GMAN19030 wrote:
I'm going to go on record and say just going with this odd distance (as opposed to a full and a half) is an even worse idea. There was what, 150 full and 400 half (not counting relays). I "think" they're making an assumption most willing to do the half will do the odd distance (that won't be the case) and that the full is more or less dead and they might pick up some of them (some being the keyword). I have a sneaking suspicion that 550 solo racers number is about to drop a lot more. I give them points for trying but they're grasping at straws here. They just made a regional at best event even less of a big deal.
If only Penticton had Doc Brown's Delorean and could do 2012 all over again.
I agree with Fleck that the 3/120/30 distance is arguably a better distance but it's not common. The 70.3 and 140.6 distances are deeply rooted in our sport and, as much as some of you don't want to admit it, those distances sell. Odd distance races just don't, and it's not like Challenge Penticton has ever set the world on fire. The iconic thoughts of Penticton as a triathlon mecca of some sorts is long gone. I have a feeling they just pushed most of their potential full distance customers to Whistler or Couer d'Alene and many of their half distance people to whatever IM 70.3 races are in the region.
Despite my many posts bashing Challenge, I'd love to see them do well. Their North American marketing strategy has just been laughably bad from day one. WTC doesn't even have to counterprogram against Challenge anymore. Challenge seemingly can't wait to trip over their own dick at every opportunity.
I suspect you are right but there is some limited precedent for success. When Sweden was awarded the 2015 ITU World Long Course Championships they established the Vattern Triathlon in 2012 so they could get the logistics worked out 3 years in a row before the actual championship. Apparently that race has established itself and will continue although most participants are Danish and Swedish and there aren't as many competing venues. On the other hand, the North American market is more hung up on the 70.3 and 140.6 distance. I recall when the 101 distance was established in North America and quickly died. But I bet a lot of folks that want to compete in the 2017 Long Course Worlds at Penticton may try out the course in 2016. The problem for Penticton is they are probably only changing the distance for two years then presumably going back to standard long course in 2018 -- a different market from 2016/17. Changing distances midstream doesn't seem to be the right way to establish consistency and build a loyal market. I had guessed when they were awarded the ITU Worlds that they would run both formats within the same week. For example, in 2008, ITU worlds long course distance was held the day after the well established Holland Triathlon (140.6) - so a full on Saturday, then the Nice distance on Sunday for the Championship. The next year, it was back just to the Holland Triathlon (now Challenge Almere-Holland).