History of Ironman races

Triathlon Forum
1

Following the recent article on ironman.com that IMLP was voted reader’s choice according to Travlete.com its readers and the fact that IMLP is the second oldest in North America I wanted to find out the complete list of when each of the 27 races across the world was added to the IM race calendar.

On http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironman_Triathlon there is a list of US races and when they were added. However, I am looking for the complete list (also intereted in races that was running in the past but are not on the race calendar for 2012). Is there a source for this somewhere or can you please help me to fill in the blanks?

Thanks

List from Wiki below with only information about US races:

United States
· Ironman Arizona in Tempe, Arizona; added in 2005
· Ironman Coeur d’Alene in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; added in 2003
· Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach, Florida; added in 1999
· Ironman Lake Placid in Lake Placid, New York; added in 1999
· Ironman Texas in The Woodlands, Texas; added in 2011
· Ironman Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky; added in 2007
· Ironman St. George in St. George, Utah; added in 2010
· Ironman U.S. Championship in New York City, New York; added in 2012
· Ironman Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin; added in 2002
Europe
· Ironman France in Nice, France
· Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany.
· Ironman Switzerland, in Zürich, Switzerland
· Ironman Regensburg in Regensburg, Germany
· Ironman UK in Bolton, United Kingdom
· Ironman Lanzarote in Puerto del Carmen, the Canary Islands, Spain
· Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt, Austria
· Ironman Wales in Tenby, Wales
· Ironman Sweden in Kalmar, Sweden
Australia
· Ironman Asia Pacific Championship in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
· Ironman Australia in Port Macquarie, Australia
· Ironman Western Australia in Busselton, Australia
Canada
· Ironman Canada in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
· Ironman Mont-Tremblant in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, Canada
Other
· Ironman Brazil on Florianopolis Island, Brazil
· Ironman Cozumel in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico
· Ironman New Zealand in Taupo, New Zealand
· Ironman South Africa in Port Elizabeth, South Africa

2

Nice
.

3

IM California added in 2000
.

4

Thanks, looks like IMCA only lasted 2 years. Any idea why it was discontinued?

This is quite interesting and really shows how the brand/organisation has developed over time.

Ironman Utah is an early day classic pulled after only one race:

http://www.coloradotriathlete.com/articles/00/2002_imutah_story.htm

5

Seems like you hate Asia :slight_smile:

IM Korea
IM China
IM Malaysia
IM Japan(?)
.

6

Roth was an official Ironman Race. I believe it was called Ironman Europe.

7

IM Canada is the 2nd oldest in North America
.

8

GMAN, do you know between which years and the reason to discontinue the IM brand?

9

I believe that it was the Ironman European Championship … kind of like what Franfurt is today.

10

GMAN, do you know between which years and the reason to discontinue the IM brand?

http://www.challenge-roth.com/en/praktische_infos/history.html
.

11

Thanks, looks like IMCA only lasted 2 years. Any idea why it was discontinued?

IMCA required permission for riding through Camp Pendleton and I could be wrong but I thought there were issues getting permission to continue running the full 140.6 (two laps through the marine corps base) and it was instead shortened to a 70.3. RIP Perry Rendina and Carpe Diem!

There was also IM Japan

12

Hi Zoom,

The IM-organisation is really struggling with full distance in the region. Not enough interest or not good enough local partners?

Do you know why each of the races were pulled from the calendar?

13

China was because of local issues in getting the permits … I guess WTC weren’t in the bribing business. It was cancelled really close to the race, but by many accounts (emphasis is on the word many … not all) WTC made it right by giving free entries to other 140.6 races on top of some extra cash ($500 U.S?) to cover flights and hotel charges that folks couldn’t recover.

Japan was because foot-and-mouth outbreak

Korea … no idea

Malaysia … no idea

14

For Malaysia, I think it was there were two issues - one about lack of support and help from locals with organization and running the race and another bigger issue about heat and the conditions for the race that people were getting dangerously overheated.

15

This isn’t the true history. Triathletes were doing ironman distance tris before these branded Ironman races. My first ironman distance triathlon was in 1991. (Same course as Eagleman, Cambridge, Md.)

These other races matter!

16

Good point. If we are counting any Ironman distance race we need to include others like 1987 The Cape Cod Endurance (Ironman distance) race.

17

:slight_smile:
.

18

Ricoh Ironman and World Wildlife Centeriun Triathlon, 82 and 83 i believe…Both in LA.

19

I am sure there is room for a thread for other historic iconic ironman distance races as well.

Maybe above posts bring in the exhaustive list? However, someone with some extra time could possibly fill in the years for NON-US races as well…

Cheers

20

Perfect monty, races like the Ricoh IM is exactly what I was looking for. Historic **IM branded (not just the distance) **races which are still in place or for whatever reason was discontinued (please state the reason if you know)

Thanks