Ironman calls it quits at Tahoe after 3 years
Ironman has decided three years at Lake Tahoe is enough.
The triathlon, which has been on the North Shore, had its last hurrah on Sunday.
“After careful consideration, Ironman Lake Tahoe will not be extended. We appreciate the efforts and support of the city, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone else involved in putting on this triathlon. We would also like to thank all of the athletes who have raced with us here,” Ironman said in a statement on its website.
The event spanned Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Truckee and Squaw Valley.
In the 1980s there was an Ironman on the South Shore. Before it started on the North Shore in 2013, California had not had the triathlon since 2001.
Weather — as in snow and subfreezing temperatures the first year, and massive traffic issues — which resulted in course changes in subsequent years — contributed to the organization not wanting to continue with Lake Tahoe as a location.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Iron Girl pulled out several years ago also. What a shame.
Interesting use of words… “Ironman calls it quits.”
What a shame for Lake Tahoe, and local businesses to see this go away.. These events all around the lake make a tremendous difference to the local economy. Concerts, festivals, and events like this put heads in beds, and fuel all our area businesses. We should be doing everything we can to support the efforts of the promoters to have these types of events scheduled regularly in the basin.
Did they quit because North Tahoe stopped paying them $300,000 to put the event on, or was it that they struggled to fill out their entries because the course is too tough for the runners? Iron Girl left as soon as the LTVA up at So Shore stopped their financial support.
Did State Parks restrictions for course markings, parking lot issues,etc. add to the event pulling out of Tahoe?
Ironman ? And they can’t handle a little cold and snow !