155 female finishers with 75 kona slots rolling down tomorrow.
661 male finishers and 167 female for the full for 829 total. Numbers of entrants down on peak years like 2014 race had 1198 total, 2016 they had 1314 total and 2022 they had only 928 with 187 females. So the extra F kona slots has not attracted an increase in participation as was hoped.
The 70.3 also on there had about 900 total finishers with about 600m 300f . That race used to attract 1000-1100 every year.
So combined the race day used to be 2400-2500 participants across full and half and this year 1700 total. That has to show we have a problem!
They used to sell out however now you could have entered IM cairns right up to race day almost as they where down on numbers. Ironman West Aus and Port Mac would be the same. Some 70.3 sell out like Sunshine Coast and Tasmania but many do not.
In 2007-2015 you had to be waiting at the computer the day some events opened or you missed out, and way back many people volunteered at IM Aus as they got priority registration by doing so (IM canada was like that too).
No spare money for tri due to inflation and interest rate hikes.
Many regulars have had it with IM and taking a break.
I would add that a lot of people in the largest demographic groups (typically M40-54) have moved on from triathlon. We’re broken from decades of training, want a more balanced life, have turned to other endurance sports such as ultra running, fondos, gravel, ultra mtn bikign etc.
Stuff that doesn’t take such a large time commitment to get across the finish line.
No spare money for tri due to inflation and interest rate hikes.
Many regulars have had it with IM and taking a break.
.
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I live in Coolum,just south of Noosa here on the Sunny Coast and the whole tourism industry is taking a massive hit this year.People just don’t have the spare cash to do the shit they did pre-Covid.
I was going to enter Ironman Malaysia again this year but decided to do another of my bike tours instead. The cost of an Ironman entry will have me riding around Queensland’s outback towns for 16 days and I can just roll out of my front door.
No spare money for tri due to inflation and interest rate hikes.
Many regulars have had it with IM and taking a break.And a third issue: The time and effort required to train for IM is too much.
Yeah I hate things that take time, effort and commitment. Why can’t they just offer the finisher medal for like $10?
Maybe the problem is the old guys are getting fat and lazy and would rather play golf and b!tch about IM on their couch.
The younger generation are being hurt with
inflation and disposable income spend.
Those factors in consideration I think the numbers are pretty good!I am 100% behind time, effort and commitment towards an achievable goal. I am not for fat and lazy people sitting on the couch. And I don’t know many of my peers that give a shit about participation awards. But since you replied to me I will say that less-than-IM-commitment triathlon training can be really rewarding. And I have found that it is possible to be fit and engaged in this sport for less time, effort and $ than IM racing requires.
Well I guess if IM takes to much time then that’s what sprint, Oly or 70.3 distances are for?
Its sad though that there is a group of people (not directed at you or anyone necessarily in this thread) who don’t even participate anymore but still feel inclined to jump online and gloat about anything negative to do with IM.
Seriously get a life, or make suggestions about how to improve it.
Well I guess if IM takes to much time then that’s what sprint, Oly or 70.3 distances are for?
Its sad though that there is a group of people (not directed at you or anyone necessarily in this thread) who don’t even participate anymore but still feel inclined to jump online and gloat about anything negative to do with IM.
Seriously get a life, or make suggestions about how to improve it.I just did that.
As an injured outsider (Australian) at the moment-I have to wonder if one of the biggest issues is the inflationary pressure we are all facing combined with the rapid increases in interest rates. The cost of travelling to destination races like Cairns etc is massive. Our local races here in Western Australia have been incredibly well supported. But even events like traveling south for Busso (IMWA, IN 70.3 WA, Busselton 100), as a local you feel the pinch as the accommodation prices etc have all risen dramatically.
The sport is getting more and more expensive and relies on the disposable income of people, if we were to look at all the factors in play here I would say that has to be one of the most important.
Well I guess if IM takes to much time then that’s what sprint, Oly or 70.3 distances are for?
Its sad though that there is a group of people (not directed at you or anyone necessarily in this thread) who don’t even participate anymore but still feel inclined to jump online and gloat about anything negative to do with IM.
Seriously get a life, or make suggestions about how to improve it.
the people like that have been making suggestions for years. except the IM brand has done the exact opposite from those suggestions.
ironman race swag has gotten worse, fees have gone up, overall race experience has gotten worse. you can’t be charging 900+ bucks for a race. that’s a weeks pay for the average person, and that’s before they pay for travel and lodging.
i started iron distance racing in 2010. i paid like 450 for lake placid, 2023 was 850 before fees. so about 900 when all said and done.
things have not gotten twice as expensive for the ironman brand to put on the race. it’s that simple.
police details, contracts with the city, staff, gas, all the bullshit. none of it has DOUBLED in cost. yet the registration fee has doubled. the brand got caught up in the popularity, and like most companies tried to eek out as many dollars as they could, not thing about the future of the business. they bought out local races that created community and then shut them down. there are fewer and fewer local races. there no longer is a feeder system.
part of the problem are the egotistical people in triathlon. there were so many great oly and 70.3 races that were run so well, and on amazing courses. no one showed up. ironman would buy it, and the only thing that would change is the logo and people would flock to it. but without nurturing the community, they would eventually shut the 70.3 down.
No spare money for tri due to inflation and interest rate hikes.
Many regulars have had it with IM and taking a break.
I would add that a lot of people in the largest demographic groups (typically M40-54) have moved on from triathlon. We’re broken from decades of training, want a more balanced life, have turned to other endurance sports such as ultra running, fondos, gravel, ultra mtn bikign etc.
Stuff that doesn’t take such a large time commitment to get across the finish line.
Yup. After 20 years of structured triathlon training I’m doing single sports. Mostly gravel.
As an injured outsider (Australian) at the moment-I have to wonder if one of the biggest issues is the inflationary pressure we are all facing combined with the rapid increases in interest rates. The cost of travelling to destination races like Cairns etc is massive. Our local races here in Western Australia have been incredibly well supported. But even events like traveling south for Busso (IMWA, IN 70.3 WA, Busselton 100), as a local you feel the pinch as the accommodation prices etc have all risen dramatically.
The sport is getting more and more expensive and relies on the disposable income of people, if we were to look at all the factors in play here I would say that has to be one of the most important.
For sure, I have to agree. IM really are between a rock and a hard place in many respects. I don’t get the impression they are making millions of $ in profit though, yet have pressure to improve safety and compliance and minimize any cost increases by scrimping on stuff like street gear bags?
Any efforts from IM to limit costs is understandably met with backlash.
So where and how do they make it more affordable? Or are IM just making millions of dollars?
Ill give credit for the race day coverage yesterday that was decent, however, they stayed on front entire run and a lot was going on behind eg berkel moving from 8th off bike to 3rd, pete jacobs moving through late etc. so they need stop being obsessed with leaders. But it was great they had the coverage and commentary. Also having done cairns gull twice and the half 3 times, the aussie organising group does a great job they are excellent event organisers.