If your triathlon bucket list includes competing in Kona or cycling over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, then the 2013 IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland is for you.
IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland will offer 30 slots for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona-Kailua, Hawaii. That means approximately one chance in 37 of realising your Kona dream!! [That's one way of putting it... –Dave]
Additionally, the new event in Auckland on Sunday 20 January next year will guarantee a limited number of team slots which part of an initiative for IRONMAN 70.3 events globally.
The event has already announced that 50 age group slots will be available for the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship 70.3 in Las Vegas. Professionals will be racing for a prize purse of US$ 75,000 and 1500 qualifying points.
"The offer of slots directly to the IRONMAN World Championships from IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland is an added incentive for triathletes in the Asia Pacific area to realise a dream of racing in Kona, which remains the Holy Grail of our sport," said Andrew Messick, CEO of World Triathlon Corporation.
"This is the only IRONMAN 70.3 race in the Asia Pacific region that will offer spots directly to the IRONMAN World Championship. The 30 slots will be available in Auckland for 2013 and after that will be rotated annually around other races within the Asia Pacific region."
The qualifying spots will be awarded under the standard IRONMAN policy.
IRONMAN is also keen to nurture the development of grass roots involvement in the sport both with its 5150™ Triathlon Series but also in providing team participation in IRONMAN 70.3 events.
"The Ironman mantra is that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE®," Messick said. "The journey for our athletes has to start somewhere, and we feel that racing as part of a team alongside some of the sport's stars in an IRONMAN 70.3 event may be that beginning."
IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland will offer a limited 100 spots in the new teams' category. These spots will be available online from 10am on Wednesday 26th October.
The inaugural race, which takes athletes through iconic parts of the city, includes a swim in the Viaduct Harbour, cycle over the Auckland Harbour Bridge and run along the waterfront.
