TRI2100 Triathlon

According to an excerpt from the US Geological Survey’s Geo-Narrative of Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), the historic Grand Batture Island, was a once major piece of the Grand Bay coastline in the mid-1800s. Today, all that remains of the island is a sand spit sunken beneath the waves. This dramatic change in the coastline had ripple effects across the Bay including sediment, salinity, and wave protection in the area.

According to modeling predictions from NOAA, under a dramatic sea level rise scenario, marshlands will no longer be able to sustain themselves and will be forced to move inland or be lost to sea. This drastic change over time projects an approximately 69% total loss of land in the Grand Bay coastline by the year 2100. The increasing severity of coastal erosion threatens not only the coastal areas of the reserve but also the communities near them, such as Moss Point.

TRI2100 is a triathlon event and connecting trail system that aims to bring awareness to the increasing coastal erosion and rising sea levels in Grand Bay. The first date is 1848, marking the existence of the Grand Batture Island. The first leg of the event begins by kayak as participants voyage out into the bay. The second leg of the event is a 6.5-mile biking trail, establishing the contemporary coastline of Grand Bay. The final stretch of the event is a 7-mile run along the projected coastline for the year 2100.

The trail markers lining the path of the event are made up of a wooden post crowned by transparent acrylic cube with a triangular cross-section.
The prominent side of the top piece functions as a removable triangular plate that includes the name of the event. This piece will be partially filled with water, and as you progress through the race, the water level inside will increase to correlate with the cause for awareness related to rising sea levels.

Final prototypes of the trail post and medal feature similar design elements from the identity system while incorporating organic materials to connect back to the cause.