One of the wildest stories you’ll read this year happened in Penrith last weekend, with one of the biggest rock bands in the world making a surprise visit.
Panthers Tri Club is celebrating its 40th year in 2025, and in those four decades, The Offspring’s Dexter Holland would definitely be up there as one of their most famous competitors.
The band’s lead singer recently swapped his microphone and a stadium stage for a swim, bike and run at the Panthers Tri Club (PTC) local triathlon event at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.
PTC volunteers were surprised when Dexter, accompanied by his assistant, arrived to check-in at the registration desk on Saturday, May 10.
The 59-year-old frontman and guitarist is known for his diverse interests and accomplishments, including being a licensed pilot, holding a PhD in molecular biology and more recently, competing in triathlons.
“They kept it under wraps a bit so it was rather surreal for the volunteers when he checked in,” PTC Club President, Mark Thomas said.
“Dexter is training for an upcoming 70.3 event and even though he is on tour, his coach is still sending him training programs to adhere to. It just so happened, our local club race coincided with them being in town, and his training schedule.
“Our volunteers tried to make him feel like he was just another competitor, and if it wasn’t for the rest of the band turning up to cheer him over the finish line, most people in attendance would not have known he was there.”
While Dexter completed the 750m swim, the 20km bike course and 5km run, his fellow bandmates arrived to surprise him at the finish line.
“Apparently he had no idea the band was going to be there, so it was a nice, unexpected sight for him when he ran under the Panthers Tri Club finish line arch,” Thomas said.
The American band, who are responsible for mega hits ‘Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)’, ‘Come Out and Play’ and ‘Original Prankster’, were in Sydney last weekend for their Supercharged Worldwide in ’25 Australian tour at Qudos Bank Arena.
Panthers Triathlon Club host regular triathlon and duathlon events, and are always looking for new members, volunteers and now rock gods, to be part of the club.
For more information on their upcoming 40-year celebrations, visit facebook.com/PanthersTriathlonClub and http://www.pantherstriclub.com.au.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.