Sally Edwards splits from Danskin, starts own races

[salsabike]

Yeah. Isn't this weird? Both races are using Genesee Park, also. I wonder if the courses will be the same for each.

[ilima]

This seems like a dumb move in this economy. I think it would have been better if they could resolve their differences and have a single series. I think a single series has a much better chance of surviving.

[dex]

My understanding from some e-mails floating around on one of the lists I'm on is that essentially what we all knew as "The Danskin" is now the Trek series, and Danskin sold their name to SheROX. People who are looking for "The Danskin Experience" are being encouraged to sign up for the Trek race. *shrug* I think it's all just kind of silly.

I think I may do the Federal Way race again in September, but stay away from either of the Danskin variations for now.

[salsabike]

See, I think that's all just marketing competition. I don't know that "the Danskin experience" equates solely to the presence of Maggie Sullivan and Sally Edwards. It just looks like a big ugly power and money struggle to me. If there's another side to it, it would be good to know what that is. I don't think the head to head competition serves athletes very well, but it could be that there's some merit to it that I don't understand/don't know about.

[PhillyTri99]

Actually, thats backwards. It seems that Trek - which was a sponsor of the Danskin races - wanted to have their own series. They recruited Maggie awayfrom Danskin promising her $s and glory. She took Sally along for the ride.

The Danskin folks wanted to continue the series and went to the SheROX peeps and asked then to step in to take it over. I know lots of girls that did the SheRox race in Philly and they said it blew Danskin away. Much better vibe and support. One of them was a newbie (scared like ****) and said that the mentor that she got from SheROX was unbelievable support and now she is hooked.

[ademetrio]

Hi All,

I handle the PR for the TREK Women's Triathlon Series, and used to work with Danskin, as well. I have read all your posts and wanted to clarify exactly what is going on with Sally, Maggie, Danskin and TREK.

While most of you are correct - Sally and Maggie have left Danskin and taken their team with them to TREK - it seems there is some skepticism and confusion as to the cause and motives behind that move.

I want to be clear and assure you when I say that Maggie's decision to leave Danskin was not for marketing or competitive purposes. It was not a publicity stunt, nor was the move a tactic in hurting the Danksin brand. Maggie's decision to leave Danskin after 19 years was a difficult and risky one (especially in this economy). But to her, the bigger picture was more important: she hoped to create an improved series for you. There are many aspects of Danksin that Maggie was not pleased with, and has been able to improve since she arrived at TREK.

Maggie’s first step was to include and build upon the best practices and dimensions of her 19 years of work in the triathlon industry. Maggie knew the importance of retaining the special aspects of her previous Series that women had come to love. For instance, the new Series would be a spring distance event: ½ mile swim, 12 mile bicycle and 3.1 mile run.

While at Danksin, Maggie was the sole employee responsible for developing the triathlon series. Along with Sally Edwards as the spokeswoman, she built a culture based on the notion of women helping women and supporting each other in a nurturing and challenging environment.

The problem now is that people are still looking for the Danskin race. What everyone needs to understand is that what was once the magic of Danskin has now transitioned to TREK with Sally and Maggie.

I hope this can clarify the confusion behind the move, and if anyone has any questions/comments please feel free to contact me. I want to be sure that all of you have not lost faith in Maggie Sullivan, Sally Edwards and the risk they have taken in leaving Danskin to improve the triathlon series - because I can promise that they have not lost faith in you.

[dex]

I'm thrilled to see that the PR machine is on the case. *ahem*

I realize that your company has likely been sold on the value of monitoring "the social web" for chatter about your brand/products/events, and on the value of countering anything perceived as negative, but a post like that just kind of defeats your whole purpose (especially on a site that is more community than just random chatter). You get a Fail. But, thanks for playing.

/Dex (who has had it up to her ears with marketing BS lately)

[Pat Worth]

Hi All,
...
The problem now is that people are still looking for the Danskin race. What everyone needs to understand is that what was once the magic of Danskin has now transitioned to TREK with Sally and Maggie.
...

The problem is that Trek still doesn't have its stuff together. I have been trying to register my wife and a friend for danskin (sherox) and trek events in the northeast and as of today one still cannot register for Trek NY Metro (http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com/new_york.html). ummmm ... maybe a little less PR and a little more delivery.

Funny ... the suggestion that Maggie was the one person at Danskin who was responsible for the great event (and it is a great event) would lead one the thing that Trek would be all that much better.