The Heidelberg Triathlon is one of the special moments in the yearly calendar: a long-standing event set against the historical backdrop of the old town, with a swim course that leads right through the Neckar River. What makes this race so fascinating is the mix of athletic challenge, nature, and the energy of the many athletes who gather at the start line every year. For many, it is a highlight of the summer – and for RESTUBE, a matter close to our hearts.
As Safety Partner, we support the triathlon by equipping the event and its participants with Safety Buoys – available to borrow, simple and hassle-free. The Neckar has its own rules. Current, temperature, wind, all the impressions – open-water swimming demands concentration and respect. And this is exactly where a buoy makes the decisive difference: it creates visibility, it creates safety, and it allows a feeling of freedom in the water, without that feeling of being overwhelmed that some experience, especially in the beginning.
One thing we are especially pleased about this year is that the Safety Buoys are officially approved. This is an important signal. The organizer puts it this way: “As we only swim in open water with a Safety Buoy in private for years, we are very happy that they are now also allowed in the competition. We want to reduce the fear of the Neckar course especially for beginners and make swimming as safe and relaxed as possible for everyone.” This sentiment speaks straight from our hearts. Safety is not a limitation, but an invitation – and if it encourages people to face an experience they might otherwise have doubted, then it is a true added value.
Anyone who has ever stood at Neckarmünzplatz shortly before the start knows the tingling feeling. The boats, the spectators on the shore, the old bridge towering above it all. A deep breath, maybe a brief look at the buoy, floating lightly in the water, ready when you need it. And then the starting signal. You slip into the river, let the city glide past, your arms find their rhythm, and at some point only one sensation remains: I am swimming. I am safe. I can enjoy this moment.
This is exactly the feeling we want to reinforce. A triathlon is physical performance, but it is also mental. Whoever can focus on the essentials, who knows that in an emergency a simple hand movement is enough to get buoyancy, swims more relaxed. And those who swim relaxed often swim better.
The Heidelberg Triathlon offers the perfect stage for this. It is demanding, scenically impressive, and shaped by a strong community. The decision to allow Safety Buoys shows courage and responsibility. It shows that performance and safety are not contradictions, but can strengthen each other.
We are proud to be part of this event. We are happy about every participant who swims through the Neckar with RESTUBE on their back. And we look forward to continuing to work together with the triathlon team and the whole community to make open water a place where one can feel free – and safe at the same time.
