ROCKET TRI CLUB LAUNCHES – MEET THE TEAM BEHIND THE CLUB IN THIS Q&A
NSW Triathlon is thrilled to welcome the newest club to our growing community – Rocket Tri Club. Based in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, this passionate trio is on a mission to bring more people into our sport with a refreshingly simple philosophy: no ego, all in. We sat down with the team to learn about their journey, their vision, and what makes the Rocket team tick.
Who are the people behind the club, and the tri journey so far?
We’re three people at completely different stages of the same journey, which is the whole point of our club. Max, our founder and club lead, has multiple Ironmans behind him. Johnny, our community manager, is still relatively new to the sport and loving every minute. And Holly, our secretary, is brand new to triathlon and racing her first one in a few months. That spread is deliberate. Between us we cover the entire arc, from your first nervous open-water swim to your fifth start line. Nobody in our club is ever the only beginner in the room.
What inspired Rocket Tri Club? Is there a gap you’re filling?
A lot of our mates were getting into the sport at the same time, and we kept seeing the same thing – a growing wave of people in their twenties and thirties falling in love with triathlon. Riding bikes in the sun, running with mates, swimming in the ocean. Trading pub life for something that actually makes them feel good. Especially here in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, where Centennial Park is always pumping. The gap is that most of these people are the first in their friend group to make that shift, so they’ve got no-one to train with. We wanted to build them a home – a safe, welcoming place to train together, where you’re never the odd one out.
How would you describe the personality or culture of the club?
It’s in the name. We’re Rockets – engines, powerhouses. We bring the energy to everything we do. Always on, never off. But underneath the vibe, it’s a genuinely no-ego room. Big effort, zero attitude.
Who is the club designed for?
Everyone – but especially the person on the edge of the sport. The first-timer. The mate who’s curious but a bit intimidated. We’ve got seasoned racers and complete beginners training side by side, and that mix is the magic. You don’t need to be fast. You just need to want to start.
What makes Rocket Tri Club unique?
No ego, all in. We’ve got coaches and leaders heading to Kona and the 70.3 World Champs, athletes who’ve represented their countries – and their whole reason for being here is to give back. It’s people helping people. You get elite-level guidance in a room where nobody cares how fast you are or where you started.
The club’s mission and long-term vision?
Short term: get as many people into triathlon as we can, with a no-ego mindset. It’s not about winning every race – it’s about becoming the best version of you. Long term: to become the largest triathlon club in Australia. We’re starting grassroots here in Sydney, but we’ve already got people wanting to join in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. This is just the start line.
If you could chat with someone considering joining, what would you tell them?
Sign up to the race. Figure the race out later – that’s what we’re here for. We’ll guide you the whole way, with coaches and leaders who’ve raced at the highest level and just want to help you get to your own start line. Whoever you are, whatever shape you’re in, we’re with you from the start line to the finish line.
Where did the name come from?
We agonised over it for weeks. The first contender was “Pain Cave Endurance” which was swiftly shut down by our friends. Then we landed on Rocket. Think about it: a rocket is a twelve-storey building, and it still takes flight. That’s the whole idea. No matter your background or your story, you can turn it around and take off.
Any races or series in your first season? Where can people find you?
We’ll be heading down to Melbourne for the 2XU Triathlon Series – 2XU are a brand we know and love, and it’s some of the best summer racing in the country. Closer to home, we’re targeting local Sydney racing across spring and summer. Best way to keep tabs on us is @joinrocket on socials and joinrocket.app.
What does success look like?
Two images. Early-morning sessions where everyone’s smiling before the sun’s up. And finish-line photos with raw emotion – that moment someone realises they’re capable of more than they ever believed. If we’re making more of those, we’re winning.
Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Honestly, the reason this club exists is Max’s own story. Triathlon was his way out of a really tough relationship with drugs – it changed his life. And he’s not alone. We’ve got members who’ve had spinal fusions and are now racing 70.3s, and members who were seriously overweight and are about to finish their first triathlon. Whatever your shape, your story, or your starting point – we’re with you, start line to finish line.
