Miami 70.30 - WTC have to eat humble pie again

tunney

Seems like twice in one week WTC have to eat humble pie.
Another video aopology, this time over the farce that was Miami 70.30
WTC are giving free entry to all entrants to a 70.30 in 2011 because the race was so bad. Seeming the organisers had never put on a HIM before, the course was untested, and as a result the race was an utter farce.

Press release (http://ironman.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/wtc-responds-to-inaugural-ironman-70.3-miami-event#axzz14AhAbAcM)

Some interesting discussion (http://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/WTCs_response_to_the_Miami_fiasco.._P3060559-3)

Nothing new in WTC getting bashed, but very unusual for them to respond and even more rare for them to try and make things right. And this just after they back down on the 8% rule for PRO prize money.

Maybe the Challenge series are scaring them, would be interesting if Challenge moved into the states??

robinph

What happened?

tunney

robinph wrote: »

What happened?

In short - swim course only finalised on morning of race, dangerous water entry/exit, transition was too small, bike course was dangerous, poorly marked and not enough marshals. not water at the aid stations , huge drafting, lots of crashes on the bike, no water on run, no marshalls, poor marking, no gels on the run either, goody bags, t-shirts and post race food piss poor. On the plus side the transition area security was good.

robinph

tunney wrote: »

On the plus side the transition area security was good.

Did they stop people to ask for ID on the way in?

tunney

robinph wrote: »

Did they stop people to ask for ID on the way in?

Dunno - I know in Austria, you are photo'ed with your bike, your rest band contains a chip, as the the number on your bike. These are linked on check in and the only way to get you bike out is if you match in the photos and the chips match too.

pgibbo

tunney wrote: »

Seeming the organisers had never put on a HIM before, the course was untested, and as a result the race was an utter farce.

Let's hope that the Galway organisers learn from the mistakes made by others and put on a fantastic event.

nerraw1111

I'm surprised that there is no quality control for such a franchise. Doesn't bode well for Galway

EC1000

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Doesn't bode well for Galway

That's a bit of a drastic conclusion, no??

ronanmac

nerraw1111 wrote: »

I'm surprised that there is no quality control for such a franchise. Doesn't bode well for Galway

In what way?

nerraw1111

Sorry, I didn't mean to refer to Galway specifically, rather new Ironman events.

Just the progblems at Miami give the sense that Ironman doesn't appear to insist that race directors must meet a certain of standard. The problems with Miami would've been obvious at the planning stage which shows a lack of quality on Ironman's be half.

I would've thought that in order to use the Ironman brand, you would have to prove you are capable of planning a race to a high standard and that there were checks in place to ensure a top notch event.

Organisers told competitors that day before the race that 'we officially have no idea how you are going to be getting into and out of the water.'

It doesn't instill confidence for future new Ironman events.

ronanmac

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't mean to refer to Galway specifically, rather new Ironman events.

Just the progblems at Miami give the sense that Ironman doesn't appear to insist that race directors must meet a certain of standard. The problems with Miami would've been obvious at the planning stage which shows a lack of quality on Ironman's be half.

I would've thought that in order to use the Ironman brand, you would have to prove you are capable of planning a race to a high standard and that there were checks in place to ensure a top notch event.

Organisers told competitors that day before the race that 'we officially have no idea how you are going to be getting into and out of the water.'

It doesn't instill confidence for future new Ironman events.

Certainly, with such a premium being built around the Ironman brand (both in terms of marketing and event cost), you would imagine that there would be pretty strict procedures in place to protect that brand, and that new events would have to adhere to those strict procedures. Any event cock-up is a dilution of the brand. It would be interesting to find out what, if any, check and balance procedures are required by Ironman of Ironman-branded events.

griffin100

It would be interesting to find out what, if any, check and balance procedures are required by Ironman of Ironman-branded events.

I would suspect that the size of your cheques and the extent of your bank balance are the main drivers as to whether or not you get an IM franchise.