The long-running Malibu Triathlon is no more, as intellectual property holders Super League Triathlon were denied a permit by the Malibu City Council to run the one triathlon allowed in city limits per year.

Instead, City Council across multiple meetings awarded the permit and contract to Michael Epstein, the former race director of the event who had previously sold the race for profit.

City Council members cited the desire for local control of the event, with council member Paul Grisanti noting the long-time knowledge of Epstein in the area as a key point in the decision making process. The Council also stated as persuasive that Epstein had created the non-profit Zuma Foundation to run the event.

During the meeting, Super League / Malibu Triathlon race director Brennan Lindner cited during questioning that Super League would be having legal conversations, including whether or not there was a non-compete, and the intellectual property concerns regarding the course design and event length.

Epstein, when questioned by council member Bruce Silverstein regarding the prior sale of the event, was evasive about whether he had made a profit during the sale, and whether a non-compete existed.

As of now, the Zuma Foundation is scheduled to operate the new Zuma Beach Triathlon on September 14-15, 2024.