The Triathlon WA State Pathway Program (Team WA) supports aspiring triathletes aged 13–23 by providing a nurturing environment where they can grow both as athletes and individuals. The program is designed to develop key tactical, technical, physiological, and psychological skills that support progression through the National Athlete Pathway.
Team WA offers holistic development opportunities that enhance each athlete’s existing training environment. Alongside this, the program fosters a strong team culture and creates safe, supportive spaces where athletes are encouraged to learn, grow, and take on new challenges. Development is delivered through targeted masterclasses, education sessions, team-building activities, and the exciting Pathway Lightning League race series.
We’re also focused on reducing barriers to athlete progression. This includes supporting group travel to national-level races for athletes ready to take the next step and providing a clear progression structure through the Futures Squad. This squad recognises Team WA athletes aged 16–23 who have met AusTriathlon performance benchmarks and demonstrated strong potential within the sport.
Lightning League Race Series
The 2024/25 Lightning League three-race series, generously supported by Carnac, provided athletes with dynamic, engaging, and appropriately challenging draft-legal race experiences. Athletes were divided into four teams, each guided by a support coach/mentor, and competed across varied race distances and formats. Handicaps and creative “short cuts” were incorporated to simulate high-pressure racing environments and encourage tactical thinking and quick decision-making – key skills for developing race intelligence and excelling in draft-legal formats.
- Race 1 Triple Mix : SBR/RBS/RSB – 59 Athletes (19 October 2024)
- Race 2 Equaliser : SBRSBR – 63 Athletes (Sunday 17 November)
- Race 3 Mixed Relay: SRR-tag-SBR x 2 – 55 Athletes (Sunday 22 December 2024)
A Big Year
This season saw 94 athletes take part in the Team WA Pathway Program, including 17 Futures Squad athletes. We were thrilled to see such fantastic engagement, with many athletes embracing the opportunities to learn, grow, and challenge themselves.
Some of our highlights included:
- Supporting over 30 athletes to develop their bike handling skills and become draft-legal endorsed, allowing them to compete in their first draft-legal races.
- Sending our largest-ever cohort of travelling athletes to the Australian Youth & Junior SuperSprint Championships on the Gold Coast in January.
- A smaller but mighty group representing WA at the Oceania Sprint Championships in Devonport, Tasmania, in March – taking on the challenge and gaining valuable experience.
- A strong Team WA presence at the School Sport WA Nationals, held right here in Rockingham. It was fantastic to see so many of our athletes perform on home soil, leading to one of our biggest medal hauls in recent years.
Thank You
The Pathway Program wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of the Triathlon WA Board, our incredible Pathway Coaches, and the external experts who generously shared their knowledge and time. A massive thank you to Carnac for their valued sponsorship of the Lightning League, and to the amazing parents and families whose support is crucial to the program’s success.
Finally, a heartfelt thanks to Janine Kaye, our Pathway Lead, who continues to drive this program with passion, energy, and commitment to creating the best possible environments for our athletes to thrive.
What’s Next?
Team WA Pathway Program applications for the 2025/26 season will open on 1 July. Find more info on the Junior Development page.