Has WTC got it wrapped up?

Hey everyone

After reading an article about WTC totally owning the IM distance we were wondering if you feel this is true? Is it possible for anybody else to be successful running an IM race?

Kia Kaha

Bevan

Comments

[bender]

It seems a great deal of people, not even in the tri community, have heard of Ironman when it seems to find its way into the conversation. And most of them have heard about the World Champs being in Hawaii. History and word of mouth is hard to beat.
Anybody remember ITU's Tri 101?. Even with the long arm of the ITU they pulled the plug on the longer distance for their own reasons.
UK longest day was a very successful race but died a quick death when IMUK came along.
Even though Longest Day was 1/2 the price and run in a friendlier way, people flocked to the branded series, cause at the end of the day we all do it for the t-shirt/tatoo.
Having said that, I'll be favoring Challenge Wanaka over IMNZ next year, and getting that tattoo removed.

[Rich Coleman ( UK )]

How does one determine a "successful" race ?

Roth where 100,000 spectators plus line the course cheering on a capacity field in an event organised by a ultra slick team where nothing is left to chance. Or Ironman UK where one man and his dog watches a less than capacity field in an event where the race organiser is continually pleading poverty and corners are so obviously being cut ?

WTC may well have a very successful franchise and have "the" name but well organised events such as Roth, Silverman, Norseman etc. continue to grow in stature and reputation.

Roth alone shows that the event itself is bigger than the brand !

[Glenn (Muscat)]

From my somewhat limited exposure to Iron distance races I must say that the Challenge races, Roth and Wanaka, have it all over the WTC for atmosphere and sheer enjoyment. The Challenge races will also become the first taste of ironman distance racing for the majority due to the team aspect. I can also envision a point in the near future where a conglomeration of non-WTC race organisers provide slots for a non-WTC world champs, probably held in Europe.

[Fegan]

Ironman is a brand and a strong one at that.
But as the sport grows and people have done there one or two WTC events they'll start to seek out more than just the fancy finisher's t-shirt.

IMUK aside, with a WTC event you have a great deal of expectations and these are generally met. Slick organisation, good course, a great goodie bag.

The secret must be in generating a quality event that people are drawn to and want to be associated with. Whilst some people want the old school, most now want it to be pretty slick and spectator friendly. Also being inivative and holding a standard, 1/2 and full IM on the same day with team events will bring in the revenue and make the event more accessible.

Will they ever be as successful, well Roth WAS an IM first but now stands on its own merits but people like the big events. There's lots of small marathons here in the UK but mention a marathon and people instantly think of London, New York or Boston.

Why have so many events jumped onto the 70.3 franchise, it must cost the organiser more money but people recognise the brand.

If someone delivers a quality event, then its reputation will grow and it will attract competitors and sponsors. Anyone thinking they can do this in one or two years is fooling themselves. Neither Kona nor Roth were overnight successes.

[Greg, Hudson Ohio USA]

The Holy Grail is Kona, and the WTC holds the keys. Even for the less serious triathlete, being able to say "I am an Ironman" has got to be a big part of their motivation. Add the shear number of IM races and the WTC does seem to have a stranglehold.

A race like Challenge Roth is now on my list, largely as a result of IronmanTalk, because of its history, the crowds, the course, and how well it is run. But by the time I race in Roth I will have done around 12 WTC races (& hopefully Kona), so Ironman will have a degree of "been-there-done-that" for me.

For races like Roth and Silverman, it would be interesting to know what percent of the participants have already done Ironman (WTC) races. Triathletes who may have moved on, to some extent, looking for new challenges and experiences.

The non-WTC success stories seem to share some common elements; race history, the course, well-run, location is a destination, something different like teams, crowd support, maybe something brutal like the bike leg at Silverman - Something that differentiates it from Ironman. Prize money and media exposure to attract the Pros would do the trick too.

[ed hawkins]

i believe its all down to money and ironman has it doesnt it. i believe there has only ever been one ironman race that has not lasted the distance. its the money backing isnt it.

i'd like to believe that there are other options that have the longevity of ironman/wtc but they just dont have the money - 101 series for example.

has wtc got it wrapped up? i think so - look at society its all pushed by big money making companies isnt it? we may not like it said the little man, but is true.

[Seano the Porno]

Having done both Ironman and a Challenge race, a successful event is a successful event no matter the branding. Roth is legendary, Wanaka has the potential to make it to that status. I think a comment that "no other race series will be successful" is based on a personal grudge this guy has... Ironman is a strong brand and will always have a captive market, but people want something different and challenging. I can definitely say the Challenge series brings that. Bring on more races, more variety and more fun (or hurt!)

[Pirate Trickster]

Triathlon is going through a boom at the moment at all distances (it is in the UK anyway). This means there are an ever increasing number of people signing up for WTC Ironman branded races. Or trying to before they sell out anyway. I believe that this leaves two target markets that race organisers should aim for :-

a) Those wanting to do an Iron distance race that have not been quick enough to sign up
b) Those who have done WTC branded races that now want to do a race where they don't have to hover over a computer at the right time to stand a chance of getting in.

What the race organiser does have to offer is something a little different to attract the punters, esp. those in category (b). Some ideas :-

a) Cycling jerseys for finishers rather than t-shirts
b) Time trial style start rather than mass start (for those who want to ensure draft free racing)
c) Making it 'tougher' in some way. Oh hang on, think Norseman have beaten me to that one.
d) Offroad Ironman?
e) Legendary pairing Bevan & John doing the commetary
f) Different coloured medals or t-shirts depending on finish time. Damn it, Norseman beat me that as well.

There will need to be sufficient funding to ensure the race doesn't fold after the first one, and has enough time to gain a reputation, but yes I believe there is room for other iron distance races.

[Brad]

Annoying as it is, I find myself giving money to Tesco's (or WTC) AGAIN because they are so bloody good at giving customers what they want.

For the first timer looking to maximise on returns for the time and cost invested in training for their first iron race - the name Ironman beats Challenge everytime.

If you were going to invest $100 thousand into a mountaineering expedition - you going to go into the Himalaya or Kharatorum?

[Brad]

Annoying as it is, I find myself giving money to Tesco's (or WTC) AGAIN because they are so bloody good at giving customers what they want.

For the first timer looking to maximise on returns for the time and cost invested in training for their first iron race - the name Ironman beats Challenge everytime.

If you were going to invest $100 thousand into a mountaineering expedition - you going to go into the Himalaya or Kharatorum?

[g-sport]

I think if people can stay in IM past the done one or two and had enough stage. They then realise -- why pay the extra for IM brand.

If you are not interested or capable of getting to Kona ,then a non branded IM distance is good, after you ve had the WTC band wagon experience.

Now IM's are filling so quickly (even Lanza this yr)peeps will have to look at the other races.
I cannot see WTC starting enough IM races to cope with demand & the pockets must be overflowing with cash anyway:-)

nice work with the helium in one-knacker bevo, you sounded like donald duck!

[T-rex]

I hope not, I love non-WTC races for the next 5 weeks I'll have raced more non-WTC Ironmen than WTC ones.

Challenge Wanaka was great, when I get round to doing the Norseman that will be great too.

Sadly in America it does actually seem to be all about the brand though and there are many empty IM distance races when the IM distance races fill up immediately which surely leaves many people disappointed but they can't bring themselves to go non-WTC.

WTC needs good competition to make their product better as all massive near-monopolistic corporations do, Microsoft need Apple to keep it on its toes, IM Germany needs Roth, IMNZ probably needs Wanaka to be successful in order to keep its own focus.

Long live non-WTC ironmen... I love 'em.

Andy (t-rex) - the deafest participant at Wanaka.

[Ironbranch]

It's like Starbucks, everyone complains and then gets in line.

[Scott Horns]

I would totally be up for doing a Challenge race in a great environment such as Banff in Canada, Brazil or Italy. I think the one thing the WTC is not doing is putting on races in nice affordable venues. I am sure many of the European IM races are cool venues, but here in the state the only great venues are IMC and IMUSA. The key would be to host an IM race in a country w/ good infrastructure and a weak dollar so most could afford to travel. The "Challenge" name and races are growing support and I would put my name in the hat to race one.
Scott

[HOT STUFF]

ive got to make this short. WTC have a monoploy over im distance. although other people are able to run them as well. it doesnt have the same wow factor (being called an ironman and not the big woody).that about it really but it makes it sell.the olny way that anyone else could be sucessfull is if ironman corp. allowed other companies to use the word ironman and that will never happen so ....thats it. :)

[flip]

Particularly in the US as NA sports continues to make the IM races more and more exclusive by requiring people to be on site to register (otherwise they sell out) that people will move to other independant races. I refuse to spend the money to fly to wisconsin or wherever just to register for a race...thats nuts. Plus the jersey's and hats are getting uglier and uglier

[Fegan]

Keeping up on a promise for a weekly blog update.

Albernator for Yellow
Newsom (Sans E) for 2nd
Tara for 3rd

Bevy for KoM

Molina for Green

[Roger]

The WTC has a monopoly on the IM distance. My prediction is that, in the not-too-distant future, an anti-trust case will be brought against the WTC (at least here in the US). That will likely be the only way to open up competition at that distance. We'll see. . . .

[Trevor]

I just wonder how long it will take before the volunteers to realise that they are being taken for a ride.

IM makes millions.
They make nothing.

The volunteers are absolutely essential, it's not right that they don't get a share of the profit - share the wealth!

[Morten Liebach]

I wrote a nice comment on my blog (http://blog.zentience.org/2008/02/has-world-triathlon-corporation-got-it.html) with a trackback to here, but it doesn't seem to show up. So here it is, cut'n pasted, but without the links:

I’ve personally done three Ironman races (Rødekro 1994: 11:31:17, Rødekro 1996: 11:17:08, Fredericia European Championship 1997: 10:07:17), none of them WTC sanctioned, and I personally couldn’t care less. An Ironman is about going the distance, perhaps even racing it, but it is certainly not a matter of whatever random soulless corporation might happen to own the Ironman™ brand and organize races. So, regardless of whoever organize a race, as long as it’s approximately a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride and 42.2 km run it’s an Ironman race to me, and anyone who finish one is an Ironman.

Obviously all Ironman races aren’t created equal, Ironman Hawaii is the greatest of all, in many ways the spiritual home of our sport, but I’d be at least as proud finishing Embrun or Norseman Extreme Triathlon, both extremely challenging and beautiful non-WTC races.

I personally think that when you see triathlon as a cultural movement in sports—which is what I do—you realize that while it’s important to have corporate backing, sponsorship and all that, it is in the end those that participate out on the race course that define it, athletes, officials and spectators.

So, if the WTC has Ironman racing wrapped up, it’s only because we let them. In the end it’s up to everyone who cares to collectively define what does and what does not constitute an Ironman, trademarks be damned, culture is far more important.

So please, don’t be myopic and think Ironman Hawaii is the highest you can get, other organizations can do just as well, perhaps better.

[Dan Trepod]

I don't think the new races stand a chance. Challenge got it's start as an "Ironman" race and I think that's why it has survived. If one of the other established "Ironman" races like Canada stopped being affiliated with WTC I'm sure it could survive. I don't like how it seems WTC tries to go after the small start up races. These smaller races are much more affordable and keep the sport accessible.