Sea Otter Classic US edition acquired by Life Time

The original Californian Sea Otter Classic event has been acquired by Life Time, an organiser with a portfolio of athletic events.

The acquisition leaves in place the event’s leadership team, plus Co-Founder and Director Frank Yohannan who has guided the event for 31 years, in the process drawing the attention of millions of consumers to the world of cycling.

“The cycling industry is in the midst of a transformation and Life Time is here to support it,” says Kimo Seymour, president, Life Time Media and Events. “Sea Otter Classic is a premiere event in the bike industry, providing an unparalleled experience to athletes, consumers and industry partners. With Life Time’s focus on iconic brands that deliver exceptional and unique opportunities, the Sea Otter Classic is a natural fit within our ecosystem, and we couldn’t be more proud to work with the team to get even more people riding bikes.”

“Life Time and the Sea Otter Classic share a common belief in the power of bikes and their ability to change people’s lives,” says Frank Yohannan, the co-founder. “But I also want to recognise and celebrate our athletes and bike-loving festival attendees whose passion and energy make our event what it is. I can confidently promise that, in partnership with Life Time, the Sea Otter Classic will continue to offer more of what our community now expects: steeper drops, higher jumps, tougher races and more rides.”

The multi-decade event has brought together the breadth of the bicycle industry to celebrate bikes, riding and racing across multiple disciplines of cycling— road, mountain, gravel and e-Bike—with a globally-renowned consumer and industry product expo.

This year’s Classic will return to Monterey, California from October 7-10, 2021.

There are now spin off events in Europe and Australia that are held under separate ownership.