As expected, it was hot (102 F) and humid (80%) in Langawi for Ironman Malaysia. It didn’t slow down Team TBB’s Hiro Nishiuchi and Jocelyn “The Wongstar” Wong. Hiro came from way back off the bike to run a blistering marathon, earning a hard fought 2nd place in 8:50:52. Despite a slow swim, The Wongstar held strong and steadily moved her way through the women’s field for 5th place (10:20:32).

On the other side of the globe, Angela Naeth was dealing with cold, rainy and windy conditions at the Desert Duathlon Classic outside of Phoenix. She threw down a race best bike-split to finish 3rd among some of triathlon’s best females.

Caroline Steffen of Team TBB scored a huge win at the Ironman 70.3 Geelong in Australia. Steffen, the 4th place finisher from last year’s Ironman 70.3 World Championships, took control on the bike and strode away to a comfortable 5-minute victory (4:14:32). This is the Swiss Miss’s first 70.3 win. Congratulations to Caroline.

Challenged Athletes Foundation poster boy J.P. Theberge did what most able-bodied athletes are unable…he qualified for the Boston Marathon. At the Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, J.P. ran a scorching 3:06:47, well under the standard. Next goal for J.P., breaking the elusive 3-hr barrier.

The guys from Troy Lee Designs Honda continue to impress with podium after podium. Wil Hahn ended the Supercross Lites West schedule sitting in 3rd in the point series. Unfortunately, Cole Seely crashed in training and broke his hip but hopes to be back for the finale in Las Vegas later this year.

AVIA sponsored athletes Melanie McQuaid of Canada and Nicolas Lebrun of France were named 2009 XTERRA Athletes of the Year by Triathlete. Melanie had an unbelievably consistent year, winning 6 stops on the XTERRA US Tour, as well as the XTERRA USA Championships and placed 3rd at the XTERRA World Championships. Nico got a roll late in the year culminating with a 2nd place at both the XTERRA World Championships and the XTERRA Winter World Championships.

Team Luna’s Katerina Nash finished 4th at the UCI World Cyclocross Championships in her native Czech Republic, barely missing a coveted medal.

Welcome Lesley Paterson to Team AVIA!

Welcome Nico Lebrun to Team AVIA!

Welcome Josiah Middaugh to Team AVIA!

Welcome Virginia Berasategui to Team AVIA.

Brasil’s Reinaldo Colucci set a new course record (3:52:38) and ran his way to victory at the Pucon Ironman 70.3 in beautiful Pucon, Chile on Sunday…a great way to the start the new year for the Brasilian Olympian. He outpaced 70.3 World Championship runner-up Daniel Fontana and the 5-time winner of the Pucon event Oscar Galindez.

Team TBB’s Tereza Macel of Canada finished 3rd in her opening race of the 2010 season.

In supercross action (yes, AVIA even sponsors a supercross team), Wil Hahn of the Troy Lee Designs / Lucas Oil / Honda team was the runner-up at the Monster Energy Supercross Lites race in Anaheim. Wil is now tied for 2nd in the points series after three rounds. His teammate Cole Seely placed 5th and is currently seventh in points.

The multi-sport season is upon us…already. AVIA is busy with many new projects for 2010 and needs to get caught up on all the athlete news for January.

AVIA XTERRA superstars Melanie McQuaid and Nico Lebrun were named XTERRA Athletes of The Year by Triathlete magazine. You can check out the article in the February issue, which is on newsstands now.

Team Luna’s Katerina Nash is one of the favorites for the upcoming UCI Cyclocross World Championships, having won the World Cup event in Roubaix, France.

Traithlon racing in the Southern Hemisphere is heating up as a number of the Team TBB athletes already have a full Ironman under their race belts. At Challenge Wanaka in New Zealand, Rebekah Keat  and Lisbeth Kristensen finished 2nd and 3rd and Keegan Williams placed 3rd. Good on ya!

Down in South Africa at the Ironman 70.3 in Buffalo City, James Cunnama of Team TBB set a run course record and finished 2nd. Last year’s winner Lucie Zelenkova fought her way onto the podium with a 3rd place finish.

AVIA is almost ready to announce some exciting athlete news. Stay tuned.

The AVIA family grows to include Jo Zeiger, Llanos Bros, Mel McQuaid, Pip Taylor and Team TBB. Official partnership with The Bike Boutique focuses on developing world champions as well as social development to ensure youth around the globe can participate in triathlon.

AVIA sponsors MelRad Racing. Guided by 6x World Champions Melanie McQuaid & Conrad Stoltz, MRR team members will race the XTERRA series.

AVIA sponsors the Forward Motion Elite Race Team. The elite team races 5k’s through Iron distance events and garnered over 100 podium finishes in 2009.

Lucie Zelenkova wins Ironman South Africa & South Africa 70.3.

Jillian Petersen wins the Miami International Triathlon.

Saul Raisin completes New Orleans 70.3. On top of a full racing schedule he gathers support for The Raisin Hope Foundation throughout his travels.

TEAM AVIA kicks off the 2009 season with awesome racing, camping, and celebrating at the AVIA Wildflower Triathlons. Eneko Llanos and Reinaldo Colucci take 2nd & 3rd. Erika Csomor finishes 3rd; Tyler Stewart & Heather Wurtele round out the top 5. UC San Diego wins the collegiate championship.

Eduardo Sturla brings home his 3rd Ironman Brazil title. Reinaldo Colucci, finishes second in his first ever Ironman.

AVIA sponsors the Commonwealth Tri Series & the Texas Tri Series.

Tyler Stewart storms the bike course at Ironman Coeur d’Alene, with a new record of 4:59:35 and overall record of 9:23:51. Heather Wurtele finished 3rd.

AVIA’s Bek Keat posts the 2nd fastest women’s Ironman time ever at Quelle Challenge Roth in an impressive 8:39:24.

Pip Taylor wins Vineman 70.3 presented by AVIA.