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World Long Course Triathlon Championships - Motala, Sweden

Paul HoughPaul Hough
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

EN Swedish contingent - news from the logistics end:

There aren't a lot of hotels in Motala but fortunately Event Travel Management has booked the Best Western right in Motala.  I've been in contact with them and they expect to have their booking website up Monday.   Don't wait cause all other lodging in Motala is already sold out.

ITU lists the event as 27-28 Jun on their website.  I've contacted them and confirmed that the actual race date is 27 June.  I'm trying to find out if there are any activities the day before or after.  I intend to spend about 4 nights in Stockholm after the race.

Sweden announced its team yesterday.  As host country they had 30 slots per age group, but only F40-44 and M30-34 thru 50-54 used all 30. M55 is 28 and lucky Bruce only has 10 Swedes in M60-64.  Sweden will probably be the largest contingent followed closely by England and the US.  

The race website can be found by googling Vattern Triathlon.  It is under construction but links you to their Facebook page.  Recommend you like it to keep up to date.

Comments

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    More info for your planning:

    Anna Öhrström
    10:36 AM (54 minutes ago)

    Hi Paul,
    There will be a opening/carbo loading party on Thursday, a race briefing on Friday and a closing ceremony on Saturday evening. On Sunday there will be an open sprint for anyone to participate and a Tri4fun for the kids.

    Welcome to Sweden and Motala!

    Best regards
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    This is great info, thanks Paul
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    E-mail from Katarina @ Events Travel Management (they are setting this up for USAT):



    Perfect! Just what I was told, glad you could reconfirm.



    The package will be a five night package with the first night in Stockholm and the next 4 nights in Motala. I think this will give everyone a chance to come in throughout the day and then we can all transfer down together on Day 2 to Motala since its quite a ride from Stockholm but very beautiful.



    Looking forward to having you join us! I think we got lucky when we snagged the Best Western quickly!
  • Ian KurthIan Kurth
    Paul,
    Thanks for all the great info and recon! Very helpful.
    See you at IMFL.
    Ian
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Update on travel package. Nirvana Europe (based out of England) is also going to have a package for Motala. I booked through them for IM Regensburg and IM Sweden...very good company...just remember they speak English and you speak American! When the USAT package is ready it will be worth cross checking with Nirvana for pricing and who has the better hotel location, better date flexibility, etc.

    Hi Paul,

    Our travel partner has finalized the details of their travel package and it will be released soon. We hope to receive more details in the coming weeks from ITU to build the event page on the Team USA site. We should have the site up by mid-November.

    Thank you!

    Lauren Rios
    Team USA and Research Coordinator

  • Ian KurthIan Kurth
    Paul,

    You the man! Thanks again for the all the groundwork and research!

    Ian
  • Yvette MetzYvette Metz

    Paul, Thanks for all the work  I just came across this forum.  Was wondering when the info would be released, good news.

     

     

  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    Agree, thanks Paul. You are of course the unquestioned tri travel expert!
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Draft Event Schedule. Looks like Wed is the only chance for OWS practice on the venue. Note the late start on Saturday. USAT has not posted the travel package...I'm going to kick them weekly until they do!

    Wednesday 24.06.2015

    Race office/accreditation: 10 am – 7 pm (MCC – Motala Convention Centre)
    Race packet pick-up (age group only): 10 am – 7 pm (MCC)
    Swim course familiarization: 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm (Motala bay)
    Expo area: 10 am – 7 pm (The City Park)
    Heated swimming pool: 9 am – 7 pm (Motalabadet)
    Bike service: 10 am – 7 pm (The City Park)

    Thursday 25.06.2015

    Race office/accreditation: 9 am – 5 pm (MCC)
    Race packet pick-up (age group only): 9 am – 5 pm (MCC)
    Bike course familiarization: 1st 10 am | 2nd 10.30 am (Gathering at the TA)
    Expo area: 10 am – 7 pm (The City Park)
    Heated swimming pool: 9 am – 7 pm (Motalabadet)
    Bike service: 10 am – 5 pm (The City Park)
    Race briefing get-together and press conference (Elite only): 4 pm (MCC)
    Pasta party (AG + Elite): 5 pm – (?)
    Opening ceremony: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm (?)

    Friday 26.06.2015

    Race office/accreditation: 9 am – 8 pm (MCC)
    Race packet pick-up (AG): 9 am – 6 pm (MCC)
    Bike check-in (AG): 9 am – 6 pm (The City Park)
    Expo area: 10 am – 7 pm (The City Park)
    Heated swimming pool: 9 am – 7 pm (Motalabadet)
    Bike service: 10 am – 7 pm (The City Park)
    Race briefing (Swedish): 3 pm – 4 pm (MCC)
    Race briefing (English): 4 pm – 5 pm (MCC)
    Race packet pick-up (Elite only): 5 pm – 8 pm (MCC)

    Saturday 27.06.2015

    Race office: 6 am – 9 pm (MCC)
    Transition Area open: 6 am – 8.30 am
    Final uniform check/Bike measure (elite):
    Expo area: 8 am – 7 pm (The City Park)
    Bike service: 7 am – 6 pm (The City Park)
    START ELITE MEN/WOMEN: 9 am
    START AGE GROUP MEN/WOMEN: 9.15 am
    FLOWER CEREMONY: Approximately 3 pm (The City Park)
    Banquet/closing ceremony/prize ceremony: 7 pm (?)
  • Bruce ThompsonBruce Thompson
    @ Paul...thanks for keeping us updated.
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    Agree, thanks Paul!
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    From USAT this morning re status of the travel package. I was also asking when we owed the race registration fee, and if the 2014 Team USA uniform was still the same one for 2015...seems to change every 2 or 3 years.

    Hi Paul,

    Thank you for your email. The website is in the second stage of the approval process within our office, so we hope to have it up and running within the next week or two.

    The registration balance will likely not be due until early 2015. The uniforms have to go through an approval process each year with ITU. While we don’t expect to have anything to change, we do have to wait for the approval.

    Thank you for your patience.

    Lauren Rios
    Team USA and Research Coordinator
  • Bruce ThompsonBruce Thompson
    All, the web site is up.  I just registered.  Sweden here I come.
  • Yvette MetzYvette Metz

    Thanks what is the site?

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough

    Thanks Bruce, I was just thinking that it was time to check on those slackers again! Yvette - this one: http://www.cvent.com/d/d4qrks

    I just registered and will be going over with my wife Karen and daughter Paula.  I will book flight reservations on my own plus additional nights in Stockholm after the race.  

     

     

     

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    So who is left now? I took the biggest bite of this trip today and booked the airfare for my family and myself. We'll be arriving in Sweden on 23 June to join up with the Team USA coordinated service and hang with them until 28 Jun, then spin off to do our own thing in Stockholm until we depart on 2 July. It's going to be a great trip!
  • Bruce ThompsonBruce Thompson

    @ Paul...I'm in.  I've signed up for the travel package, and have the flight info.  I'm going to Sweden a few extra days early, on June 20.  I'm going to hang out in Stockholm for 3 days then join up with the USA Team on June 23.  I need the extra time to get adjusted to the time change since I have a hard time going east. Retuning on June 28.  My son may come with me, bu it is low probablitity.  Sorta of the last resort if he can't fine a summer job during biology research (he is a junior at Purdue).

    My biggest concern is abour shipping my bike.  I've never shipped it anywhere except using TriBike Transport, and that's not an option for this event.  I'm not much of a bike mechanic so I'm worried about the whole process.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Bruce - I've been packing my bike in my Pika Packworks for 7 years so it will be coming with me on the plane like most of my races. If you can't get a case I thought I read that Cvent was working on a shipping option.

    My wife likes me better when I save the touring for after the race. image Plus, it doesn't take long to get used to the time change. Here's the trick...the day you arrive do NOT take a nap no matter how tired you feel...stay up until at least 8pm local, then crash. It will suck, but you will wake up the following day in their time zone. I've done it countless times and it works. As soon as we drop our bags in the hotel, we are heading out for the day to stay busy. Even my daughter has the hang of it...we did it last year on separate trips to England and Switzerland.

    Is Ian Kurth still coming?
  • Bruce ThompsonBruce Thompson

    Paul...thanks for the tips.  I'll try the one for the time zone change.  I think the USTA was working on bike shipping options so I'll inquire.

    I don't know if Ian is coming or not.  Last I heard he was but that was months ago.

  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    Bruce, I have a bike box you can borrow. I have flown with it many times. Minimal breakdown of bike required...pedals off and handlebar loosen and swing down. And seat post off. I know you have a trek...does it have a seat mast? My madone does and still fits in the box no problem but your frame I'll be quite a bit larger than mine...you'd have to try it out.

    Another option is have your bike packed for shipping into a cardboard box. I did that with my road bike 2 weeks ago and sent it fedex to a crash-pad I have in the philly area for business. It was very smooth but it did require removal of the front brake which starts to get into more advanced stuff than i usually do. Of course on a tri bike the front brake is integrated so nonissue there. The LBS charged me $60 for the pack job and they did it really well...so much foam around every tube and more zip ties than you'd believe!
  • rlh2000rlh2000
    Bruce, I have a scicon bag on loan indefinitely from a friend that you can use. Big as anything but all you gave to do is take off the wheels!
  • Ian KurthIan Kurth
    Planning on coming. Flight and hotel booked. Standard tour dates and arrangements - can't break from the rug rats for too long...

    Thanks for keeping this thread updated.

    Ian
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Great...at least three of us!
  • Bruce ThompsonBruce Thompson

    @ Ian...glad you're in.  it will be great to see you there.

    @ Matt & Rachel...thanks very much for the offers.  I'm still exploring options and will get back to you.

  • Bruce ThompsonBruce Thompson

    @ Paul and Ian....guys I'm still going to Motala but not sure how well I'm going to do.  On March 6 I hurt hip and lower back trying to keep up with some BQ runners 20 years younger than I.  I found out I have degenerative L4 &L5 discs in my lower back, and that was putting pressure on the nerves.  I didn't run at all for 4 weeks, but did PT, lots of stretching, etc.  It doesn't bother me while swimming or riding so I've been able to do a little more in those areas.  I started running again last week (twice for a whopping total of 4 miles) and ran 4 times this week for a total of 10 miles.  At least no pain running or post running.  I'm going to ramp things back up very slowly, but I doubt I'll have enough time to get any serious mileage or long runs in before heading to Sweden.  So just wanted to let you know that I probably won't be at my best overall race shape.   

    I hope you guys are doing well.

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