There have been a lot of rumours this will be the last year that Florida runs with no 2005 edition. IF and in my mind that is a big IF this is correct - any ideas on what the replacement race will be and what time of year it will be? With the season about to get into full swing and the extremly rapid filling of races I am trying to plan ahead for 2005 so I know exactly what I will be signing up for when the mid season race entry opens up…
Rumour has it that if the 1/2 IM at Disney this month goes well, that it will go to a full next year. So I imagine if they take it from PCB after this year it will be at Disney next year.
I have heard that it is moving to the Virginia / Carolinas area… I personally would like it if the other poster is correct, and it moves to Disney. That way I don’t have to drive that far each year. The time of year for the race is perfect for me, because it allows me to have the BIG race at the end of my season.
---->Trent
If they move it to VA/Carolinas I think they’ll have to move the date up because of water and air temps. But that may be their plan anyway so they can oust the Duke Blue Devil. Or if they move it to Orlando hoping to remove another competitor-Great Floridian. I just can’t see having an entire IM at Disney-but you never know.
I wish it would stay in PC as our family has a vacation house about 30 minutes from there which really cuts down on the cost of doing an IM but after having raced in PC this past weekend-it will be tough this fall with all the road and skyscraper construction going on.
I was at that race last weekend as well. My God it was hot! I had a great swim and bike, but fell apart on the run.
----->Trent
For me I am not that fussed about the venue as opposed to the time of year - as one of the previous posters mentioned it would be great to be able to race a few early to mid season olympic distance races before focusing on an Iron Man as the last race of the season - and if it is good enough have nearly a year to focus on Kona
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If they move it to VA/Carolinas I think they’ll have to move the date up because of water and air temps. But that may be their plan anyway so they can oust the Duke Blue Devil. Or if they move it to Orlando hoping to remove another competitor-Great Floridian. I just can’t see having an entire IM at Disney-but you never know.
I don’t see why they would be concerned about driving out the competition. All IM races fill up within a day or two of registration opening, so why would they care? They are not lacking for customers…
I remember a post on this subject within the last year or so. I think that the original contract was for IMFLA to remain in PCB for five years and after that time the contract would be up for renegotiation. At the last minute PCB agreed to renew the contract for three more years. The first race on the new contract was November 2003. This November will be number two. That means the race will remain in PCB at least until November 2005.
This is the last year it’s a for-sure thing in PCB. Last year, at the last minute, PCB and WTC got together and agreed for a one-year extension . . . which is the 2004 version of the race. I agree with the poster on the race moving to Disney – it will accomplish two of WTC’s goals: a) put the venue at a more tourist friendly location that is willing to pay WTC big bucks to bring the race there, and b) it will provide direct competition to Great Floridian and hopefully drive them out of the market (like they tried to do to IM Roth).