Steve in IL on the TNO forum posted this information this morning- thank you Steve in IL:
on-site registration for the 2008 Ford Ironman Wisconsin is available Saturday morning prior to race day (Sept 8) as opposed to the more customery day-after on Monday the 10th.
http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com/entry.php
Not sure what affect (if any) this will have but FYI.
-now you can be commited to Ironman for *366 *days.
2008 race date: September 7, 2008
Entry Procedure for 2008: Athletes registered for the current year’s event can register for the following year’s event on the Saturday before the race.
Athletes can only register themselves.
Registration will be from 9-11 AM. This timeframe will be for athletes only, so they don’t have to worry about the next year’s registration or stand in line after having raced.
Day after registration will be only for people to register themselves, they will not be allowed to register a friend at all at any of our events in the future. Anyone can register themselves at this time.
Whatever is left for general entry will be done via Active.com usually opening at 11 AM local race site time.
OTHER WAYS TO ENTER:
There may be Community Fund slots available.
For Community Fund information, CLICK HERE.
Qualifying spots are usually available each year for Ford Ironman Wisconsin, For a complete list of qualifiers, log onto http://www.nasports.com/qualify/imnaqual.php
I am glad they came up with a definitive, written policy. Sounds pretty fair to all.
Support Crew
Tom, you said not sure whether this will have any affect, but, I think it will be significant for a couple reasons.
I think it is a great idea – IN THEORY. However – IN THEORY – communism works (stolen line from Seinfeld). So, let’s see how it goes in practice…
Thanks for the info.
Sounds pretty fair to all.
Support Crew
'cept to those people in, say, New Jersey, who would consider doing the race for the first time and who really don’t want to fly to Wisconsin a year and a day early to have any chance of registering.
now you can be commited to Ironman for *366 *days
367 it’s a leap year
.
Read the policy again…This will open more slots to online entry -
Only the 2007 entered athletes will be able to register on Saturday.
No more signing up a friend on site. The result will be More slots open to online (internet) entries.
Thanks for the info.
this is significant!
Whoa, I almost died there for a second. I’m volunteering for this year’s race, but not arriving in Mad City until Saturday afternoon. At first glance it was looking like I was going to be SOL, but now that I read it again it seems very logical. Why make athletes who just finished the race get up early and sit in line on Monday morning? If they KNOW they are going to race again next year, just go ahead and get it done early. If they’re not sure, they still have the option of lining up Monday if they so choose.
Sounds good to me.
mm
Will this policy be in effect for Ironman Canada this weekend?
I’m curious to see if that is the case. I could see it as a large majority of participants signing up on saturday just to get their hat in the ring for next year. If so, this would really decrease online slots because they would be 2 hrs behind those who sign up on site monday at 9. Could go either way.
If all of the races end up being like IMC signup it will be hard to try out different venues. Most people may elect to go to the same race year after year just to be assured a spot. I was thinking either IMoo or IMFL next year…now I’m thinking IMoo again just so I’m “guaranteed” a slot for 08. Sure I could always sign up for one and lose some money when I withdraw after I successfully sign up for the other but that sucks and isn’t really fair to those who REALLY want to do that particular race.
Kinda like buying into a timeshare without the transfers…
I think so.
I don’t see how it really changes anything regarding number of available slots. If you’re doing the race this year, you probably already know if you’re planning to do it again next year. So, you just get to sign up day before rather than day after. Don’t see how that will change anything, except to make for a shorter wait time for everyone signing up on site.
I do think, however, that they should go back to taking your money right there on site…or at least a deposit. There seems to be no downside to grabbing a slot “just in case”, and never following through with signing up.
-Steve
Yeah, I’m torn on that idea (taking money on-site). On the one had, I agree, they should at least take a deposit or something. On the other, it will slow down the sign-up process.
Reminds me of a post on the IMLP thread a couple weeks ago. Guy had a friend at the site to sign him up. Was worried the friend would not get him in, so, he signed up on-line. Found out later the friend got a ticket for him. In effect, this took away a slot from someone else because he had registered on-line and got a “reserved slot” in person.
If you had to pay on-site, there would be no “double reservation” like in this situation.
It will put more slots on line since you can’t register a friend.
actually, I had mentally checked out of MOO '08 (and told my wife so) after last year and this year. I gotta say it is going to be tough not to walk in on Saturday (before Sun’s event) and pick up a ticket for next year.
Now I have some real thinking to do (and potentially some real back pedaling/dancing at home!!)
I don’t see how it really changes anything regarding number of available slots. If you’re doing the race this year, you probably already know if you’re planning to do it again next year. So, you just get to sign up day before rather than day after. Don’t see how that will change anything, except to make for a shorter wait time for everyone signing up on site.
Will this policy be in effect for Ironman Canada this weekend?
Yes it will be in effect in that ahtletes sign up on Sat. This is from IMC website:
RACE ENTRY
Historically, Subaru Ironman Canada has been one of the most popular Ironman events worldwide, with entry positions selling out within 24 hours of availability each year since 1998. Due to the high demand North America Sports has put into place the following Registration Procedures.
All general entry registration will take place on-site, in Okanagan Park where the Subaru Ironman Expo is located. You must be present to register and you may not register another person.
Registration for athletes entered in the current year’s race will take place on the Saturday before race day between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, in Okanagan Park, wristbands and ID will be checked. At this time athletes from the local area may also register.
Open registration will take place on Monday following the race from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Okanagan Park. Athletes competing in the current year’s race and locals may also register at this time. Please ensure you have photo ID with you at registration.
Should there be spots available after on-site registration; an announcement will be made in mid-September regarding entry process. We will also announce the number of Ironman Community Fund spots that will be available for Subaru Ironman Canada at that time.
Registration for those qualifying for the current year’s Ford Ironman World Championship will also take place in Okanagan Park on Monday following the race from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The rolldown of World Championship slots will take place at 11:15 am. You must be present to claim your entry slot.
OTHER WAYS TO ENTER
Community Fund and Qualifiers
There may be Community Fund slots available or you can qualify for an entry slot at many races during the year. Detailed information can be found through the links listed below.
Community Fund slot information
Subaru Ironman Canada Qualifiers
From reading what’s on the IM Wis. website, if the race fills with on-site entries (either Sat. or Mon.), then there will be no on-line entries available. As crazy as registration has become for IMs, I think this a real possibility unless NAS limits the number of on-site entries. I expect I’m like many others out there in that I can’t afford to travel to an IM a year in advance, just so that I can sign up on-site the day after the race. Unfortunately, that may be what you have to do to enter an IM in the US.
Does anyone know if the athletes registering on Saturday are actually “registering” and have to pay the entry fee at that time, or if there are just being given a “card” for which they are guaranteed a slot and can register at Active.com a week or so later (which I believe is how they did it last year)?
My only problem with registering on Sat. is what if you get a Kona slot? Now you’ve already signed up for IM-Moo 2008.
Am I missing something here?