Tom O wrote:
Long time lurker (15+ years) and first time I've been motivated enough to post.
My wife and I will be doing Challenge this year. My second Full (first was IMC 2011) and her first. It seems odd now in the current climate where races are not selling out in minutes but even before 2011 I actually wished that the Penticton race would go independent or with an organization like Challenge. Although I had a very positive experience in 2011 I felt a little let down as the atmosphere was not the way it had been described in the mid 90's: "The best experience from Monday to Monday of any Ironman race on the planet" (sorry, can't remember the source of the quote). It was clear to me that WTC had applied a very corporate franchise-like mentality and sucked much of the local flavour out of the race. I thought that a non-WTC race would go back closer to the glory days I had read about. The idea that we wouldn't have to sign up a year in advance, lower entry fees (!?), easier access to accommodation and a swim start with say 1500 as opposed to 2500 was also very appealing.
I naively believed that there would be a couple of thousand or so like-minded individuals and that the race would be well supported, at least by previous entrants. The present situation is showing this not to be the case. At least I and the City of Penticton Council grossly underestimated the draw of the Ironman brand. I suppose I see it for the "one and done" crowd. They really want the Ironman experience, the brand recognition, the gear, the tattoo, etc, etc. I can't pass judgment on what would motivate regular long course athletes without a Kona shot to choose one brand over the other but clearly the people have spoken.
Do I regret having chosen Challenge Penticton over say, Whistler (sorry, I refuse to call it IMC)? Not one bit. I have no visibility into what actually went on when the decision was made to split Penticton and the WTC. As with everything else I'm sure there are three sides to the story: his, hers and the truth. But I do have my own opinion on what I witnessed as an outsider. When the Challenge move was announced the week of the 2012 race the WTC almost immediately announced another race to be called Ironman Canada, to be held in BC on the same day as Challenge Penticton 2013. They promoted it heavily to the athletes and volunteers already in town for the 2012 race and who presumably were prepared to sign up for the inaugural Challenge Penticton 2013. They had no details, not even a venue. It was pretty clear to me what WTC was trying to do. One could make the argument they are succeeding. I understand why, as a business, the WTC did what they did. But I don't have to like it. It's interesting to me that similar heavy handed tactics were tried in Germany but with a very different result.
Even if Penticton Town Council made a strategic error in jumping from Ironman to Challenge, I believe that the citizens and the small business owners of the City deserve better. Even from WTC. Ironman has grown into a very successful brand and business. As the site of the first North American race outside of Hawaii I think the people of Penticton had a big hand in that success. Could Graham Fraser have built the model that led to the current structure from another site? Could someone else have done the same thing elsewhere? Very possibly. But the history of the event and of the business is what it is. The businesses and especially the volunteers who supported the original Ironman Canada from Day 1 had a lot to do with the development of what is now Ironman and the WTC, in North America at least. I personally believe that they are worthy of my support. So we will travel to the Okanagan in a little under 3 weeks (not a hardship, it's one of our favourite places in the country), spend the entire week there, spend some money, show our support for the race as visibly as possible and (hopefully) have a terrific race experience on what I still find to be one of the most compelling race courses anywhere.
It would be great to meet some other Slowtwitchers there in whatever capacity. For those competing, I hope the end of you training goes well.
Tom
Didn't you call it IMC above in the first paragraph! HAHAHA Just giving you a hard time.
I have been reading a lot about this topic and as a short course competitor with long course on the horizon I can say the statement you made about the "IRONMAN" brand is true. Most of my racing career I've had to explain how triathlon isn't JUST Ironman. It's by far the most widely spread and known image of triathlon. I love the Challenge license and Challenge Roth is the Kona of their series but I fear without the mass appeal of the sport here in North America Penticton will fade slowly. It's a shame because the sport could use a loosening of the WTC death grip but then again perhaps there is only enough room for one player in such a spectator unfriendly sport.
------
"Train so you have no regrets @ the finish line"
