Courtesy: press release

LUNA, the original nutrition bar for women, has created the first-ever women's professional triathlon team, the Luna Chix Triathlon Team, featuring Heather Gollnick, Desiree Ficker and Terra Castro. The team was born out of a desire to support female triathletes, both age-groupers and pros, who are making triathlon a way of life.

The new Luna Chix Triathlon Team is comprised of:

Heather Gollnick, three-time Ironman Champion, 2003 Wildflower Champion and Ironman Rookie of the Year, and 2001 national and world Triathlon Champion
Desiree Ficker, two-time Professional Duathlete of the Year, two-time Powerman Alabama Duathlon Champion, and 2001 Professional Rookie Triathlete of the Year.
Terra Castro, 2nd place finisher in the 2004 SOMA Half Ironman and USAT All-American Triathlete.

The team will compete in at least eight races in 2005, wear identical uniforms and share the same sponsors. All three Luna Chix Triathlon Team athletes are slated to compete in Ralph's Half Ironman, IM Arizona, Escape from Alcatraz and, should they all qualify, the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii. The team will be introduced to the public on March 15 at the LUNA bar headquarters in Berkeley, Calif. The event is a special benefit fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Fund, a non-profit which LUNA supports year-round with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the bar.

"The LUNA brand is committed to supporting and empowering women through sport, the arts, and personal health awareness," said Dylan Seguin, manager of Team CLIF Bar at Clif Bar Inc., maker of LUNA. "We help do this by building shared communities of women--like we're doing with the Luna Chix Triathlon Team. It creates a more supportive triathlon environment by incorporating the team elements that help athletes in other sports such as cycling."

Triathlons have experienced strong growth since their emergence 25 years ago. First considered to be a male-dominated sport, triathlons are embraced by men and women alike. In fact, women aged 21-35 now make up the fastest growing demographic within the triathlon market, and numerous new "women only" triathlons are debuted each year.

In addition to being title sponsor of the Luna Chix Triathlon Team, LUNA is the team's official energy food. Made with entirely natural ingredients and containing beneficial amounts of soy protein, calcium and folic acid, plus vitamins A, C, E and B12, LUNA is an ideal pre- and post-race or workout food. Other Luna Chix Triathlon Team sponsors include Oomph! Sports (clothing), Felt Racing (bikes), Ironman Wetsuits, fi'zi:k Saddles, InsideOut Sports (event support), Profile Design (bars and stems), Speedplay (pedals), Rudy Project (helmets and eyewear) and Zipp Wheels.

The Luna Chix Triathlon Team is the second women's professional team created by LUNA. The Luna Women's Mountain Bike Team, a.k.a. Luna Chix, is the only internationally competitive, professional mountain bike team comprised exclusively of women. In 2004 the Luna Chix won four U.S. national titles, including the coveted "Team" classification for the most consistent team on the circuit, male, female or otherwise, as well as 41 individual races in national and international competition.