Will new HITS Triathlon Series Iron Distance races survive?
In case you aren't aware, there is a new triathlon series starting in Palm Springs this Dec and continuing one per month at different venues around the U.S. until the following Dec when it returns to Palm Springs for the "championship". Each month's race includes a super sprint (free), a sprint ($90), an OLY ($150), a half iron ($250), and an iron distance race ($600). Yep, you read that right, an independent (see http://www.hitstriathlonseries.com/) that is charging as much as WTC, but with zero history of hosting a well-run event outside of equestrian. They will also hold a pre-race camp one month before each event (for a fee of course). Although Dave Scott has lent his name to help advertise the new series, I'm predicting that the iron distance portion of this series (and maybe the half-iron) is going to go down in flames with absolutely minimal participation. What do you all think? Are they just trying to cash in on the growth of triathlon and have they completely misjudged the market?
Check slowtwitch, XTri, and TriJuice for announcements and interviews about the new series.
BTW, this reminds of the 2011 Aqua Terra series which announced four different swim/run races at 9 venues including the national championship in San Francisco. Eight of the nine series events were cancelled due to low registration. The only one that survived was in Clearwater and they had maybe a couple dozen participants. The sad demise of that series can be viewed at http://www.aquaterraracing.com/index.html.
Comments
If you read more about the events, you'll see that the distances are all over the place. Not Oly, 70.3 or 140.6. I'm all about racing non-MDot stuff, but at least give me a distance that I have a history with.
Yes. The group that provides the same experience for less money than WTC is the one that's going to do well.
This is the kind of thinking that arose among commercial lenders and real estate developers from 2005-08: "In this market, we CAN'T lose". We all know how well THAT turned out. Half built projects everywhere, in foreclosure.
An article on HITS from competitor.com:
triathlon.competitor.com/2011/07/fe...ries_34827
This is all you need to know about the series, the only reason why it exists:
"I’ve also got great partners. Our private equity partner, Leonard Green, has been supportive of the horse business and they like this market. They pursue it and they’re prepared to back it up. They are the owner of Sports Authority and they have a big interest in an athletic club. They know the sports business and they like this market. That is a big plus. I remember training earlier and my coach said I should look into entertaining the idea of long distances. He told me how hard it can be to get into an Ironman race. It seems there’s more demand than supply. We can see the market can afford to have someone else in it."
Sounds like this horsey-guy is a big money player, has done a couple races and put together an idea that some other big money players bought in to.
I give it 12mo and we'll never hear from them again...
I think they are positioning themselves as delivering better service to the athlete at the same price as WTC. It is easy claim to make but do not think they will get enough participants to be a viable business for HIM and IM distances.
I think the real growth is in "challenge" races like Warrior Dash and to a lesser extent, Tough Mudder.
A July "140.6ish" race in Galena IL and/or an August one in nothern Wisconsin is pretty appealing to me, if I can sign up for it up until right before the race, it is run well, and there is decent competition. Like Rich, the distance kind of bother me though, is it that hard to add an out and back somewhere to actually get the distance right?
I personally would have tested the water with three races (and a series champion in each AG decided by points). Then added more races next year if it went well. But I'm also conservative and don't take big risks.
I think it is awesome they are trying this and really hope it works out but I have serious doubts. WTC has ironman races that don't sell out, so I don't think demand for any old 140.6 race is as high as people think... demand is high for certain events with great venues, reputations, support, kona slots, etc.
I'm all for supporting small/local races, but this just seems all wrong.
Hmmmm, trying to be open minded here but this was eye opening: Ocala = FIVE bike loops and FOUR out-n-backs on the run. And yet you're still not getting the satisfaction of completing a full marathon. Good grief Charlie Brown; shoot me now. Or maybe I'd just run back to my hotel to get those extra 2.2 they couldn't be bothered with...
Holy crap, so 4x out and back on the run and they STILL can't get in a marathon? You can add .5mi to each out and back? More importantly...and Dave Scott is putting his name/endorsement behind this?
Wonder how big the check was?
"Here is what you can expect to experience at a HITS Triathlon event:
• On-site food service for athletes and spectators with a healthy assortment of offerings for purchase
• Complimentary shuttle transportation for athletes, family and friends where needed
• Chip timing with remote detection points and text message updates available
• Individual bike racks with personal seat and box for belongings
• On-site bike shop/repair at every event
• Massive score-board with minute-to-minute updates
• Live streaming coverage of all distances for online and race-day viewing on multiple flat screens throughout course/VIP/transition areas
• Top-notch VIP tent for athletes, sponsors and family/friends
• Leaders in all distances will have an escort vehicle (Bike-car/motorcycle; Run-bicycle)
• Swim courses are marked with 2-meter floats and safety vessels every 20 meters
• Family/friends welcome to cross finish line with athletes
• Athlete welcome parties and award ceremonies with free food
• Champions crowned first through third in one year age groups
• Dave Scott video tips and online training program
• Great swag/goodie bags
• Raceday Transport to provide bike and gear transport services to HITS Triathlon events
Sorry, but that's just stupid. "I was 3rd of 3 people in the 43yo AG."
The other stuff is good, great, cool to see, good value, etc. But the above is just stupid. I don't see any reason for it other than to pander to people's egos, giving them a major award (FRAGILE'!) they can put on the desk at work.
Prediction: series will be dead 6mo into the first season.
FRAGILE??? It must be Italian!
I see:
I agree with Paul that the shorter distance stuff might survive but it doesn't seem like they're getting many takers for the long races. There's a big difference between doing a half-assed run sprint race than a half-assed run 140.6 race. I'd be real skeptical about their long stuff.
They should've tried to buy Rev 3. Wonder if they did.
It's about as smart as putting a race in the Poconos on the same date. No organization would do that, right?
Yikes! Just reading some reviews on Slowtwitch of the first HITS race in Palm Springs today. Not good, not good at all - and today was just the sprint and oly races. The HIM and IM distance are tomorrow. If the short course races were a clusterf**k, I can't imagine how bad it will be for the long course races.