Dienstag, 7. Mai 2013

Challenge Family verstärkt Triathlon-Präsenz in Australien

Mit gleich drei Triathlons über die sogenannte Half-Challenge reüssiert die globale Challenge Triathlonserie in Australien. Die neuen Events finden in Melbourne, Forster und Bateman's Bay statt.

Im vergangenen Jahr verlor der Serienausrichter TEAMChallenge einen australischen Langstrecken-Triathlon, die Chalenge Cairns an den Wettbewerber World Triathlon Corporation mit ihren Ironman Triathlons. Challenge Geschäftsführer Felix Walchshöfer unterstreicht in einer Pressemitteilung die Wichtigkeit des australischen Marktes.

Pressemitteilung TEAMChallenge GmbH vom 07.05.2013:

Challenge Family has today announced its return to the Australian triathlon scene with three new Challenge Half events being added to their worldwide series.

Challenge Melbourne, Challenge Forster and Challenge Bateman’s Bay will spearhead the Challenge Family’s return to Australia. All three Challenge Half distance events will comprise a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and a 21.1km run together with a prize purse of over AUD$30,000.

Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer, said the return to the Australian market is a significant milestone for the Challenge Family.

“Australia is an extremely important part of the world for us, we have received messages from athletes every day asking us when we will be back and I’m delighted to announce our return with three very different, but all equally compelling races,” he said. “Challenge Forster continues our commitment to the legacy of our sport with its strong roots in Australian triathlon, Challenge Bateman’s Bay has been chosen for its great location and athlete experience while Challenge Melbourne brings the Challenge Family to one of Australia’s iconic cities. We are very proud to work with all the communities and race organisers to bring a new triathlon experience to Australian athletes.”

Walchshöfer’s sentiments were echoed by four times world champion, Chris McCormack. “Challenge Family is all about bringing triathlon back to its roots, where you meet the people behind the event, where you’re welcomed across the finish line by them and where you are truly made to feel that you share the same passion. I’m beyond excited that Challenge is back in Australia and can’t wait to be part of Challenge Family on my home turf.”

A team of seasoned triathlon industry professionals have come-together to re-launch Challenge Family in Australia, including renowned race-directors David Hansen (SuperSprint) and Mark Emerton (Elite Energy). Hansen will oversee the Challenge Melbourne event, while Emerton will deliver the Challenge Forster and Challenge Batemans Bay events in collaboration with Challenge Family.

Securing Challenge Melbourne has been a big coup for Australia's most experienced event manager David Hansen and his team at SuperSprint Events. Months of planning and preparation have culminated in Challenge Melbourne that will take place in the bayside suburb of Sandringham and will showcase the famous Beach Road and the miles of running tracks that follow the bay. The inaugural Challenge Melbourne event will take place on February 2, 2014.

"I have always felt a race over the half distance would be very popular in Melbourne along Beach Road. With the link to the world’s biggest long distance event in Challenge Roth, I believe that Challenge Melbourne will provide athletes with an incredible race experience, while enjoying the best of what Melbourne has to offer", said Hansen.

Challenge Forster will see the return of international long-course triathlon to the traditional home of long-course triathlon in Australia. The hosting of a race in Forster continues Challenge’s commitment to the sport’s legacy with traditional long-course race locations such Roth Germany, Phuket (Thailand), Penticton (Canada) and Almere-Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Mark Emerton, Challenge Forster race director, has been instrumental in seeing the return of an international event to Forster and is looking forward to showcasing to a new generation of athletes the original course that made the town famous amongst endurance enthusiasts world-wide.

‘I am very excited that Challenge is coming to my old home town. I recall the days when legendary athletes like Jurgen Zack, Peter Reid and Bruce Thomas would come to town to test themselves on the challenging course. So it is with a great deal of pride that I can, along with the Challenge Family, show athletes what all the fuss was about’, said Emerton.

‘We will have a category that will encourage former champions from the early years to come and race each other again and to experience the Forster finish line again’, added Emerton.

Challenge Forster will take place in the idyllic twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry on the NSW Mid-North Coast on Sunday November 24, 2013.

Emerton and his team at Elite Energy will also organise the Challenge Bateman's Bay event scheduled for March 16 2014. Bateman's Bay, located on the NSW south coast, offers a brand new area for endurance athletes to call home.

‘Bateman's Bay is one of those hidden gems which athletes will fall in love with now that Challenge has come to town. Everyone is excited about the course and location and my team and I feel privileged to be hosting this event there’, said Emerton

The Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons is changing the face of long distance racing around the world with its focus on athlete experience. Featuring spectacular courses in iconic destinations, Challenge Family events focus on delivering the race-of-a-lifetime to every athlete, and creating a memorable spectator experience that captures all the excitement and emotion of this inspirational sport.

The addition of the Australian races take the Challenge Family to 21 events around the world including the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other Challenge Family races take place in Germany, Austria, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand and Taiwan.

Entries to Challenge Forster, Challenge Melbourne and Challenge Bateman's Bay open to the general public at 9.00am on Friday 10 May at www.challenge-australia.com.au.

Ironman 70.3 Weltmeisterschaften ab 2014 mit global rotierendem Finale

Die World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) wird den Austragungsort der Weltmeisterschaften im Ironman 70.3 Triathlon ab 2014 rotieren. Ironman bricht damit erstmals mit seiner Tradition die Finals seiner Rennserien stets an einem Ort stattfinden zu lassen. In diesem Jahr findet die 70.3 WM erneut bei Las Vegas,  Nevada statt.

Zuvor war Clearwater, in unmittelbarer Nähe des Ironman-Stammsitzes gelegen, langjähriger Austragungsort. Wiederkehrende Probleme mit unerlaubten Windschattenfahren ließen sowohl Streckenlängen und WM-Titel davonziehen. Aktuell findet in Clearwater das Pendant im 5150 Triathlon, einem Triathlon über die olympische Distanz ohne Windschattenfreigabe statt.

Ob eine Rotation auch für die Europameisterschaften im Ironman und Ironman 70.3 umgesetzt werden soll, ist derzeit Spekulation. Kurt Denk, seinerzeit Mitinhaber der die Europameisterschaften in Frankfurt am Main und Wiesbaden ausführenden Agentur, setzte zusammen mit seinem damaligen Partner Kai Walter beide Standorte auf Jahre durch. Für die Vergabe des EM-Titels sind neben sportlichen, organisatorischen und medialen Kennzahlen auch die Wirtschaftlichkeit und der Nettogewinn der Triathlons bedeutsam.
Läuft es gut für Wiesbaden könnte vielleicht schon bald eine WM über die anspruchsvolle Radstrecke jagen, während die EM Station bei einem der gut etablierten anderen europäischen Events machen könnte. Ebenfalls gute Chance kann man unter Berücksichtigung des Streckenprofills von Zell am See oder Mallorca einräumen.

Für den neuen Europachef Thomas Dieckhoff wäre eine EM bei einem seiner europäischen Rennen sicherlich ein wichtiges Etappenziel, die Strecke in Wiesbaden hat wiederholt die sportliche Würdigkeit demonstriert.

Ein Wechsel des Finales im Ironman Hawaii Triathlon erscheint unwahrscheinlich, wenngleich es vor einigen Jahren innerhalb der WTC ein Konzept gab, die WM aus Kailua-Kona, Hawaii auf das US-Festland zu holen. Frühzeitig scheiterte das Vorhaben am Nimbus der " Mutter aller Schlachten" und wirtschaftlich-strategischen Zwängen.


Pressemitteilung WTC Vom 07.05.2013:

70.3 World Championship Will Rotate Globally in 2014

Beginning in 2014, the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships will take place at rotating locations across the globe, the World Triathlon Corporation announced today.
“Having the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship change locations from year to year will provide our athletes with the opportunity to race on some of the best courses and in some of the most beautiful places in the world,” said Andrew Messick, chief executive officer of World Triathlon Corporation. “We are looking forward to bringing the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship to some of the top venues globally that will allow for more athletes outside of the United States to participate in a World Championship event.”
The 2014 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship location will be announced in coming weeks. This year's event will be held at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada on September 8, representing the third and final year in that location. 
Henderson, Nevada will continue to host a yearly 70.3: The IRONMAN 70.3 Silverman triathlon. From 2005-2010, Henderson held both the Silverman Ultra and Long distance triathlons at Lake Mead. During that six-year-run, it drew thousands of competitors and was recognized as one of the toughest courses in North America.
“We are thrilled to welcome back to the city of Henderson a signature event that pays tribute to our Silverman heritage,” said Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen. “It’s truly an inspiration to see the dedication and determination of these athletes as they compete in this elite race.” 
The championship race had been previously held in Clearwater, Fla. since its inception in 2006. Each year, more than 1,800 domestic and international competitors have earned the right to compete in the championship by qualifying at an IRONMAN 70.3 event.