I think the effects of the recession will manifest themselves in the form of a general slowing down of high end purchases and travel related to doing tris, especially if the airlines keep wacking us with hugh surcharges for the bike boxes. As said elsewhere, we might not see this effect for the races until next season, but we will likely see a slow down in the equipment demand this year. Tim
There is also something to be said with the reduced price in travel. Many of the travel industry companies are really hurting. From airlines to hotels and probably even bike transporters. Maybe some of these destination races will indeed be okay due to the vacation aspect they offer some people/families? Who knows, I guess someone should remember this thread exist, only to re-post it in 1 year from now to see if we know anything by then.
It would be interesting to see how the race participants’ home locations have shifted. Are more locals racing locally than last year when they could afford to travel?
I know my schedule has been deeply impacted.
Maybe some of these destination races will indeed be okay due to the vacation aspect they offer some people/families?
Ahhhh, there’s nothing quite like Hamilton in March… 
Ahhhh, there’s nothing quite like Hamilton in March…
Hamilton in March is the bomb, baby - rain, wind, sometimes snow, always cold.
I’ve been to that race (supporting friends - never running) and even on the best of days (sunny and dry) it’s always cold as hell. Something about the location and the wind…
My race schedule has also been affected. Normally, I’ll do about 13-15 tris a season, including at least 2-3 travel races. This year, only one race that I have to fly to and that’s only because I signed up for it last June. I’m dropping the smaller races from the schedule. Just can’t afford it this year!
I hope you are correct, but all around me people are losing their jobs. They will train more cause they have time and stress to burn off, but travel to races and equipment purchases will be hit hard. I really hope that I am wrong, but the industry that I am in is bleeding badly…we’re at the far end of the tail of the dog in the technology industry and get wagged around pretty hard by our customers further up the food chain. Good times are good, but bad times are brutal. Still don’t know why I am in this industry since it seems like a string of bad times for the past 11 years.
Personally I did not buy tix to St. Croix (good thing cause I broke my ankle) even though I have cash to do it…just because…and I deferred a new car purchase, bought a Vasa trainer second hand instead of a new Ergometer, no big summer vacation plans with family, no major equipment purchases (no powermeter, just go by RPE)…and I have no payments nor any debt of any kind (everything that I own is paid for), but refuse to spend cash when I can’t even forecast revenue more than 6 weeks into the future with any accuracy!!!
Dev
I have one race solidified and that can be driven to. I’ll only fly to one race this year, still trying to decide which one. I have an invitation to two training opportunities over Easter and I’m not sure I can afford either even though they are both really good deals. I’m not working so I have to be careful. I could really use some time in the sun though. My dr told me I am vitamin D deficient! I usually go somewhere sunny in Feb/March but not this year.
I also usually do road trips to IMC and/or IMCdA to watch friends but probably won’t this year. If I find a job I won’t want to take the time off. I’m just relieved I didn’t sign up for IM this year. That race is darn expensive!! Luckily running is really cheap. I’ll also stick to the small races where entry fees are low. With distance running that is easy to do. Triathlons cost a fortune!!
I’ve been to that race (supporting friends - never running) and even on the best of days (sunny and dry) it’s always cold as hell. Something about the location and the wind…
I ran the race in the rain yesterday and aside from my thumbs not working to open gels it was a great day! 
Ken
I’m probably not that typical since triathlons are a small mid-life crisis for me, and I do them mostly for fun without spending much on equipment, but I will race less this year because we are cutting all our expenses to try to build up our savings, and you can save a noticeable amount of money by doing a Olympic race close to home instead of a HIM/70.3/whatever across the state where at least one night in a hotel is needed.
Plus the movement towards commuting - that suddenly makes the bike look much more appealing - let’s go from 3 cars to 2 or 1 and make up some of the difference by commuting - time to train, burn off stress, actually a destination event is probably still cheaper than many vacations - May we live in interesting times !
local tri $40-$90. Out of town race…gas, hotel, food entry fee $300 IMLP with family…gas, 5 nite hotel min, food, entry fee, race nutrition, $2000-$3000 Away Ironman without family $2000 (add flights, reduce expenses) Away Ironman with family $5000 (more tickets, more expenses)
I did the Around the Bay race…it was great. Both me and my bro had PBs (thanks to the 100/100)! Anyways, with respect to the recession topic. I can handle (financially) doing local races. That being said though…my uncle (who is a lawyer), my brother (who is a cop) and myself (who is a teacher) all car pooled to the race!!!
But for me, this year, I am not doing any Ironmans. They are just too expensive. I am not sure I will ever do any more ironmans again!? I have done three full distance ironmans in the past 2 years, and they were great experiences…but man are they costly. I think the only reason i would do an Ironman again is if i actually thought i had a chance to get a qualifying spot for KONA. But i wouldn’t just do it for fun/completion sake. Too much $$. I think i am going to just stick to the local races (or non ironman brand triathlons).
By the way…I did make it my goal for this year to qualify for the Boston Marathon (which was, in large part, a financial decision)…I am hoping that I will qualify this year in 2009 and then race in Boston in 2010. The entry fees for marathons are still considerably cheaper then ironmans. So far it looks good…I have done a 1:30 half marathon (which was a PB) and at Around the Bay I did a 2h11min 30km (which was another PB)…So i am right on pace for a 3:10 marathon…I can’t wait till May for the first marathon of the season in Ottawa!
1,384 entered in the Australian Ironman this weekend, that is the lowest I have ever seen, possibly since the early 1990’s.
Whether participation numbers go down a lot or not, I’m pretty confident of a few things: Entry fees, hotel prices and equipment prices will stagnate or even decline for a couple years or more. Mid-level Road and especially tri bikes seem to be getting cheaper, in my opinion. I can’t imagine the “new norm” becoming entry fees of $150 for a marathon, $300 for a 70.3, $750 for the latest wetsuits or new bikes in the $5,000+ range. Prices sure appeared to be headed for the stratosphere 2 years ago, but not now, which is good.
From the outside looking in the USA looks to be in another ‘great depression’:
The photos from the 30’s and today are remarkably similiar; only different in that we now have colour photos.
Things are still ticking along normally over in NZ. I think the rest of the world is just going backwards slightly and it is not overdue after the massive growth/boom times we just had.
Everyone is working hard over here, but the rest of the world could get dragged down. China’s growth is reduced from 13% to 8% so that is still remarkable growth.
People will benefit as they will eat more vegetables they grow. They will have more time to spend with their families and they should get slimmer. The wealth effect is quite apparent in the UK and the USA with all the obese people; they should get slimmer if their social welfare benefits are restricted.
People will have more time to exercise and should eat less red meat and dairy products so as a result the population will be more healthy. Entry into expensive events will drop right off in the USA next year by the sounds of things.
Salespeople in all areas will do it tough for few years, but there will be a big bounce back.
I am going to Europe again this year and will do ‘Challenege Roth’. Am just being more cautious with investments, as some people have lost a fair bit and will be wanting to recuperate it through increased manager fees etc. Was going to go through the USA this year for 6 weeks but it sounds depressing so am having 2nd thoughts. Your media is portraying a pretty grim picture of things in the USA.
My grandma told me all about the ‘great depression’ so my definition is seeing swaggermen walking around looking to work for food. Don’t think it will come to that or at least it will look diferent this time in some respects. In fact they are desperate for workers on NZ farms right now, but the pay is very poor. $300 USD a fortnight starting for milking cows; you get a house and some meat but that is a 12 day fortnight(12hr days). So if you want a job…
G.