Salamander Endurance - Salamanders

Rolf Bender, known throughout the team as “The Baker,” is one of the Salamander Endurance Team’s most accomplished international competitors. Rolf has raced around the world, completing full IRONMAN events in Switzerland and Mexico, competing at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand, and taking on triathlon’s biggest stage at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

Having qualified for and competed in multiple IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 championship events, Rolf is a consistent force on the triathlon circuit. His relentless determination, elite endurance, and willingness to take on the world’s toughest courses make “The Baker” a formidable presence at every starting line—and a true Salamander.

Quentin Heiden, a Boston Marathon qualifier and finisher, multiple-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship qualifier and competitor, and consistent top age-group athlete, has competed across virtually every endurance distance. His racing resume includes multiple marathons, full IRONMAN races, long-distance open-water swims, and numerous sprint, Olympic, and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons.

Quentin has competed on the world stage at multiple IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships, racing in Taupō, New Zealand; Marbella, Spain; and St. George, Utah. With multiple overall Olympic-distance triathlon victories and countless age-group podiums, Quentin is known for his all-around strength, versatility, and competitive drive across the swim, bike, and run.

Allan MacLennan has been part of Salamander Endurance since the beginning, when the original crew first came together through masters swimming in Redondo Beach.

A longtime triathlete, Allan has competed across every distance, bringing years of experience and a fierce competitive spirit to the team. He has competed in multiple marathons and is now taking on the challenge of ultramarathon racing.

A dedicated endurance athlete, true competitor, and valued teammate, Allan embodies the Salamander spirit.

Ben Harris is another staple of the Salamander Endurance Team and a true all-around athlete.

A multi-year champion of the annual Salamander Slam, Ben brings a competitive spirit, plenty of personality, and his own unique flair to the event. Slam is Ben’s favorite event of the year. He has also put down strong finishes across Sprint, Olympic, and IRONMAN 70.3 Relay distances and is always ready to line up for the next race.

The Salamanders get together often and Ben loves to plan a good team rally. Whether competing, training, or joining in on the team’s social side, Ben brings energy and enthusiasm to the crew. A great athlete, teammate, and competitor, Ben is a true Salamander.

Adam Eramo is one of Salamander Endurance’s premier swim specialists. While Adam excels in all things endurance, he is truly at home in the water. Whether racing open water or in the pool, Adam is a fierce competitor.

A standout swimmer in high school and college, Adam was a member of a three-time state championship team before continuing his career at Trinity College. There, he established himself among the program’s top distance freestylers, posting top-four all-time Trinity performances in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle events and competing at the NESCAC Championships.

Adam has carried that swimming strength seamlessly into triathlon, where his ability to come out of the water near the front of the field has helped propel him to numerous strong overall and age-group finishes across multiple distances.

A strong and dedicated member of the Salamander Endurance Team, Adam also embraces the team’s social side and is always up for organizing the next Salamander social hour.

Billy Corvalan, Billy Corvalan, one of the Salamander Endurance Team’s strongest athletes, is a true all-around contender at every distance.

A former collegiate decathlete, Billy has translated his athleticism and versatility seamlessly into triathlon. He is a consistent age-group contender with multiple wins and strong overall finishes across all distances, as well as a multiple-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship qualifier.

Away from racing, Billy can often be found teaching surf lessons in the South Bay and giving back through his involvement with CultureClub Southbay, a nonprofit organization that supports Los Angeles youth through free beach programming. He also serves as chair of the annual Salamander Slam, one of the team’s signature events.

A fierce competitor, well-rounded athlete, and dedicated member of his community, Billy is a true Salamander.

Peyton Heiden, a former NCAA Division I track and cross-country athlete at the University of Arizona, is one of Salamander Endurance’s newest team members.

Peyton began her athletic career swimming with Beach Cities Swimming before joining the Wave Runners running club. She later competed in youth triathlons, earning top age-group finishes at several local events.

Peyton ultimately found her calling in competitive running. She posted a 5:01 in the 1,600 meters in high school and later ran 4:30 in the 1,500 meters during college.

Now returning to competition, Peyton brings her speed, experience and competitive spirit to the Salamander Endurance Team.

Cade Heiden, a current student at the University of Arizona in Tucson, is a talented all-around athlete and one of Salamander Endurance’s newest team members.

Cade began his athletic career as a competitive youth swimmer in Colorado before becoming a multisport standout in high school. He emerged as a leader on the varsity football team and later served as captain of the varsity basketball team.

After graduating from high school, Cade returned to endurance sports and completed his first IRONMAN 70.3 in Omaha, Nebraska, during the summer of 2026, earning a strong finish in his age group. Later that summer, he stepped down to the Olympic distance and won his age group at the Des Moines Triathlon.

Now competing across multiple endurance disciplines, Cade brings his athleticism, versatility and competitive drive to the Salamander Endurance Team.

Serge Dube, a Montreal, Canada native, is a lifelong athlete and one of the foundational members of Salamander Endurance.

A cycling specialist, Serge is among the top riders in the South Bay. He has competed in criteriums, gran fondos and cycling events around the world, while also establishing himself as a fierce competitor and top age-group contender on the Belgian Waffle Ride circuit.

Serge regularly leads Salamander group rides and is always willing to share his experience and mentor newer cyclists.

A fierce competitor, trusted teammate and natural leader, Serge brings strength, experience and a passion for cycling to the Salamander Endurance Team.

Rick Crump, a local Southbay legend, has been competing in endurance sports for decades, earning strong finishes across running, cycling, triathlon and open-water swimming.

A multiple-time IRONMAN World Championship qualifier and finisher, Rick has long been a perennial age-group contender across a variety of endurance disciplines.

Today, Rick continues to give back to the endurance community as a race director, leading events including Swim the Avenues and the former Redondo Beach Triathlon. His experience, competitive spirit and commitment to the sport make him a valued member of the Salamander Endurance Team.

Hide Kojima, straight from Japan, is one of the original members of the Salamander Endurance Team and a fierce all-around endurance athlete who excels in the swim, bike and run.

Having competed successfully across every triathlon distance, Hide is a consistent age-group contender known for his toughness, versatility and relentless competitive spirit. Whether racing short and fast or going long, Hide brings the same determination and competitive edge that have made him a fixture of the Salamanders since the team’s early days.

Jonas Maier, straight from Germany, is another recent addition to the Salamander Endurance Team.

A former NCAA Division I tennis player, Jonas competed at both Utah State University and the University of Arizona, compiling an impressive collegiate career. At Arizona, he recorded 21 singles wins in his first season, while at Utah State he helped the Aggies capture the 2017 Mountain West Conference championship. Jonas later tested his game on the professional circuit and produced impressive results.

Jonas has since transitioned his athleticism and competitive drive to triathlon, where he is already making his mark. Most recently, he had a strong finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon.

From the tennis court to the race course, Jonas brings a serious competitive pedigree to the Salamander Endurance Team.

Sian Bentson, Salamander Endurance’s original leading lady, is a gifted endurance athlete with a particular strength in the water.

A member of the team since the beginning, Sian has earned top age-group finishes in numerous open-water swimming events, including the iconic Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim. Her endurance abilities extend well beyond swimming, having completed multiple IRONMAN 70.3 races.

A strong competitor, longtime teammate, and true Salamander….never count Sian out.

Ted Brennan represents Salamander Endurance on the East Coast, though he can still be spotted in the South Bay joining the local Salamanders for ocean swims, Masters workouts and signature events such as the famous Pier-to-Pier Swim, Swim the Avenues and the annual Salamander Slam!

One of the team’s strongest swimmers, Ted is a fierce competitor at both the Olympic and IRONMAN 70.3 distances. A consistent age-group leader and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship qualifier, Ted is always a threat when he steps to the starting line.

Dan O’Connell represents the Salamander Endurance Team in Northern California. An accomplished athlete across every discipline, Dan is also the frontman for a local rock band.

Dan makes regular appearances at the annual Salamander Slam, where he devastates the field with his rocket-fast two-mile beach run or two-mile Pier-to-Pier swim. He has also competed solo in multiple full IRONMAN races and anchored multiple IRONMAN 70.3 relay teams with blisteringly fast run splits.

Dan is always a fierce competitor...and if he shows up, prepare for a beatdown. His words of wisdom perfectly capture his competitive mindset and have inspired many:

“The butterflies before races mean you have the potential for greatness.”

A true Salamander mentality!

Nik Werre is one of the original Salamanders and a true all-around endurance athlete. An accomplished triathlete, Nik has posted strong age-group finishes across every distance—from sprint and Olympic races to IRONMAN 70.3 and the full IRONMAN.

In 2019, Nik relocated to the Phoenix, Arizona area, where his endurance career took a turn toward the trails. Always a powerhouse on the bike, he quickly became a fixture in the Arizona mountain biking scene, taking on some of the toughest terrain the desert has to offer.

Whether he’s swimming, cycling, running, or now tearing through the Arizona mountains on two wheels, Nik is always a threat when he shows up at the starting line. An original Salamander and still one of the team’s finest.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse