Hey y'all, wondering if anybody has any input on tris that would also make for a good vacation next year(excluding IM Hawaii, not quite there as an athlete yet). Trying to find a place where me and my buds and our wives can have a great week-long vacation and run a great race. I'm considering St Croix, any other suggestions?
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Re: St Croix or other Destination Tris [mhosk]
[ In reply to ]
If the SARS thing is cleared up I highly recommend the triathlon in Hainan China, I had a blast last year and both Peter Reid and Jurgen Zack said it was like being in Hawaii for 1/4 the cost. The host hotel is a 5 star Holiday Inn resort the food was fantastic and the people warm and friendly. thousands of cheering kids along the entire bike course. I want to go back and do the race again. Same atmosphere as an Ironman, prerace dinner post race banquet, tons of gifts for the athletes and a really reasonable entry fee.
Mike
Mike
Re: St Croix or other Destination Tris [mhosk]
[ In reply to ]
Leppin Half IM in Taupo, New Zealand in December is a blast.
A number of my clubmates have gone to Thailand for Phuket and raved about it.
Kona Half IM (which is Sunday). You have to enter about 11 months in advance. Next year it's Memorial Day weekend.
clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com
A number of my clubmates have gone to Thailand for Phuket and raved about it.
Kona Half IM (which is Sunday). You have to enter about 11 months in advance. Next year it's Memorial Day weekend.
clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com
Re: St Croix or other Destination Tris [mhosk]
[ In reply to ]
The Bay Islands Triathlon in Roatan, Honduras is a fun race. The bike and run is as tough as they come and the swim is in cystal clear waters. Hunter Kemper and Shelia Torminia (sp?) won there this year.
www.bayislandstriathlon.com
www.bayislandstriathlon.com
Re: St Croix or other Destination Tris [mhosk]
[ In reply to ]
St Croix was excellent. Stay at the Buccaneer, very nice, low key. The "complimentary" breakfast was awesome. Good snorkeling. Lots of good restaurants right on the water in Christiansted. The run in the race is hot as hell though. Be prepared for a tough day.
Re: St Croix or other Destination Tris [jeremey]
[ In reply to ]
Jeremey,
I've been to Roatan before, and I've never had all (and in one case ANY) of my bags make it. I went there about 10 years ago with three dive buddies and NONE of us got even a SINGLE bag for the WHOLE week. We had to rent dive equipment and wash our skivvies in the sink every night for a week. We finally found our bags in Belize during our return trip (just in time to lug all that heavy equip. back home). I've since learned that getting your bags to Roatan is a big joke among the regular visitors/homeowners there.
I would LOVE to do this race. The island is spectacular and the diving is among the best I've ever done. But I can't imagine how many days/weeks in advance you'd need to arrive in order to get your bike there by race day. Based on my own experience (and from what I've observed from fellow divers), I imagine dozens, if not hundreds, of competitors having to withdraw from this race on this basis. At a minimum, I imagine 2-3 days of stress leading up to the race from dealing with the clowns at the airport lost baggage window (really just a bunch of mannequins with pre-recorded messages saying "I've just been told that your luggage is on the next plane, mon." over and over again)
What was your experience and what did experiences did you notice your fellow athletes having in this regard?
I've been to Roatan before, and I've never had all (and in one case ANY) of my bags make it. I went there about 10 years ago with three dive buddies and NONE of us got even a SINGLE bag for the WHOLE week. We had to rent dive equipment and wash our skivvies in the sink every night for a week. We finally found our bags in Belize during our return trip (just in time to lug all that heavy equip. back home). I've since learned that getting your bags to Roatan is a big joke among the regular visitors/homeowners there.
I would LOVE to do this race. The island is spectacular and the diving is among the best I've ever done. But I can't imagine how many days/weeks in advance you'd need to arrive in order to get your bike there by race day. Based on my own experience (and from what I've observed from fellow divers), I imagine dozens, if not hundreds, of competitors having to withdraw from this race on this basis. At a minimum, I imagine 2-3 days of stress leading up to the race from dealing with the clowns at the airport lost baggage window (really just a bunch of mannequins with pre-recorded messages saying "I've just been told that your luggage is on the next plane, mon." over and over again)
What was your experience and what did experiences did you notice your fellow athletes having in this regard?
Keyster,
The organizers did a great job of getting everything there. They had a deal with an airline out of Honduras who knew the situation with bikes and luggage. Everyone that I know of (there were only about 100 for the first year) received their luggage and bikes. Also, this year they expect to have a charter that flies out of Charlotte, NC so all the bikes, luggage and racers go on one plane. Even if they don't the two ladies who put this thing on were actually at the airport waiting on racers to arrive, and escorted them all the way to the resorts (a big help since most didn't speak one word of Spanish).
Most racers, Hunter Kemper included, arrived either two nights before or even the night before the race. The post race party is awesome and the whole thing is sponsored by Port Royal (the local beer). So there is plenty of that to go around after the race. I would suggest coming two nights before and staying a night or two after the race. Like you said, the diving/ snokeling is the best in the world.
Just make sure you bring your granny gear. Those hills are STEEP!
Jeremey
The organizers did a great job of getting everything there. They had a deal with an airline out of Honduras who knew the situation with bikes and luggage. Everyone that I know of (there were only about 100 for the first year) received their luggage and bikes. Also, this year they expect to have a charter that flies out of Charlotte, NC so all the bikes, luggage and racers go on one plane. Even if they don't the two ladies who put this thing on were actually at the airport waiting on racers to arrive, and escorted them all the way to the resorts (a big help since most didn't speak one word of Spanish).
Most racers, Hunter Kemper included, arrived either two nights before or even the night before the race. The post race party is awesome and the whole thing is sponsored by Port Royal (the local beer). So there is plenty of that to go around after the race. I would suggest coming two nights before and staying a night or two after the race. Like you said, the diving/ snokeling is the best in the world.
Just make sure you bring your granny gear. Those hills are STEEP!
Jeremey