I know this forum has already talked about this race, but why would anyone support the WTC? Keep supporting the WTC and other races will close!
InsideTri.com
Schedule conflict kills Keauhou-Kona
'This event has been dealt a fatal blow," says promoter.
by Timothy Carlson
IT senior correspondent
This report filed December 20, 2004
Citing a conflict with the World Triathlon Corporation's new Ironman qualifier in Hawaii, Keauhou Kona Triathlon race director Joe Ackles pulled the plug last month on his half-Ironman distance event after 23 years.
"In spite of our best efforts, this event has been dealt a fatal blow," wrote Ackles on the Keauhou Kona Triathlon website. "As a result of a competing event being deliberately placed on the event calendar in our community one week after our event date, we were unable to attract sufficient registration to safely conduct the 24th annual race."
After 22 years as a qualifying event that served as the chief conduit for Hawaii residents to enter the famed Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii, the WTC did not renew the Keauhou Kona Triathlon's contract for the 2004 race. This decision came a year after Joe Ackles' wife, Sharron Ackles, was abruptly dismissed after 11 years as race director of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
In its place, in June 2003 the WTC created its own Olympic distance event to serve as a 2003 Ironman qualifier for Hawaii residents. This fall, the WTC announced it was increasing the distance of its Ironman qualifier - the Honu Triathlon -- to half Ironman status and scheduled it for June 5 - one week after the traditional date for the Keauhou Kona Triathlon.
According to Ackles, last year's Keauhou Kona Triathlon had a sold out registration of roughly 1,000. Even with expected fallout of triathletes who had been seeking Kona slots, the race started with roughly 750 entrants. According to Sharron Ackles, this year's event, after six months of registration, had only about 360 signed up.
"It was really a loveable event put on by a lot of people with a lot of heart," said Joe Ackles today. "But the registration numbers would have only paid for about 50 percent of the expenses. One big reason is that many athletes want to race at an Ironman qualifier -- and you cannot do them a week apart."
Joe Ackles said his race was never about money. "We spent 15 years building up this race, and only in the past three years did it make a profit," said Ackles. "For us and the volunteers who dedicated all their hard work, it was about giving to the community."
Ackles said that the race, set on half of the traditional Ironman course, "could have been perpetuated if not for the decision the WTC made to make sure that we didn't exist any more."
Spokespersons for the World Triathlon Corporation were not available for comment today.
InsideTri.com
Schedule conflict kills Keauhou-Kona
'This event has been dealt a fatal blow," says promoter.
by Timothy Carlson
IT senior correspondent
This report filed December 20, 2004
Citing a conflict with the World Triathlon Corporation's new Ironman qualifier in Hawaii, Keauhou Kona Triathlon race director Joe Ackles pulled the plug last month on his half-Ironman distance event after 23 years.
"In spite of our best efforts, this event has been dealt a fatal blow," wrote Ackles on the Keauhou Kona Triathlon website. "As a result of a competing event being deliberately placed on the event calendar in our community one week after our event date, we were unable to attract sufficient registration to safely conduct the 24th annual race."
After 22 years as a qualifying event that served as the chief conduit for Hawaii residents to enter the famed Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii, the WTC did not renew the Keauhou Kona Triathlon's contract for the 2004 race. This decision came a year after Joe Ackles' wife, Sharron Ackles, was abruptly dismissed after 11 years as race director of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
In its place, in June 2003 the WTC created its own Olympic distance event to serve as a 2003 Ironman qualifier for Hawaii residents. This fall, the WTC announced it was increasing the distance of its Ironman qualifier - the Honu Triathlon -- to half Ironman status and scheduled it for June 5 - one week after the traditional date for the Keauhou Kona Triathlon.
According to Ackles, last year's Keauhou Kona Triathlon had a sold out registration of roughly 1,000. Even with expected fallout of triathletes who had been seeking Kona slots, the race started with roughly 750 entrants. According to Sharron Ackles, this year's event, after six months of registration, had only about 360 signed up.
"It was really a loveable event put on by a lot of people with a lot of heart," said Joe Ackles today. "But the registration numbers would have only paid for about 50 percent of the expenses. One big reason is that many athletes want to race at an Ironman qualifier -- and you cannot do them a week apart."
Joe Ackles said his race was never about money. "We spent 15 years building up this race, and only in the past three years did it make a profit," said Ackles. "For us and the volunteers who dedicated all their hard work, it was about giving to the community."
Ackles said that the race, set on half of the traditional Ironman course, "could have been perpetuated if not for the decision the WTC made to make sure that we didn't exist any more."
Spokespersons for the World Triathlon Corporation were not available for comment today.