New York City is calling
WTC (World Triathlon Corporation) today announced the 2012 Ironman US Championship in the metropolitan New York City – New Jersey region. Combined with yesterday's unveiling of Ironman Mont-Tremblant in Canada there will be 2 new Ironman events in North America in the month of August next year.
The New Yourk City event had been rumored for quite a while now and bloomberg.com was first to report that "Ironman Targets Wall Street Endurance Athletes With NYC Event." Now this race is official and allows long distance triathletes from around the world to add another interesting venue to their race calendar or bucket list. But what will be most important to some of these athletes is that the 2012 Ironman U.S. Championship will offer 75 age group qualifying slots to Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, more than any other North American race.
"Some of the world's best athletes compete in the Ironman Championship, and come 2012, they’ll do it on the world stage," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "The event will showcase New York City to participants and spectators from around the globe and help the City continue to attract visitors in record numbers. Together with our partners in New Jersey, we'll be ready to host a first-class competition."
According to a press release from WTC approximately 2,500 athletes from around the globe are expected to participate in the 2012 Ironman U.S. Championship on August 11, 2012 with an expected economic impact of approximately $50 million for the area.
Registration opens on Wednesday June 15, 2011 at noon Eastern Standard Time at ironmanuschampionship.com.
Just a day prior to this announcement WTC also introduced the Ironman Mont-Tremblant, a brand new event in Quebec, Canada to be held on August 19, 2012.
This event in mountains and forests about 100 miles northwest of Montreal, Canada will be quite a different user experience compared to the NYC one and this new race will offer 50 Kona age group qualification slots.
"Today, Mont-Tremblant celebrates having been chosen to become a host of the Ironman competition," said Pierre Pilon, the mayor of Mont-Tremblant. "As a tourist destination offering the No. 1 resort in eastern North America, we will offer an unforgettable experience to the competitors, as well as to all those who accompany them throughout their endurance tests."
Online registration for Ironman Mont-Tremblant will open on June 15, 2011 at noon at ironmanmonttremblant.com.
