After making the transition from Colorado to Hawai'i, the Seymour brothers — Chad and Matt — have become fast-rising star triathletes because of their fast-paced times.

Chad and Matt will compete in the inaugural 24 Hour Fitness Honolulu Triathlon on Sunday.

It will precede the United States Olympic Team Trials Triathlon, which will feature many of the world's best triathletes.

Chad is 21 and Matt is 19. They may not be ready to compete for Olympic spots, but they are already considered two of Hawai'i's top triathletes.

"I moved here three years ago because I wanted to change my whole lifestyle," Chad said. "I wanted to concentrate on triathlons and move to a place where I could train year round."

One year after Chad moved from Littleton, Colo., to Honolulu, Matt decided to attend the University of Hawai'i. A few months after that, their parents moved to Honolulu as well.

"It ended up being a big move because now the whole family is here," Chad said. "That wasn't my plan, but it worked out great."

Matt added: "I miss Colorado sometimes because you could train in the high altitude. But coming to Hawai'i was the best thing for us."

Because of their different schedules and racing styles, the brothers do not train together as often as they once did.

Growing up in Colorado, the Seymour brothers were into competitive swimming. Their parents, Brad and Melisa, now own Island Swim 'n Gear shop in Waikiki.

"Swimming was our big thing back then," Chad said. "But after a while, I just didn't want to do it anymore and I found triathlons to be more my thing."

Chad, who works at Island Triathlon & Bike, is an endurance triathlete. He entered the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua, Kona, for the first time last October.

"I used to watch the Kona Ironman on TV all the time and I always wanted to do it," he said. "That was a big reason why I decided to move to Hawai'i in the first place."

Matt is a sprint triathlete, specializing in distances much shorter than the Ironman standards (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run). He represented the United States at the Junior World Championships last year, placing 31st.

The course for the Honolulu Triathlon will be a 1-mile swim followed by a 24.8-mile bike, then a 6.2-mile run — the standard Olympic distance. Because it is a "shorter" triathlon, Matt is expected to finish ahead of his older brother.

"We're competitive with each other," Chad said. "But he's been getting the better of it lately. We're pretty equal in the swim and the bike, but he has a kick in the run that I don't have."

In two separate triathlons on O'ahu last year, Matt finished first and Chad second.

"Whenever we enter a race together, we actually try to stay with each other in the swim and the bike," Chad said. "If something happens to one of us, the other is right there. But once we get to the run, we kind of go our own ways."

Chad's future plans include entering more Ironman events and the Xterra off-road triathlon series.

Matt trained with the United States Collegiate National Triathlon Team last summer, and his goal is to make the Olympic team in 2008 or 2012.

"We both could go pro right now," Matt said. "But we're kind of waiting for the right opportunity. We're both young. In this sport, most guys don't start peaking until they reach (age) 24 or 25, so we still have time to build strength and get better."

Regardless of how good they get, they want to keep Hawai'i as their home base.

"If you want to get to that elite level, you have to put in the time, year round," Chad said. "It's going to take more dedication. But that's why we came here in the first place."

• STILL OPEN: Entries are still being accepted for the Honolulu Triathlon. For information, visit www.honolulutriathlon.com.

• DUKE SCHOLARSHIP OFFERED: The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation will award two $500 athletic scholarships to the first eligible male and female winners of the Honolulu Triathlon. ODKF is a public non-profit foundation created in Kahanamoku's honor. For information on how to become eligible for the grant, call 526-4888 or e-mail to apolynn@aol.com or go to Duke's Waikiki for an application. Deadline is Sunday.