What was once a New Years resolution has turned into a lifelong love for Zoe Hubball who not only competes in triathlons and multisport but also acts as a Technical Official.
“It was a New Year’s resolution I just moved from Geelong to Adelaide, and I was going past West Lakes.”
“I was living near West Lakes at the time so I looked it up and found out it was a triathlon and that was 15-16 years ago,” Zoe chuckled.
That fleeting moment changed the trajectory of Zoe’s life. With intentions to only participate in the enticer event, things quickly progressed to Olympic distance and eventually Ironman.
“Representing Australia in worlds, becoming president of my club and being on the committee, triathlon kind of became my life.”
“I’m really engulfed by it I’d say.”
Having been part of the sport for more than a decade, Zoe notes that ‘friendship’ is one of the key aspects that keeps her coming back.
“Being an expat, I don’t have any family here. A lot of the people that belong to Meteors are in the same situation. So a lot of the time they’ve become family and friends you socialise with. And it’s all about giving back as well.”
“I love seeing new people come in and trying to help them and support them and passing on my knowledge.”
It’s fair to say that Zoe wears and has worn multiple hats over the years, currently she acts as the secretary for Meteors, while also being a qualified Foundation Level Coach and Technical Official – meaning she really does live and breathe triathlon.
“I just love it and I don’t think if I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t still be in it.”
“And the technical official part, I really enjoy that side of things. If you’re not racing, but you still want to be part of something, volunteering as a technical official, you can still be part of the event and meet lots of people, help new people.”
It’s this level of generosity and passion for the sport that shines through for Zoe often renowned offering a helping hand and words of advice to those who might just be beginning their multisport journey.
“I’m particularly enjoying helping new people set up their transition when they come in and if they have to be stopped and have conversations more from an education perspective, like the local races, educating them about why I’ve stopped them and the importance of the helmet.”
“A lot of the times for me, it’s about safety and explaining why we do the helmet checks and why I spend so much time getting them to adjust their helmet.”
With Race 2 of the Adelaide Duathlon Series only weeks away, Zoe shared some key insights as a Technical Official to help prepare and ensure that she creates a safe and fair environment for all athletes.
“You just turn up and make sure you’re ready. The race referee tells you what you need to do and where you’re going be located and the themes of the race, for example is it education when you stop people? Is it a serious race like a State Championship Series?” she explained.
Becoming a TO also provides a unique insight into racing and the intricacies behind the sport which are often needed to succeed.
‘It’s a really good learning curve for you as well, from the point of view of getting to know the race rules, the fairness of the sport, making a difference in people’s days. When someone rocks up and it’s their first time and you’re probably the first person that they’ve spoken to, making that time to go and help them is really rewarding and it’s very much about giving back to the sport and seeing very different aspects of racing.”
Learnings aside it’s also about the camaraderie and connection you make with other TO’s and athletes throughout the journey.
Learnings aside it’s also about the camaraderie and connection you make with other TO’s and athletes throughout the journey that makes the biggest difference.
“I just think the whole thing is fun. And that’s what you want. You want that break from reality, the hustle and bustle. Just get out there and enjoy yourself.”
If you’re interested in getting involved in Race 2 of the Adelaide Duathlon Series on Sunday 30 August then make sure to register today.
