Another New WTC IM...
Looks like rumors of another West Coast IM are true. Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your viewpoint), looks like this one will be in Mexico! Los Cabos!
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Looks like rumors of another West Coast IM are true. Unfortunately or fortunately (depending on your viewpoint), looks like this one will be in Mexico! Los Cabos!
Comments
I'm a bit surprised by their choice. Sure it's a beautiful location but logistically for us that live east of Colorado it's a bit of a hike. I also agree about the security concerns.
I have a lot of friends who moto and dirt bike in Baja all the time. I've been down there twice myself. The general rule is that as long as you don't have plans to set up as a drug dealer on a street corner in TJ or Tecate, and get away from the border towns as quickly as possible (we cross early AM and kill ourselves to cross back into the US before about 4p) you're ok.
But getting the green light for this race will be a bit challenging with headlines like these
I wish is were in the US, but Cabos is a gorgeous place. I visited the area over the summer as part of a cruise stop, and had the opportunity to explore the area and surrounding villages on an off-road mountain bike tour. Pretty intriguing experience. You don't have to go very far to encounter people living without electricity or running water. The standard of living in some of those parts is a drastic contrast to the big dollar environment of an IM...
The locals there said that tourism had definitely taken a hit due to security/safety concerns, but it's apparently not as bad as people think (or so they claim). There is definitely widespread violence in the country, but Mexico is a big place. There are drugs and violence in the US too, but you just gotta avoid the sketchy parts.
I'll second Ansom's comments. You don't have to leave the US to find places worse that Cabos. I raced St Croix in the UNITED STATES Virgin Islands this month and it is a dirt poor territory. The downtown area of Christianstead (maybe 3 by 4 blocks) was safe, but that's it, we certainly did not feel comfortable outside that small area. Driving around St Croix, you had very wealthy people living high up and directly on the water, and widespread poverty just about every else.
I like having an early season option available to me in the future so I hope this race makes it. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for IM South Carolina. And maybe IM Silverman.
Mother in law has time share in cabo right near race venue. Wife states the water rip tides can be dangerous. Beach closed at times.