First-Ever Ironman Lake Tahoe Sells Out in Less Than A Day

North Lake Tahoe announced Wednesday that the first full-distance IRONMAN® event in California since 2001, IRONMAN Lake Tahoe, sold out its general entries in less than a day. A limited number of IRONMAN Foundation spots are still available. The race is September 22, 2013.

“The speed at which IRONMAN Lake Tahoe filled up speaks to the popularity of Lake Tahoe,” said Chief Marketing Officer Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, the host destination and an official sponsor of IRONMAN Lake Tahoe. “Athletes are drawn here because of our naturally challenging terrain, pristine waters and picturesque scenery. As a community, we look forward to welcoming and hosting the racers and their extended families and friends.”

According to Chapman, the economic impact of IRONMAN Lake Tahoe to the region will be approximately $8 to $15 million over the course of the event. More than 2,500 athletes are expected to take part with each bringing three to four guests and staying five to six nights. IRONMAN Lake Tahoe includes registration from 45 of 50 states. California represents 59 percent of the registration with more than 60 percent coming from Southern California. Additionally, athletes from Canada, UK, Australia, Japan and 10 other international countries will compete in next year’s IRONMAN Lake Tahoe. The IRONMAN Lake Tahoe contract is a multi-year deal.

IRONMAN Lake Tahoe will start with a two-loop, 2.4-mile swim in the pristine waters of Kings Beach, California, which has an average water temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in September. Athletes will enjoy a lakeside transition before starting a two-loop 112-mile bike course that is comparable in difficulty to the bike routes at IRONMAN Lake Placid, IRONMAN Canada and IRONMAN Wisconsin. Cyclists will travel along the lake into Tahoe City, California before following the Truckee River past Squaw Valley and into the Old West town of Truckee, California.

From there, the course turns south back toward Lake Tahoe, has a short loop in Martis Camp, continues past Northstar California and climbs to Brockway Summit. After a decent back down to Kings Beach, athletes will complete a second loop, and then a final, flat 17 miles to finish the bike course at Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics.

With a transition at the Village at Squaw Valley, runners will proceed along the Truckee River bike path into Tahoe City, and continue south along the shores of Lake Tahoe to a turnaround in historic Homewood, California. The largely flat run course traverses one of the most scenic lake vistas in the world before finishing back along the cobbled corridors of the Village at Squaw Valley.

IRONMAN Lake Tahoe is a P-2000 race with a $75,000 USD professional prize purse. Additionally, the race offers 50 age group slots to the 2014 IRONMAN World Championship taking place October 11, 2014.

For more information about the IRONMAN brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Athlete inquiries may be directed to laketahoe@ironman.com. Media may contact media@ironman.com.