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Western Canadian Triathlons
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With the demise (destruction?) of the WTC purchased Lake Shawnigan and the Saskatoon races (and possibly others in the former Subaru series), I thought I was basically going to have to move to BC to do my OW Olympic races this year.

But with the date changes for WTS Edmonton and the Chinook Half moving/splitting from Sylvan Lake there are actually many options to stay in Alberta.

Anyways this is pretty much a call out for the Chinook Half race. It is new in Calgary this year and selfishly I want it to stay. http://www.chinookhalf.com. Apparently they are still in search of hitting their break even point

I don't have anything to do with it besides being a participant and liking local options.
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [dashelj] [ In reply to ]
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Bump for a good call.
Chinook is back in Calgary after a couple of years in Sylvan Lake. Same swim, new ride and run.
Banff Tri is dead after getting bought by Ironman. Lets support our local races.

"I keep hoping for you to use your superior intellect to be less insufferable. Sadly, you continue to disappoint." - gofigure
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [sonofdad] [ In reply to ]
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Not 100% up to speed here, why is Ironman/WTC buying races (Sprint/Olympics) and then cancelling them?
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [aavlee] [ In reply to ]
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I don't know exactly or but I can wager a few guesses. They may want to actually reduce smaller races to so that more people funnel into HIM and IM, which have higher entries. There was some speculation that they bought the Subaru series of races for a few of the races and basically shut down the other ones because they weren't making enough money.

Some of the races they cancelled had been going on for like 10 years. A local race may not need to make tons of money. Just enough to keep going and be a fundraiser for charities. So I can see why they might not make sense to a for profit corporation.
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [aavlee] [ In reply to ]
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aavlee wrote:
Not 100% up to speed here, why is Ironman/WTC buying races (Sprint/Olympics) and then cancelling them?

In a word: Money.

I hate the fact that they cancelled the Vancouver half iron. That race sold out year after year and was just a fantastic race. Drives up demand for the Victoria 70.3, I suppose.

Why have several awesome, affordable race options in one area when you can just have one very over priced and over crowded one??

Long Chile was a silly place.
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [BCtriguy1] [ In reply to ]
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Banff, Saskatoon, Vancouver half and i dont see 5i50 happening either. Bought series to pump races for selling to Wanda but really only asset was Victoria. Did same in Ontario and have now sold race that Subaru series back to RD team post Wanda deal.

Repeat Maryland, Weymouth in England, many others. The sport is contracting so too will races in North America.

@rhyspencer
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [BCtriguy1] [ In reply to ]
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I think it is shortsighted on Ironmans part.

I know so many people that got into racing Ironmans at a relatively young age, made it to Kona, and now have moved on and are completely out of the sport as it isn't sustainable over the long term for most. I think what Ironman needs to do to be sustainable is to focus on getting new people into the sport, either from those that are racing local running events or otherwise, and use the short course races as ways to entice these people over. Eventually, they'll build up to a half or full distance race, likel people start with a local 5 km, then half marathon, then marathon, and often continue for years racing many distances over the course of a year. It just doesn't seem like this is the same trajectory that a lot of people follow in triathlon, perhaps because there are fewer short course races to begin with.

Ironman may not make a lot of money at these shorter events, but it may help them to make more at their other events and ensure that there is a consistent funnel of athletes coming into the sport.
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [dashelj] [ In reply to ]
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Not new but re-established. WTS Edmonton is great when it's mid summer. Wasa In BC is close as is Heart of the Rockies. Chinook is the same weekend as a big swim meet for the kids and an outdoor Masters meet in Red Deer. I would like to see it later on the calender.

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [realAB] [ In reply to ]
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Vancouver 5150 is still listed as "opening soon". Well they better hurry up and either remove it or schedule it. July is 2 months away!
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [Dilbert] [ In reply to ]
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:)

Hopefully some of the smaller series will thrive and keep the grassroots racing going.

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [BCtriguy1] [ In reply to ]
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We'll see if 70.3 Calgary survives its shift to the east (bike now east of Calgary do to construction that will last at least 2 years)

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [realAB] [ In reply to ]
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Would love to do that race again. Only 250 m of climbing east of Calgary.
And the run course is new too. But a week before Whistler?!
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [Dilbert] [ In reply to ]
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I got a reply to my email a few weeks ago, here is what they said about the Vancouver 5150,


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Thank you for your email. After careful consideration, the Vancouver 5150 will not be extended. We appreciate your dedication to triathlons and IRONMAN and understand your disappointment with Vancouver 5150 cancellation.

We hope you are able to find another short course race that fits your interests.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you on one of our starting lines in the near future.
Michelle G. Haustein
Coordinator, Athlete Services
World Triathlon Corporation | 3407 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite 100 | Tampa, FL 33607|
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [Dilbert] [ In reply to ]
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Wind will be the big fun factor east of Calgary.

___________________________________________
http://en.wikipedia.org/...eoesophageal_fistula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebral_palsy
2020 National Masters Champion - M40-44 - 400m IM
Canadian Record Holder 35-39M & 40-44M - 200 m Butterfly (LCM)
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [aavlee] [ In reply to ]
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wow - I hoped the 5150 downtown would be re-upped, it was actually pretty cool. (not as good as the one at Jericho, but still good)

they really messed up the small race set-up in western canada - the Subaru series was perfect :(

hopefully Oliver and Cultus Lake survive, i think im going to do both of those this year
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [aavlee] [ In reply to ]
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it still says TBD and Opening Soon for the Vancouver race - would be nice if they updated their site
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Re: Western Canadian Triathlons [y_nigel] [ In reply to ]
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y_nigel wrote:
it still says TBD and Opening Soon for the Vancouver race - would be nice if they updated their site
It is possible they have contractual obligations they are trying to get out of before officially cancelling the race and removing from the site. IM expected over 2000 people in Vancouver. They got 500. Ouch. I heard they signed a 3 year contract for that race. Ooops.
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