All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance?
I think yes but in a much smaller way than the basic idea of people moving to the next thing and a smaller way than color runs and spartan runs and so on.
All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance?
I’m gonna have to say no since I don’t think any of the races I’ve done have experienced a decline in attendance.
If anything, I’d say that the number of actual races has contributed to a possible drop in numbers at any specific venue. I get the feeling that triathlon, as a sport, is showing a constant or increase in the number of athletes. Maybe you have data that says differently.
Every triathlon I did this year showed growth through either (a) increased field size or (b) faster sell out. One of them even doubled the field size this year.
It’s not myopic, it’s multifactorial or at least I think it is.
I know here in NC one cause is the proliferation of races. This weekend in NC you can race at least 2 half’s plus some 2-3 short distance races & a duathlon. 5-6 races in NC in one weekend is too many, especially since all but the duathlon are from the middle of the state out to the coast.
If there was something in Western NC and in the middle then in the coastal areas each race might attract more racers. But you don’t need 6 races in NC on this weekend .(NC spans 500 or so miles E to W.) I’m in the geographical center of the state and I’ve got 4 to 5 races with in a 2.75hr max drive & 4 hours max to get to the duathlon in Asheville.
There are many other places around the country where there are too few triathletes for the number of race options or too many races for the number of triathletes. You’ll always get some participants, but you could get much, much more if there were less options or more triathletes.
You also have people/clubs who only want to do WTC events. I’ve had numerous requests for coaching where people send me their race schedule and it’s 6-9 WTC events. I’ve had clubs contact me where their entire purpose seems to be to get as many people in the club in as many WTC races as possible. When I ask these 2 about doing local races and they say I/we can’t be of this 70.3 or 140.6 race coming up. Zero local races on their calendars.
i think you’ve also seen people move into the sport for 1-3 years to knock out an IM or some other big tri challenge and they’ve moved out to the cookie rides/social event/color runs type of things. Things that don’t require them to put a large chunk of life on hold.
I also see a large social factor in play. There are numerous clubs/groups around here in many other cities around the globe where their main objective is to have fun, gossip, socialize and gain some fitness. They don’t care about competing/winning/ racing. They are out to complete events while having fun and participating with friends. It’s social not competitive that fuels their participation.
Use your Austin Powers voice → LC triathlon, this sort of thing isn’t their bag baby.
I’ll “third” the proliferation and diversification of races. You’re seeing it in all endurance events, not just multisport. There just aren’t enough people to grow individual race volume while also growing overall number of races offered, especially on the local level.
I will be interested in consolidation moving forward in this industry. The merger of Rev3/Challenge may be the beginning. As it becomes more and more difficult to maintain margins companies will look for partnerships and mergers to help out their balance sheets, which I think will lead to a plateau and eventual decrease in the number of races offered.
Every triathlon I did this year showed growth through either (a) increased field size or (b) faster sell out. One of them even doubled the field size this year.
Here in NE the opposite has occurred. I no longer race but have been in the sport since 2004. I still receive emails from RDs and race promoters. Many more this year offered discount codes and sold out later or never sold out.
Of the many tri friends I have I’d guess 80% or more no longer do triathlons. Those that do tend to be IM focused athletes.
All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance?
Agree but why hasn’t Duathlon participation increased?
Seriously flawed premise…
You’re not considering:
Entry feesdate conflictsother eventsother interestsinjurieslife changes/challenges
To seek causation in decreases in some events to deaths in swimming (what about deaths in cycling or running?) is problematic at best.
No flaw…points in an array of possibilities…
All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance? no.
All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance? no.
Nope.
what I have seen is
too many choices
Too expensive
Too burned out
Hurt
Family more important now
.
…and Oceanside 2015 sold out in 2 days versus what, 2 months last year?
All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance?
Trirock lake Geneva sold out 2 years ago when I raced but this year they handed out “last chance” coupons. But when I tried to register, their system absolutely SUCKED.
The first day I gave up, and then I saw the weather was going to suck so I decided not to race at all since I was not registered. But then a friend was doing the race so I went back to register and it took 8 minutes shy of 1 hour to register … 1 f-ing hour!. Every click of the mouse took over 5 minutes of watching their stupid “running man” wait animation.
And then they tack on a mystery $15 fee and when you click edit to see what the $15 is for it takes you back to the start screen.
These are the stupid business processes that will kill an attendance volume.
The race is well run… The registration needs to be fixed pronto.
All:
With all the attention; rightly so, on swim safety and the tragic loss of life, have these 2 factors contributed to the decline in race attendance?
Hua? Are there people dying from swimming related issues more this year than last? I dont really get the question. I dont think the risk presented during the swim portion is any greater now than it was before, nor do I see any more emphasis on anything related to the swim more now than before.
ESPN swim death expose was late 2013…main stream watched it and it might have influenced beginner perceptions. Attendance is not always about just vets…geez!
How many deaths and what was the cause ?
There was a death today in an Australian Iron man swim, but it was a heart attack.
ESPN swim death expose was late 2013…main stream watched it and it might have influenced beginner perceptions. Attendance is not always about just vets…geez!People still have cable? Didident even know that still existed. Probably why I dident see it. Cable is the new VCR.
You are assuming that a single show on ESPN was able to greatly influence new people entering the sport.
Highly doubtful.
People on this thread are demonstrating that your premise is flawed.
Sure, danger in swim could have some influence… but far too many other, probably more directly influential, variables.
I haven’t done very many races in the past couple of years because they just cost more than I want to pay for chip timing and a few packs of GU.
$700 for an IM? Sorry, not worth it for me.
Our local tri is $160-$185 (depending on when you sign up). That’s pushing it.