INTERVIEW: David Powers On i-tri’s Inaugural Hamptons Ride And Wine

Ride and Wine, an event founded by i-tri board member and triathlete Sarah Piampiano that originated in California, is making its East Coast premiere on Saturday, October 13. The fundraiser, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 25, will kick-off with a morning bike ride, followed by an afternoon picnic and wine tasting at Channing Daughters Winery.

We caught up with i-tri board member David Powers to learn more:

Tell us a bit about Ride and Wine?

DP: This will be the third year for Ride and Wine, and the first year here and we’re trying to link them up so it’s a similar distance, the same beneficiary, and create a bi-coastal event for the people that want to help i-tri.

Riders have the option of a 25 or 60 mile course. Where will both take them?

DP: It starts and finishes at Channing Daughters Winery in Bridgehampton. For the 60 miler, you ride south into Bridgehampton and then you ride along the south of the highway roads through Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Wainscott, and then it loops back on 27 and it does more south of the highway roads and it continues out all the way out to Montauk and we do a loop around Fort Pond, and then you head back west. The 25 miler is essentially the same thing, but instead of going out to Montauk, you cut back earlier. Then we have a picnic lunch at the winery and Molly Channing will give a talk about their wines. There will be a tasting.

For those unfamiliar with i-tri, could you speak about the organization’s mission?

DP: i-tri was formed about ten years ago. It’s a program designed for middle school aged girls who in some cases need an extra push to reach a goal. It’s a tough age and Teresa [Roden] decided let’s create a program where they can have a goal in front of them. In this particular case, it’s the youth triathlon. And to create a program where they learn steps to reach that goal and take care of themselves. They get nutritional training, they learn about what it means to create a goal, and the steps to reach it. It’s a really great program that reaches girls who otherwise might be lost. Boys at that age have different issues. Teresa had noted (and she started the program in the spring) there were a lot of girls who could use the structure and discipline that she imparted into the program. It’s really great. The race is a really neat thing. A lot of these girls you realize aren’t natural athletes, but they’re all in it together, to do the same course – the swim, bike and run. When they get to the finish line, the camaraderie, excitement and joy of finally completing this task – some of these girls didn’t know how to swim or ride a bike, but they all go out there and do it. Every one of the girls who “graduate” from this program, they all look back at this as something that was transformation for them in terms of the confidence, learning how to set goals and meet them, and have the discipline to have to go to point A to point B.

Is funding from the event earmarked for anything in particular?

DP: We have lots of instructors who help the girls. There’s 170 in the program and they’re spread from Montauk to William Floyd Middle School – so there’s a lot of costs involved whether it’s the helmets, bikes, uniforms, training, coaching and so on. 100 percent of the proceeds from the Ride & Wine goes to support the training. It’s a real great cause.

The Ride begins at 8:30 a.m. and the Picnic & Wine tasting will take place from 12 to 3 p.m.

The registration deadline is Monday, October 8.

Channing Daughters Winery is located at 1927 Scuttle Hole Road in Bridgehampton. For more information, visit itrigirls.org.