So,Ironman Malaysia has been dropped from the list of Ironman races on the Ironman.com site for 2011.
MAJOR BUMMER!!!
www.ironman.com/events/ironman
.
Bump. Is it gone?
It’s gone
.
Do you know what the reason was? I was hoping to do more races in Asia/Pac so losing one in that region is a drag.
I’m guessing that one of the reasons is lack of sponsorship.The only reason it went ahead this year was because the Prime Minister of Langkawi ponied up the cash.I believe that WTC tried to take the licence away from Langkawi years ago but they settled after legal action.It is a pity as the Malaysian triathletes were very proud of having an Ironman and it now leaves them little choice of races to do.Most of these guys don’t have the cash to fly around the world doing races.
A friend of mine in KL has told me that there may be an announcement in August relating to an event in Langkawi.
.
Korea - gone
Malaysia - gone
Japan - cancelled this year
China - unlikely to survive
Whither M-Dot in Asia?
I know Taiwan is about to get a half…not sure it will get the full distance. http://www.ironmantaiwan.com/index_en.html
Korea - gone
Malaysia - gone
Japan - cancelled this year
China - unlikely to survive
Whither M-Dot in Asia?
Yeah and don’t forget they have slashed the number of competitors in Australia.
I have a bunch of friends in Malaysia and Thailand and know that there is no way they can afford to fly around the world to attend Ironman races.Travel within Asia is so cheap but not to Oz and Europe.Chances are thses guys won’t do another Ironman again.
So much for a real “World Championships” in Kona!
Good job WTC!!!
.
It is a real shame. I did the race and found it was better organized than any of the NA races I have done.
Maybe WTC is trying to kill off the races that it doesn’t own or make huge $$$ from like it does at IMLP where it gets a cut from every hotel room in town.
WTC you stink!! I am proud to say I will never enter any of your races again.
how about lack of entrants?
Freakin’ hot and killer humid. Kinda hard day.
I remember a bunchof years ago (2005?) when they had more kona slots than finishers! (33 slots for 29 finishers or something like that)
Brian Rhodes of New Zealand won it a few times, but the times were slowish (understandably)
I wouldn’t even consider doing that race after holidaying in nearby Thailand a couple of times. I would sweat just looking out of the hotel lobby! I can’t imagine racing in those conditions!
Sad that it’s gone, but maybe they will start one in a more forgiving location (especially since IM field size seems to be getting limited to 1400 people these days)
I don’t think it’s hit the dropout date yet, but the Lake Placid list has just under 3100 people on it.
Just like in real life, events who don’t perform get dropped.
the year that they had more kona slots than participants was the edition just after the huge tsunami whick killed tens of thousands of people. all tourist activity to that area was hit hard. so i think that is an anomaly.
IM malaysia regularly pulls in 500 to 600 participants. for an IM which is held early in the year (where a majority of triathletes are still in winter hibernation) and a location that is a bit hard to get to for most people combined with killer hot and humid conditions, that’s not a bad number actually.
I wait for the “draft-fest” threads after Lake Placid then.
I was referring to the 1400 entrants caps for the Aussie IM’s next year and that IMNZ has filled up (at 1400 entrants I think) too.
From past experience at IMNZ, from when there were just 500, through 1000 to doing it a couple of years ago at about 1300-ish, I think 1000 is a good compromise as a maximum number of entrants, from a quality of race experience point of view.
3100 is just a cash grab!
Darn you evil, for-profit company.
Let’s nationalize it!
Just like in real life, events who don’t perform get dropped.
That depends on what your definition of “performance” is.WTC tried to get rid of IM Malaysia years ago because they said it wasn’t credible due to low numbers and guess what they now run a race in China that has low numbers.Now they decide to start a 70.3 race in Phuket the week after the Laguna Phuket Triathlon and guess where,at the same venue!Just another WTC chance to get push out a great event.
Ironman Australia has been performing very well for years and WTC comes along and drops the entrant numbers which means less chance for Australians to compete in their own state and national championships.
WTC sucks dick big time.
.
Why did they reduce the number of entrants?
Why did the reduce the number of entrants?
So they could have a 70.3 race on the same day…Fucking dickheads!!!
.
I’m guessing that the athletes that signed up for the 70.3 aren’t cussing Ironman. WTC owes you nothing.
I’m guessing that the athletes that signed up for the 70.3 aren’t cussing Ironman. WTC owes you nothing.
Clearly you aren’t an Australian triathlete and don’t care about the triathlon scene down here but as we are on ST that is not surprising.No they don’t owe anyone anything but I can still voice an opinion that is very common down here right now.The fact that they also cut back the number of Ironman spots as well as taking the spots away from Malaysia yet again waters down the “World Championship” tag for Kona but hey, the US is geiting more races and more spots and so no doubt that is the most important thing.
.