ROFL! They told us 16C. I race in 16C water all the time. It was a little colder than 16C. ;)

My vote would be for Victoria.

Nothing wrong with the lake. It would be no colder than IMCdA or St George was this year.

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Water temp was just about as cold as that lake ever gets in July, and it was acceptable. So yeah.

I was unimpressed by the T1 location however. Narrow boat launch ramp in an unfinished housing subdivision, and the "dock" we started from, were a little hokey. That needs to be improved.

Totally agree with T1. They would have to find a larger location as the location selected this year would be a nightmare with 2-3000 people.

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Supported by Compressport Canada | F2C Nutrition | Element | Argon 18 | 4iiii Innovations | Read my Blog

My guess is they convert the Muskoka 70.3 into a full. Graham Fraser ran IMC and I believe him or his brother Mitch run Muskoka.

Doubt they will add a 2nd race in the east.

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___________________________________________
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)

Rumours certainly do seem to be pointing to Whistler. I don't know how involved Intrawest is in its operation, since it only owns a quarter of Whister-Blackcomb now, but surely the good vibes from the Intrawest/IMMT venture would help.

One thing that comes to mind is that the GranFondo (http://www.rbcgranfondowhistler.com/) is in early Sept. WTC is saying that they plan to hold the relocated IMC in "late August/early September". That would be two big cycling-related events in Whistler in close proximity (I'm sure the GranFondo folks are saying "we were here first!"). I don't know whether that would pose a challenge (har har) or not.

I suppose Ironman Banff or Jasper wouldn't stand a chance given the difficulty of running an event in the parks (see http://www.calgaryherald.com/...f/7145274/story.html) and finding volunteers, but the setting would be incredible. More cold water for us delicate Easterners used to shallow lakes, though ;-) What about Saskatchewan? How about Ironman Waskesiu? Surely there are some folks on here who've done the Frank Dunn tri (www.frankdunntriathlon.ca).

Wherever it is, it will be interesting to see if they still call it "Ironman Canada," now that there is another. I suspect the IMC name will go the same way as IMUSA. I suppose if it's Ironman Whistler Blackcomb it would be abbreviated IMWB (not to be confused with IMWI). Maybe just Ironman Western Canada (IMWC) so it's more portable.

Timing-wise, late August would put it directly up against Challenge Penticton, while early Sept. is pretty close to the new IMLT. Much later than that, and it starts to get cold up North. Anyway, this is another fascinating episode of "As the MDot turns" ;-)

I'm thinking the same thing about converting the Muskoka course into a full...I wonder.

Been thinking (and blogging) about this. Its going to be interesting to see where IMC ends up. Converting Calgary 70.3 at least for 2013 makes a lot of sense. I don't know how long discussions with the yet to be chosen city have been in the works for but initiating, planning, and finalizing an Ironman distance race course in the amount of time WTC reasonably has would be a pretty huge undertaking if something isn't on the go already. As cool as an IM in Whistler would be I can't see how WTC would be able to finalize a route and firm everything up over the next few weeks, or couple months at the very most.

That being said, I heard Whistler thrown around quite a bit this weekend in Penticton and it definitely makes sense given how positive the response to IMMT has been. I would imagine it would have to be a loop or out and back in the Whistler area though. As cool as Whistler-Vancouver would be as someone else mentioned, I think it would be a logistical nightmare to have an out and back of that size. Starting in Whistler and finishing in Vancouver would be awesome but it would almost guarantee you'd have to stay in Whistler the night before the race, and Vancouver overnight after the finish.

Banff/Canmore would also make for an incredible setting and it wouldn't be hard to make the distances work, but then you run into the whole national park complication, which seems to be working out fine for Subaru Banff, but I know that Gran Fondo Banff had the whole bear issue along the route.

With Calgary the swim could stay in Ghost Lake, which while cold, could easily be remedied by creating some tee shirts that say IMHTFU. The bike course could go down Hwy 22/66 with an out and back into the mountains at Elbow Falls and hit 180km with some quiet range roads on the route. And the run could actually start near the current 70.3 turnaround and then follow much of the Calgary Marathon Route which would minimize traffic disruptions but still go through downtown and finish somewhere.

Victoria would be cool too. I've only been out to the island once though so I'm not sure where it would go. As for Kelowna, I'm actually hoping that it doesn't end up there but I can see why it would be appealing for both Kelowna and WTC. But two races in the Okanagan would probably hurt both over the long run. I'm all for more choice, so i'm hoping Whistler or Calgary.

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Raf
http://www.shutuplegs.org

I volunteered at IMC this past weekend in Penticton, hoping for early IMC registration for 2013. We were sadly disappointed in the change to Challenge, but for what it is worth, we heard a lot of rumors that it might be in Squamish.

Here is the link to the early registration: http://www.active.com/...ty-registration-2013

The logistics for getting to ghost lake in Calgary 70.3 is terrible. It would have to start in Calgary, preferably in Glenmore park. Wonder if they can get an exemption to swim in the res. :)

Bike and run would be fine - especially if they use some of the unused/new paved roads south of 22x

Swimming in Glenmore will NEVER happen.

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___________________________________________
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)

Whaaat? 3000 people peeing in our reservoir is a problem? (Really shouldn't be, but anyway..)

I thinking something along these lines before they announced IMMT last year, but there's no way it'll happen. The Muskoka 70.3 is on life support, and it's already impossible to find accommodation up there. Can you imagine how bad it'll be when there's 2500 people instead of 800. You'd have to stay overnight in the Motel 6 in Barrie, an hour and a half South.

And what the guy below you said. No point in having two races, that similar, that close together both in time and place.

And finally I'm pretty sure Mitch Fraser is involved with IMMT.

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Citizen of the world, former drunkard. Resident Traumatic Brain Injury advocate.

To consider the market, you have to take a look at who raced in IMC. A quick look at Sportstats (you gotta love Sportstats) shows that out of the first 100 finishers, 28 were Canadian. Assuming that is a common stat, that would mean less than 30% of competitors would be Canadians.

So for the race to work it has to have access, ie, roads and Airports and infrastructure (hotels etc). Whistler might work, but it's a bitch to get to and the hotels are expensive. Kamloops and Kelowna work (and they need the business), Victoria is an awkward place to get to if you drive (ferry and you have to book) and again it's not cheap. Calgary makes much more sense, they already have a race and an infrastructure, the question would be can they ramp it up to 3000 people and 17 hrs of road closures.

The next question is, is it close enough to drive to, for US competitors it works, and for everyone up to and including Vancouver to Winnepeg it works (a days drive), you have nearly half of Canada covered. So Calgary makes great sense and they are used to Civic stuff (Calgary Stampede anyone, with or without a concealed weapon, lol). If you have ever driven through or out of Calgary the mountains come up fast, so great scenery.

And considering that Mt Tremblant is here to stay it, Calgary, makes great sense.

Muskoka makes almost no sense, the course is currently a single loop round a lake, an it's already got problems with less than thrilled residents ( they have had their share of tacks). The accomodation for 3000 people is tricky unless you do it in september (and that's cold weather time). And the lake unless you do 2 laps wouldn't work. Lots of people love Muskoka as a half ( I have done it) but the run course sucks and they would have trouble making it into a Marathon course.

Besides, if you are going to have 2 events in Canada, the West can certainly hold it's own. Considering if you do it out East you have to compete with Montreal, Quebec City and then Mt Tremblant, not to mention Lake Placid and New York , which are all driveable distances. And then right slap in the middle is my favourite The Esprit in Montreal.

Of course I will do none of them as the Esprit is not a KQ, and I have no hope of ever qualifying on a hilly course (wrong physiognomy) in a WTC event. So unless it's got waves (and salt water), flat roads and a bit of rain, it's never gong to happen for me. Did IMC, once was enough no matter who runs it.

Timing is everything. Late September for KQ'ers is too late (unless the KQ is held over to the following year), and late August is in the middle of holiday season for a lot of places and will be booked solid.

This should be a fun decision. Right now signing up is a pig in a poke, good luck to you all.

Just an opinion but ..... WTC are financial. It would take a non financial group to go after Challenge simply for revenge, placing IMC so close to Penticton reduces potential market by splitting locals between the two. I figure they will think financially and go further afield.

Kelowna is also highly unlikely to hold IMC. The logistics, the town, the sheer volume of complaints, the lack of volunteers. Westside Road has both safety and First Nations approval issues. The backside of Predator Ridge is unpaved and East Kelowna has so many junctions. The downtown is also undergoing a major renovation over the next year and a half. It is not impossible, but I think improbable.

My money is on Calgary. Near enough to the West Coast and provinces to the East to maintain a large catchment area. Existing IM roots in Calgary 70.3. Airport, hotels. I don't know enough about Whistler but as a media man, Ironman Whistler is a marketing dream title.

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https://www.pbandjcoaching.com
https://www.thisbigroadtrip.com

With a population of 1.1 million it would be much easier to draw on local volunteers.

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___________________________________________
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)

Ditto for Calgary... many, many world level events in winter sports... also an Olympic city with some of the best legacy facilities. The big advantage Calgary has is population.

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___________________________________________
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)

Ditto for Calgary... many, many world level events in winter sports... also an Olympic city with some of the best legacy facilities. The big advantage Calgary has is population.

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___________________________________________
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)

The City of Kelowna has been approached - I happen to know one of the city councillors who is very pro business quite well. Last week, the WTC asked the City of Kelowna about the possibility of "Renting" city park, which would quite comfortably be big enough of a transition area to host 3000-4000 athletes, using Hot Sands Beach as a starting point for a 1 loop swim course, and having the bike course exit onto Abbott, then Bernard to Glenmore, north into Lake Country onto Okanagan Centre Rd, Carrs Landing Rd, Commonage Rd into Vernon, then Hwy 97 back into Kelowna to Rutland Rd, to Springfield, Benvoulin, Swamp, and an out-and-back on Lakeshore back to transition, followed by the Marathon course down Lakeshore Rd. The city has set up an advisory committee to study the impacts of road closures, and the costs vs the benefits of the event, as well as a proposal for a 5 year contract with the WTC. They have also asked Vernon for a similar proposal using a bike loop to Falkland, Chase, Salmon Arm, back through Armstrong, Enderby into Vernon. Locations in Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba have been relegated to last resort due to the possibility of unpredictable weather in late August, as well as mostly flat bike courses, unless the dates can be brought back into mid-summer. Locations on the west coast are out of question because of having to deal with too many levels of government to get the necessary road closures - Translink, Vancouver Parks Board, City of Vancouver, Greater Vancouver Regional District, yada, yada, yada, and the time and complexity of dealing with them all at the same time.

As it stands, Kelowna is coming in as a favourite, followed by Vernon at #2, Victoria at #3, Osoyoos at #4, and Whistler at #5. For those who favour Whistler, the reasons against are:
1. Lack of proximity via ambulance to a Level I or Level II trauma Center (reachable within 30 minutes)
2. Lack of proper transition facilities for swim-to-bike
3. Lack of Proximity to large volunteer base
4. Lack of available policing resources nearby (IMC Penticton draws RCMP officers as far away as Kamloops, Vernon, Grand Forks, Kelowna, Merritt, Salmon Arm, and Revelstoke to assist).
5. Dealing with at least 2 indian bands
6. Course is not as spectator friendly as other communities

I would be remiss if I didn't reprint this article, which was posted in our local Multisport club newsletter (April 1, 2010). The best part was that the local newspaper is on our distribution list, and they ended up printing parts of it.

Ironman Cornwall Update
With less than five months to go until the innaugural Ironman Cornwall, things are falling into place nicely for event organizers. "It's amazing how the community of Cornwall has come together to make this event a reality, " remarked Bill Giancola of the World Triathlon Corporatioin (WTC). "When Penticton did not renew their contract for the 2010 Ironman, we thought this was the end for Ironman racing in Canada - Simply not so."


Tim Horton's as Title Sponsor
A Canadian institution and a pillar of the Cornwall community, Tim Hortons, has stepped up replacing Subaru as the title sponsor. "It was a natural fit for us, Cornwall is a leading market for Tim Horton's, what better place to test our newest offering" noted Tim Horton's Sports Nutrionist Mark Puntous. "In addition to the traditional electroylte drinks at the bike route, we will be offering racers, a sports variation of our Iced Cappucino. Independant lab tests confirm that riders who use our new 'Sport-achino' energy drink remain 18% more alert and focused compared to other sports drinks."


Tim's Power Bits on the Run Course
After a successful test market in the maritime provinces, Power-Bits will also be available on the run course. Power Bits are about 3 quarters the size of a traditional Tim Bit, but are scientifically designed to release energy in 3 discreet stages to the various energy intake receptors of the body. Resembling a small powdered jelly timbit. The outer powdered coating is quickly absorbed by the glands of the mouth providing an immediate boost of energy. The secondary shell of the Power Bit is designed to quickly dissolve as it passes through the esophagus where the long simple carbohydrate chains can be quickly metabolized, producing a secondary energy boost. The final component - the soft gel within, is engineered to break down slower inside the stomach, thereby sustaining and maintaining energy output.



Final Route Announcement
Last week's highly anticipated announcement of the race course and route was met with cheers from the athletes, sponsors and local municipalities. "It's truly a win-win-win for the region" stated an official with the United Counties of SD&G. The hub of all activity will be based in Lamoureux Park. The 2.4 mile swim course will take athletes along the shores of Cornwall and parallel with Cornwall Island. The 112 mile bike course will have riders pass through the historic communities of Glen Walter, Lancaster, Williamstown, Martintown, St. Andrews and through to Williamsburg and then down to Morrisburg, through Upper Canada Village and onto the Long Sault Parkway at Ingleside. The run route be spectator friendly hitting most of the major roads in Cornwall and featuring a oneof a kind, bridge crossing, with portions of the run on Cornwall Island. The announcement confirmed earlier reports where Slowtwitch sleuthers tracked back various GMAP links to IP addresses owned by WTC .




Federal Government Action Plan
The $850,000 construction and resurfacing of the Long Sault parkway will be commencing in the next week. Bryan Bontrager, an official with the Parks of the St. Lawrence, remarked "We've been waiting years for this. Finally, the gem of South Stormont will be restored thanks to Ironman and the Infrastructure development program."


WTC to waive "Calf" premium on Ironman Tattoos - confirms all local parlours are compliant
Following through on their commitment to protect the integrity of the Ironman brand, the new licensing structure for all Ironman (M-Dot type) tattoos will be in place for the Cornwall race. The Seaway Valley Tattooists Association (SVTA) has confirmed that all member establishments have been authorized through independent quality control audits to apply M-Dot tattoos under the following fee structure: less than 2 inches ($65 royalty), 2 to 4 inch ($160 royalty), over 4 inches ($400 royalty). Royalties are in addition to regular tattoo pricing. The good news however, according the SVTA is that WTC has waived the controversial additional $100 premium for placement of the M-Dot tattoo on the participant's calf.


Speculation on Armstrong
It has been interesting to watch Lance Armstrong's Twitter feed over the last couple of weeks, where he has publically mused over the possibility of an Ironman Cornwall appearance. Armstrong would be in peak physical shape coming off the Tour de France. Pundits have speculated that he would be a shoe-in to win, if he could maintain his bike-fitness and reaquant himself with his running legs.


Pro Start List Grows
Regardless of an Armstrong appearance, the already "star studded" starter list will get a boost on Friday, when it is expected that reigning Ironman Netherlands champion, Vikus Lipraloof will confirm his intention to compete. Other notables include the married Quebec Long-course duo of Jean-Paul Poisson and Avril Chretien.

Multisport Club Recognized
WTC has recognized the efforts of the Cornwall Multisport Club, for their tiring commitment to make this event world class, and has reserved five (5) lottery-style spots for the club to award. To be considered for a lottery-spot, proponents must email the club before noon (Eastern Time) on April 1. The email subject line is to read: Ironman Cornwall Lottery.

Sounds like ego may be playing a role in going head to head with Challenge. If Kelowna wins the bid I fear the Apple may suffer and that would suck. Its one of the best short course events/festivals. The other issue is the police overtime. You are still drawing from the same pool of officers in SE district, the members love the easy OT but at what point do the bosses say no dice.

As for other venues I dont see any in SK or MB working out. Existing venues in AB Stony Plain, Sylvan Lake, Calgary/Ghost Lake are not too bad since they could leverage existing planning if they buy/convert an existing event.

I like Kelowna as a venue but I dont want to see it affect the Apple.
If if stays in BC then my first 140.6 will have to wait a year or 2 which I was planning for. Too many events on my plate otherwise. So if that plays out this way then its either IMAZ in 2014 or Challenge in 2015.

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___________________________________________
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)

http://www.active.com/...amp;EVENT_ID=2054577

duly noting they are not asking for money yet, I put my name in only because, I work in HR/Corp Communications and want to see all the communications that come forward to the intended audience. I have no interest to race it.

Good luck out there.

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@rhyspencer

That's freakin' AWESOME

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