Nah, Kona spots aren't the reason all the guys I know are going.

1. Warm weather

2. Nice beaches

3. Brazilian bikinis

4. Huge party

5. It's CHEAP for us

6. They put on a great race.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Yeh Cathy....

About the price, there is no discussion ... with the devaluation that our currency had two years ago, maybe you will pay 30 dollar for a really nice hotel.... with breakfast included.... For the same type of hotel in Kona I paid US$ 185,00 and the breakfast was US$ 40,00 ( for two people ... ).

About the bikinis..... there is no doubt.......We have the best ones in the world !!!!!!!!!

About the beachs... Florianopolis is beutifull island.....if you have time to enjoy I will recommend going to visit the hole Island...

Maybe we can meet there... I´m not going to race but I will be there !!!

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Luiz Eng

Unfortunately, I'm not going, but a group of my tri clubmates will be there. Maybe in 2005.

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

My Wife and I are going. She just did a 100 miler on the Computrainer a few days ago. Today she only did 4 hours. I think she is ready. As for me, I don't have the time to do 4 hour rides during the week. The weekend is when I get my long stuff in. My cycling is ramping up due to the weather. I have a few 3 hour rides on the trainer and 1 75 miler outside. I plan on doing 90 this weekend if all goes as planned. My running is up to 3 hours so I think I am fine there. Swim, well I am looking to score around and hour or so in Brazil. We shall see though. It is still a ways off.

We have at least 5 friends going, so it should be a party for sure.

It will be my wife's and I 1st Ironman so we shall see. I am more of a short course specialist. I have been doing triathlons since 88, that was back in the days of the Bud Light series.

suggestion for Brazil...
the roads in florianopolis are quite dangerous...the course itself is mostly unrideable as there is heavy traffic (except on race day). Actually someone got hit 2 days before the race in 2002.

the run is mostly flat but from mi 9 to 12 or so and 21 to 24, there are 3 really nasty hills that only Lothar Leder ran. they hurt most big times on the downhills on the way back (we talk 20+% here...)

the org. that Ken puts is awesome though...

Brazil is on my 2004 planner!!!

There does not seem to be an easy / direct way to get there. but Ken gives some travel options if I am not mistaken.

Henk

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Alex Jonker

 
www.endurancesportstravel.com

it's his travel agent. get a round trip ticket for $700 or so, maybe $350 one week at the hotel with breakfast and dinner, and massage, and bike mechanic, and shuttles to/from airport and to race starts...
lunch will cost you like $3...