The Voices of Wildflower

Here’s the 2018 Wildflower Announcer Team! This star-studded line-up is made up of Legends, Olympians, Pros, top-tier event commentators and famous radio personalities. They will be calling your name across the finish line and inspiring you along the way! Their infectious energy and in-depth knowledge of Wildflower will make this a weekend you’ll never forget.

Julie Moss

As one of triathlon’s pioneers, Julie Moss has spent over a decade as a professional triathlete. However, she is probably best known for her dramatic crawl to the finish in the 1982 Ironman, which showed her dedication, true grit, and fearlessness. Julie is a member of the Ironman Hall of Fame, the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame, and has received Competitor Magazine’s Legend Award. The self-discoveries Julie made in the lava fields of Hawaii during her debut Ironman continue to shape and enrich her life today through training, racing, motivational speaking, and event announcing.

Whit Raymond

For more than 25 years, Whit Raymond has been a host and commentator at triathlon, running, winter biathlon, and adventure racing events. He announced at the Wildflower Triathlon in 1995 and since then, Whit has been an enthusiastic fan of the sport and the voice leading thousands of athletes into the finish chute. Fluent in Japanese, he has served as a Japanese/English translator and liaison for numerous Japanese companies, TV productions, and events. A talented triathlete in the early days of the sport, he’s competed in seven Ironman (five in Kona) and was the Hawaii Volcano Marathon Champ. When he was 40, Whit was the first amateur at XTERRA Half Moon Bay.

Michellie Jones

A member of the Australia Sports Hall of Fame, ITU Hall of Fame, and the Triathlon Australia Hall of Fame, Olympic Silver Medalist Michellie Jones is the most decorated triathlete in the history of the sport. She is also an Ironman World Champ, an XTERRA World Champ, and became a gold medalist again at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, where she served as a guide for sight-impaired athlete Katie Kelly. Michellie has been coaching athletes for over 20 years, from elite age groupers to first-time IRONMAN finishers. She is also an IRONMAN Certified Coach and head coach at giddyupmultimultsports.com and the Ride Cyclery Triathlon Team. With over 30 years participating in and coaching at the elite level, Michellie has an exceptional knowledge about triathlon rules, regulations, and the athletes participating.

Dean Harper

Dean Harper is a man of many “firsts.” He was first in the first triathlon he ever entered in 1981 and has been a huge part of the triathlon world since. In 1983, he won the first ever Wildflower Triathlon, the first USAT Long Course Championship, and was on the first cover of Triathlete Magazine. In 1986 Dean won Wildflower again. Although he stopped competing at an elite level in 1987 when he began practicing law, Dean has been a fixture – and a many-time champ – in the amateur divisions of Alcatraz, Wildflower, Pacific Grove, and Treasure Island. He has been instrumental in helping triathlon grow from a tiny sport to the huge phenomenon it is today.

Sean English

A native Californian and active endurance athlete, Sean English’s voice is probably a familiar one as he has been waking up the campground with morning announcements, welcoming athletes to the Wildflower transition area, and calling them over the finish line for over a decade. Many know Sean as an endurance coach, from his over 15 years of working with all levels of athletes, but most know him as a race announcer and the voice of several of the nations premier events including the NIKE Women’s Marathon, the Rock’n’Roll Marathons, Rev 3, Wildflower, Danskin Women’s, Escape from Alcatraz, and many other triathlons.  Sean has also worked with several national nonprofits like the Talbert Family Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, AIDS/ Lifecycle, American Heart Association, and MS Society.

Emily Cocks

Former pro triathlete Emily Cocks got her start swimming at the University of Michigan. She competed in her first triathlon in 2004 and trained harder and with more focus each passing year. In June 2009, she turned professional and moved to Napa in 2010 to train. She was third at the Wildflower Triathlon in 2016 and has two six-place finishes and a seventh-placefinish at Wildflower. In her successful career, she was a two-time runner up at Pacific Grove Triathlon, placed fifth at the ITU Long Distance World Triathlon Championship, and has fourth and fifth place finishes at the Vineman 70.3 Triathlon. Emily is also a triathlon coach for KIS Coaching and is working with Ride Napa Valley to produce cycling events in Napa Valley.

Victor Plata

Victor Plata has an illustrious career as a professional triathlete. He was a 2004 Olympic Team Member, a 2003 Pan Am Games Team Member, and an alternate on the 2000 Olympic Team. In 1997, Plata won the Collegiate National Championship at the Wildflower Triathlon, which launched his triathlon career.

Pepper Daniels

As a seven-time Wildflower Triathlon announcer, Pepper Daniels knows the athletes, the course, and the sport. He has competed in the Wildflower Olympic Distance Triathlon three times, but he is probably more familiar as the voice of 98.1, KJUG, on weekday afternoons from 3-7pm. Additionally, he manages KJUG, Coast 104.5, and News Talk 920 AM KVEC. Pepper lives in San Luis Obispo and is often heard announcing at Cal Poly athletic events. He is an avid Chicago Cubs fan, loves live music, cooking, and tasting craft beers.