This Saturday Callala Beach will host the 2019 Callala Triathlon Festival where over 700 participants will have one last swim, ride and run race before Christmas. Now in its ninth year, it is regarded as the boutique event against Elite Energy's long list of triathlons. "Locations within the Shoalhaven are clearly a favourite on our event calendar for those wanting to escape the city to race, especially like Callala since it's one last hit out before Christmas," said Hew Colless of Elite Energy. The triathlon festival features three different race distances, including the aquabike race (swim and ride only), appealing to an array of ages, abilities and motivations with numbers up 20 per cent on last year's event. The 2019 festival has moved to a one-day event, the shuffling of the race schedule paired with the removal of the longer distance race has allowed for minimal disruption to the local area whilst providing a fantastic event for participants. Many of the local Jervis Bay Triathlon Club members relish at the opportunity to race on home turf, CEO of Elite Energy Mark Emerton said. "The pristine waters of Callala Beach is only the beginning of the idyllic race location, paired with a fantastic bike course along Forrest Road and run out to Myola returning to finish at Callala Beach. After many successful years we know that this location is perfect for triathlon," Emerton said. "In addition to this, the South Coast being only a short drive from Sydney makes this event extremely accessible to those triathletes based out of the metropolitan regions bringing tourism to the Shoalhaven before peak season." Continuing to demonstrate their continued commitment to reducing their environmental footprint, over the course of the past year Elite Energy have been using reusable/washable cups out on course at athlete aid stations, and where possible reducing the use of cable ties with bungee cord toggles in a successful effort to reduce waste accumulated as a by-product of events. Most recently at Huskisson Triathlon Festival in November, the event organisers limited the issuing of swim caps by requesting that participants use their own swim caps. This in turn significantly reduced the amount of excess waste left behind - with zero swim caps sold from over 600 participants, it proved a huge success. "We'll be continuing our 'EnviroFriendlee' strategy at Callala, following the massive success and support we had at Husky with reducing waste swim caps leftover from the event. We'll continue to ask competitors to use their own favourite swimming caps going forward," Hew Colless said. For those that are yet to enter, race entries for all abilities and distances are available from the registration tent at Callala Beach on Saturday morning from 6.30am. For all other information, including changed traffic conditions, head to www.eliteenergy.com.au.