Home› General Training Discussions

Where is the 2011 IM70.3 World Championship?

Paul HoughPaul Hough
in General Training Discussions

WTC's contract with Clearwater ends this year.  All the speculation is that the race will move to a new location in 2011, but WTC has been totally silent on a shift.  I guess they'll announce it after the race ends in Nov.  Does anyone have any intel on where it's going...or perhaps would like to start a rumor?

Comments

  • gilliattgilliatt
    Good question, I did hear rumor WTC bought some races they are dubbing 5150 races Hy-Vee des moines, Natuica NYC, St. Anthony's, and one in Zurich
  • manconamancona
    There are a number of rumors floating around about this one but I don't know if I trust any of them as everytime a race contract is up the rumors start going.

    My guess is we will know by Oct 17th as I believe 70.3 Austin is the first qualifying race for the 2011 70.3 world championships. If I wasn't busy for the next few weeks I would be watching for the 70.3 austion athlete guide to be posted as it should have the date and location of the WC in it. I know I would want to know the location and date of a race before having to pay $400 on the spot to register.

    Currently all I can find in the Austin info is "Athletes will compete for a total of 50 slots to the 2011 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, Presented by Ford" and no location is listed.
  • jburbattjburbatt
    So WTC's new 5150 series championship is in Clearwater in November (see www.5150.com for the sure to be expensive details). Do we think this was compensation for moving the 70.3 championships, or that WTC is now going to host them both on the same weekend?
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Thread on ST saying it will be in Vegas.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    @ Bob - you are correct. TriJuice & Triathlete.com announced today it is moving to Vegas. You can bet they are going to put some big climbs into the bike portion!
  • Eric RueppelEric Rueppel
    What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
  • chris malonechris malone
    Posted By Eric Rueppel on 07 Oct 2010 02:16 PM

    What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

    Boy, do i wish that were true......

  • TerryOTerryO
    It's gonna be on the Silverman course. It is arguably the toughest course in the continental US. Roughly 5000 feet climbing on bike and something like 2000 on the run. It's a very challenging race but very fun and extremely well run. I will definitely make it a goal to qualify for it some time.

    Other than the Ironman signs, it will be the same race that they run every November. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to really punish themselves in a late season race. And if you are really loco, do the full distance. Take above climbing numbers x 2.
  • jburbattjburbatt
    Ugh, except they're moving it to September. In Nevada? Does this make sense? The temp this year was 98 degrees on what would be race day in 2011. I would assume it's to attract pros before Kona, but it seems odd/risky.
  • TerryOTerryO
    Just another element. The World Championships should be challenging from all aspects (insert Kona here). It is much more of a test to crown a champion than Clearwater.
  • jburbattjburbatt
    Yeah, and obviously Kona can get hot. But I feel like 98 is standard for LV for September, where in Kona in October 88 is standard. 10 degrees average temp seems like a major and potentially dangerous difference. Add in a significantly challenging course, and I think it'll be very interesting. But no matter what, I'm sure it's better than Clearwater.
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    I saw in another article that the writer indicated that "most pros compete in a 70.3 four weeks before Kona" also. I'd like to see those statistics.

    In moving the 70.3 championship before IM Kona, they hope to get the Kona-bound folks to LVG to do a back-to-back championship.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    Posted By Jennifer Burbatt on 08 Oct 2010 10:49 AM

    Yeah, and obviously Kona can get hot. But I feel like 98 is standard for LV for September, where in Kona in October 88 is standard. 10 degrees average temp seems like a major and potentially dangerous difference. Add in a significantly challenging course, and I think it'll be very interesting. But no matter what, I'm sure it's better than Clearwater.

     

    All due respect, Clearwater is/was a joke. Just too much drafting for it to be a "real" championship and over the years I've seen many people go there and just come home disappointed with the experience.

    LV will be a "true" race, as others have said

    Regarding temps:

    • Deserts can be cool in the AM and they warm up quickly so while the avg high may be 95, it could be low-mid 70s in the morning.
    • Winds pick up as the temps rise and air moves around = evaporative cooling on the run.
    • Kona starts out hot and humid and gets hotter and humid. When I raced in '03 I remember running down Alii in the first 6mi of the run, thinking I was about to burst into flames from the black asphalt, running next to a black lava wall with a tailwind.
    • Early September means that most people will still be able to maintain heat acclimatization.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    It all became official this morning when the local news caught up to the story and reported that the race was leaving...along with the revenue. The online story posts reflect a few that understand what is being lost, while the cycling haters were glad to see it leave. It's too early to tell, but I don't believe the 5150 "series finale" is going to attract that many out-of-towners. It's not the championship, so what is it? I think it will just be another big OLY for this area which has lots of options for tri-racing from March to Dec.
  • Jim YanoschikJim Yanoschik

    Frank Lowery, the race director, puts on a fabulous event.  The Silverman course this year is different.  We used to swim in Lake Mead and this year we will swim in Lake Las Vegas.  Lake Las Vegas is minutes from the strip but it is a very exclusive high end community with a man made Lake.  They have 4 and 5 star accomodations within the Lake Las Vegas property and of course lots of rooms at the nearby casinos.  The 2011 ITU championships are also scheduled to occur in Henderson/Las Vegas in November during the Silverman time frame.  This will be a much more fair course in regards to breaking up the packs.  There are plenty of long sustained climbs and 3 short steep climbs known as the 3 sisters (aka the 3 bit#@*^).  The run is either up or down.  This course is worthy of a world championship.  But it could be brutally hot later in the day if they have wave starts.

  • michaelgasser17michaelgasser17
    As far as venue outside of the race, I think it would be tough to find a better place than Vegas. With all of the awesome hotel accomidations and everything there is to do there, I'm sure it will make a great all around trip for anyone who competes. It is probably also a bit easier to convice the family to head out to vegas for a long weekend given the opportunities for them to disconnect from the race.

    As far as the 5150 series goes, I think all it will end up being is a way to spend more money on olys.
Sign In or Register to comment.