Has anyone here raced this event? If so, how was it? Pros/cons… I am thinking about it for 2010 due to my sister living somewhat close. Any reviews will be helpful.
Thanks!
The swim is very squashy but fast, the bike is a draft fest with only one hill of note, and they made the run easier by taking out a good chunk of the hills after too many complained it was too hilly in its early years.
It is however the premier Ironman in Australia and you can tack on some sightseeing on the east coast.
Ironman Western Australia in early December is a far nicer venue, with less entrants, less expensive accomodation. The race is in a small beach side town. After the race you can spend time in Margaret River which is only 40 minutes drive away and has some of the best winery’s in the world. Vasse Felix has an award winning restaurant which is ideal for the day after feast 
http://www.margaretriverwine.org.au/...hp?wid=70&page=7
I’ve raced the Half-Ironman in Port twice which is on much of the full Ironman’s course. Enjoyed the races a lot, the organisation and support is good and the location whilst not the best Australia has to offer isn’t bad.
As robbie mentioned the swim will be squashed. Not sure for the full, but for the half they mass start but organise you be estimated swim time, fastest at the front. Of course as it’s essentially self-seeded the accuracy of people’s swim estimates may vary.
The bike course is multiple laps with a hilly section in town, there’s one small very steep portion but otherwise its undulation and nothing serious. Once you’re out of town it’s flat and quite exposed. It can be fast here, but that comes down to the winds and the rider! The road surface quality is pretty rough for much of it, it’s typical of Aussie roads though.
The run course is a mix of a fair bit of flat and a few short but fairly steep hills. Aid station support is great on the course and whilst It’s not the most exciting run course I’ve run well on it both times. Crowd support is really good here too.
Having done IMWA as well, the location is much better. Swimming round the pier is awesome. The bike course is a bit dull, perfectly flat and 3 laps you’re dying for it to end by the third! The run is great though a couple of laps up and down the beach front. Winds can be a big factor for this race too I believe, though the year I did it they weren’t too bad.
Thank you very much for your inputs. I am quite flexible regarding time and location of any tris in Australia. I’ve been on the east coast from Sydney up to Noosa and absolutely loved the area, would enjoy doing an east coast tri, but would do any other sweet race as well. I guess my other question would be, what other Aussie non-sanctioned mdot races (Half or IM distance) would you recommend? I’m looking for an all-around amazing race (spectators, racers, atmosphere & tourist activities). The IM Western Australia sounds great with respect to what I have previously mentioned, but are there any others you guys/girls like? If so, why the recommendation?
Thanks!
If you want something a little different you could race in ‘The Hell of the West’ at Goondiwindi in early February.
Its a long course race 2km / 80km / 20km held in Queensland - approximately 3 1/2 hours drive inland from Brisbane - population 5000.
It starts at 5am at dawn. The swim is in the river 1km up and 1km back, and it is no wetsuit - water is nice and warm and brown 
The bike is 40km out and 40km back - dead flat - usually a head wind the whole way back. Discs are not recommended.
The run is 2 loops of 5km out and 5km back - dead flat.
Transition is in the town park, as is rego and awards. It’s usually pretty warm - can be 100F by mid arvo.
There are only about 400 individuals in the race plus about 50 teams. However there are many many competitors who go back year after year after year to this race - many 10x finishers.
It’s a race with history, and previous female winners have been Bentley, Major and Preston. I must have raced there 5 or 6 years. It’s a race that the posers in the sport avoid. On a personal note my wife won the female race last year so will always have good memories of this race
Also check out the Aussie Half-Ironman series - http://www.halfironmanseries.com/. Only Geelong is an official 70.3, but they all form part of a series. If you’re Australian and want to race the Ironman at Port then you have to validate your entry by completing one of these beforehand.
I’ve also raced the Gold Coast Half as it’s the local race for me at the moment. Pretty well organised, terrible for drafting though. Also a very dull run course, lots of turns on an as yet undeveloped housing estate. I wouldn’t rate it as an all round amazing race though.
Heard good things about Goondiwindi too, would be doing it this year, but it clashes with other plans unfortunately.
If you’ll consider shorter distances races like Noosa and Mooloolaba are big event races to consider too.
Russ