I really enjoy the ITU mixed relay events the most of any sporting event outside of a few cycling races (Roubaix/Flanders/etc.), though the enjoyability of the mixed relay is largely a factor of the "once-a-year" nature of it. Cross country skiing events are really fun to watch as well (especially biathlon).

i'm surprised more people didn't choose track meet. best bang for your buck. 6 different things going on all at the same time. if you want a really concentrated form of entertainment - the very best entertainment nickel you'll ever spend - that's an indoor track meet.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

I am abstaining b/c you did not include swim meet as an option.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Ya swim meet would be my pick too, but went with ITU even though my favorite thing to watch is Kona each year online. But that is just one race on one day, other Ironmans are not so TV friendly.

Maybe Kona should have been its own category..

Motor racing.

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'It never gets easier, you just get crazier.'

European Six Day track racing. Sold out stadiums and incredible atmosphere with some of the world's fastest racers. Doesn't exist in the US but i don't see anything beating that.

How about 6 day track running races, of course they take longer than the cycling track races, but they could be more fun than watching paint dry I guess...(-;

clearly you have never seen a six day cycling track race. It's 6 evenings each with madison, single lap TT, derny, points race, and many more with teams of two. It's what Wiggins chose to do as his last race, btw.

What about a super sprint triathlon? At USAT Nationals a few years ago they had the pros race swim/bike/run, swim/bike/run, swim/bike/run. Taylor Spivvy messed up the last bike/run transition and started running toward the swim with her goggles. After a few seconds she figured out her mistake and ran the last run barefoot and just barely lost in a finish-line sprint. Super entertaining to watch and pretty spectator friendly giving the compressed venue.

if you said 1500m track race...that would be my pick.

Swim meet hands down. Then Kona. Then an exciting race, hence my ITU pick.

Hell. I watch swim meet and Kona reruns when I get stuck on a treadmill at the gym. It's like the Brady Bunch, but better.

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Hillary Trout
San Luis Obispo, CA

Your trip is short. Make the most of it.
https://www.slogoing.net/

I don't get the interest in watching long distance triathlon. ITU stuff is alright to watch but still not my choice as a spectator sport. Some sports are great to participate in but just not interesting to watch. I always though that was the case for triathlon. It's a test of endurance but there's very little strategy so I don't find it that interesting. But then I always thought soccer was a horrendously boring spectator sport and it's the most watched sport in the world so clearly my opinions are not typical! Swimming is okay but lacks something for me. Hard to say what. I often really enjoy watching track running to but not to the extent that I'd watch it for hours at a time.

I voted cycling. I'm not bothered about watching a grand tour flat stage from start to finish. But, when it's good it can be very entertaining - especially the toughest mountain stages. Some of the big races have been very entertaining this year, including the TDF so far.
6 day velodrome events are great to watch too but I rarely get a chance to see them. Likewise some of the criterium race coverage from the UK is good and they can be quite enjoyable to watch.

It wouldn't even be a contest if he'd include beach volleyball as an option.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

It wouldn't even be a contest if he'd include Women's beach volleyball as an option

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All I Wanted Was A Pepsi, Just One Pepsi

Team Zoot, Team Zoot Mid-Atlantic

The Island House Triathlon: Invitational was the best thing I have watched on that list...

http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Jorgensen_Murray_take_Island_House_overall_6092.html


Though...Le Tour was pretty great to watch at lunch yesterday.

How exactly does one watch Le Tour at lunch on the rest day? Was it a replay?

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"Train so you have no regrets @ the finish line"

I'm with you on this: open water swimming is fun to watch, and the officials' boat is right next to the action. Feedings are fun to watch also.

A great 1500m pool race can be thrilling the whole way, watching swimmers go at it at near sprint speeds.

HOW IS BIATHLON NOT ON THIS POLL? X-Country skiing AND target shooting in the same event. Athletes actual carry their rifles and live ammo. There are lap penalties for missing targets. HR at 175+ and then it needs to get down immediately to as low as possible so the athletes can squeeze off a shot in between heart beats.

This poll is now closed. Biathlon wins.

I picked xc-skiing.
But as an endurance junkie I like to watch all endurance sports.

Luckily the Internet has made is possible to get good commentators for most of the sports.
Every morning I am listening to TdF over Internet radio.
The same goes for all track meets and championships, the olympics (I am not a fan of NBC).

i'm shocked! i never would have guessed! ;-)

i thought about a poll option that was: "xc ski or track meet featuring a 1500m if a 16yo norwegian is entered."

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

I did not pick track, because even though there are some events that are, I really do not consider it endurance.

I have to Biathlon is the only sport I compulsively watch. Love it. Never shot a gun or been on cross country skis in my life but the sport is so compelling to watch. Definitely fancy a bit of xc skiing in the future (not too bothered about shooting though).

We only get rugby league, home renovations and cooking shows on TV in Australia, so we never see any of these sports except for the Tour de France.

Must have been a replay...Ignorance is bliss, sometimes.