Branson To Host Newest Ironman 70.3 Event First event to take place in Branson, Missouri on September 19, 2010
Published Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Ironman 70.3 Branson will be the latest addition to the Ironman 70.3 Event Series. On September 19, 2010, the inaugural race will take place in the vacation destination of Branson, Missouri. Ironman 70.3 Branson will serve as one of 34 worldwide qualifying events for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Fla. Professional athletes will be competing for a $25,000 prize purse. The 1.2-mile swim will be held in the crystal clear waters of Table Rock Lake in the shadow of the host hotel, Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center. Athletes will enjoy the ease of walking from the host hotel to the swim start on race morning. Water temperatures are expected to be 70 F. The transition area will be located on the grounds of Moonshine Beach. Following the swim, athletes will cover a challenging 56-mile bike course through the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains. Athletes will then transition to a flat, spectator-friendly, two-loop 13.1 mile run course.
“As the host city for Ironman 70.3 Branson, we are pleased to welcome these world-class athletes and their friends and families,” said Ross Summers, President of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB. “It is a tremendous opportunity for us to show the world what Branson has to offer.”
Branson, Missouri is one of America’s top vacation destinations and hosts over eight million visitors each year. Branson offers more than 50 performance theaters and is known as the “Live Music Show Capital of the World.” It also is surrounded by three pristine lakes and the rolling terrain of the Ozark Mountains. Additionally, recently opened Branson Airport offers direct flights from a variety of major cities across the country.
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“I look forward to working on another great Ironman 70.3 event and appreciate all the efforts from the City of Branson and the Chamber of Commerce,” said Ryan Robinson, Co-Race Director for Ironman 70.3 Branson. “The new race site is on-par with other great Ironman venues around the world.”
“Branson’s reputation as a popular travel destination, coupled with Ryan Robinson and Tom Ziebart’s expertise in delivering high-quality events, will contribute to Ironman 70.3 Branson quickly developing into a showcase event in the 70.3 Series. The challenging course will serve as an ideal tune-up for November’s world championship in Clearwater and for athletes with a late season Ironman on their race calendar,” said Ironman’s Chief Operations Officer, Steve Meckfessel.
Registration for Ironman 70.3 Branson is now open and will be limited to 2,000 athletes. To register, visit IronmanBranson.com. Athlete inquiries can be directed to info@ironmanbranson.com. All Media-related inquiries can be directed to Blair LaHaye at Blair@ironman.com or 813-868-5940 or Kathleen Bullock at kbullock@bransoncvb.com or at 1-800-214-3661
My husband and I met, started dating and got engaged in Branson. We will be at this race if at all possible! We worked at Kanakuk Kamps there (based out of Branson).
Cool. Take a bus trip with blue haired ladies. Wonder if my bike will fit under the bus, and what they’ll charge me. Is Dolly Parton still playing there?
I guess fly into St. Louis, rent a car and drive if you’re coming from far away?
Kansas City is 3.5 hours from Branson. Not sure how far the other places are. Springfield would be the closest airport though, but not sure how big or how many flights go in and out of there.
I think that’s bitchin’! Catch an Osmonds show the night before the race and have “Down by the Lazy River” in your head through the entire swim! Love it!
I think that’s bitchin’! Catch an Osmonds show the night before the race and have “Down by the Lazy River” in your head through the entire swim! Love it!
“If you can’t be with the one you love, then love the one you’re with!”
Thanks for the kind words; not all of have an ocean at our disposal…
I personally love the idea of a place like Branson, which is the same reason why my family has bought Disneyland Annual Passports the last few years. You can go to a place like that and it’s like in it’s own little bubble of innocence. You don’t have to think about crime or all the bad things in this world. For that short time you’re there, it’s a great escape from all that stuff.
Cool, just what we (europeans) need. Another North America 70.3 event ($1000+ away that is).
You don’t need 70.3 events, drafting is illegal here. What you Europeans need is ITU racing, that is where drafting is legal. That is what you are good at.
Any guess as to when they will have so many 70.3 events that they can’t fill them up (aka when people realize that you can do an un-official half-iron distance event for much less, and usually still have at least as good course and support, often closer to home)
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For those that intend to use Springfield SGF as an airport for in and out, a word of caution. It is only served by regional jets and turboprops. I am not sure of the exact size of all bike cases, but TRIALL3 cases most likely don’t fit due to the cargo door openings, that would count for aircraft types CRJ 200/700/900, E145 and all turboprops. Not sure on ATR72. If the airport is served by E170 or E190, than there is a chance. This is as best as I remember from regional airline career days. I could be wrong too, but I have never had a bike case in the back of my CRJ200.
Dude…I usually love your posts, but you clearly haven’t been to Branson.
“You can go to a place like that and it’s like in it’s own little bubble of innocence. You don’t have to think about crime or all the bad things in this world.”
The area where the race is held is quite nice and beautiful and the hotel is wonderful, but if you actually spend any time in Branson, your thoughts will not reflect the above statement. I already shared my opinion when this race was a rumor and got hammered for my observations and opinions. I will probably race this event, but I’m not going anywhere near the rest of Branson. Maybe at that time of the year it will be better, but that was one family trip I regretted from the moment we arrived until the moment we departed.
Branson has a brand new airport! www.flybranson.com
Over 50 destinations daily in on Airtran plus several other airlines fly into directly into Branson. 10 minute drive from the Airport to the host hotel.
The IM 70.3 Branson website will be up shortly with all of the travel information. If you haven’t been to Branson in the past couple of years…you haven’t been to Branson. The host hotel is incredible. Chateau on the Lake www.chateauonthelake.com Walk to the swim start at one of America’s clearest/cleanest lakes.
Please check back on the website shortly for we will have something a little unique in that we will have package deals. Hotels/shows/dining/etc… There is a ton of family activities in Branson. I can tell you that the city of Branson is thrilled to be hosting this event…thrilled! They hosted the Tour of Missouri time trial the last few years and knocked it out of the park. Check out this video…it actually show some of the 70.3 course. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Natq2ZTvA
Another unique thing about this 70.3 is that athletes can sign up for both Kansas 70.3 (June) and Branson 70.3 (September) for a combined price of $300!
$150 for each race.
