGE FAMILY is one of the fastest-growing global triathlon series. With 35 full and middle distances in 28 different countries, CHALLENGE FAMILY is changing the face of triathlon around the world. Due to spectacular courses in iconic destinations, no CHALLENGE FAMILY race is like another. Focusing on delivering the race of a lifetime to athletes of all ages and abilities, CHALLENGEFAMILY races provide memorable experiences that capture all the excitement and emotions of this inspirational sport.