I first went to St Croix in 2005 for the wonderful race that happens every year on the first week of May. In the past I had always raced the huge Wildflower event in California, but the lure of the US Virgin Islands dragged me out to St Croix in May of 2005. I had the great pleasure of home-staying with Tom Piel and his young son Will, in their beautiful home on the Island.

Tom is one of the most interesting people I have met in my life and we have gone on to be great friends over the years since. We keep in touch and drop each other emails and phone calls a couple of times each year. Will was only a young boy when I first went out to stay with them and was a talented little musician who loved to play the drums and the guitar. We have had some great jams and some great dinners at their home. Julie and Hunt who live next door to Tom are frequent visitors and between these two families they adopt the triathlon community for the week. It is incredible their hospitality and embrace of our sport. Anyway I got this wonderful picture sent from Tom recently that shows Will competing in a few triathlons on the Island. It is just wonderful to see that our sport can touch an Island and its magnetic lure can bring others to give it a go. Will has been competing in triathlon now for a couple of seasons and looks like he is having a ball. These pictures really made me smile and also made me feel a little older. The picture of Will running made me realise that he is no longer the young boy that I met 4 years ago. He is a young man. It is amazing. I feel like I had a little part in bringing Will to experience multi-sport racing. The fact that triathlon came to this island and the locals got to see all of us compete inspired the younger generation to give it a go.

I was inspired by the older generation of athletes that I saw on TV, and this is what drew me to the sport, and now Will has come to Triathlon because he got to see and touch this sport in his home town. It really made me smile and it really made me reflect. Good job Will and I hope you are having fun enjoying our sport. I really look forward to getting back to St Croix and seeing my good friends again. I look forward to talking to Will about his triathlon experiences and I look forward to sitting on the big outdoor sitting area at Toms house, looking out towards the sea, and having a local Rum Cocktail again with Tom. Good times and great company. This year I am back in Wildflower but I will return to St Croix very soon. I want to take my own family out to experience the hospitality and the beauty of this jewel of the US. I look forward to seeing you all again in St Croix and for everyone of the 1000 athletes who are competing this year at the event, enjoy the day and enjoy the island.