Power of Ironman name

I'm guilty, signed up early as a matter of fact.  But in my defense I was planning on going back when it was CAC.

And I guess the opposite effect is also true.  Challenge takes over the Penticton race from the WTC some years ago which was one of those instant sellouts...and now they get less than 200 participants for the individual full and less than 400 for the individual half.

The numbers don't lie.  The masses flock to or from races based on the Ironman name.

That's part of it but location also hurt them.  When it was Ironman Canada, it had no equal.  I don't think Challenge expected WTC to come back at them with the Whistler race as soon as they did.  Penticton is a fun course but there's not a lot of other stuff to do there.  Whistler has way more stuff for family / friends and better places to stay, not to mention being an easier drive from the big metro areas.

I agree the Ironman brand has an effect.  But if this situation were reversed and Challenge set up the Whistler race, I think you'd see more competitive numbers.

I've never been an M-dot fanboy, nor have I been a hater, but as time goes on, I'm more inclined to avoid WTC and support their competitors.  I really enjoyed IMFL when I raced it, but IMO, the experience wasn't any better than my two favorite HIM's - Musselman and Savageman.  Plus, what I've seen and heard of a lot of the other options when I've coached athletes for other races, there are some great races out there for less money that have more customer friendly practices.

I guess that's my long winded way of saying I don't get it.

Vineman was a IM distance race one could wait to sign up for until just before the event, which was really nice as you could wait to see if you could get past an injury, etc..  This year, because WTC  is taking it over and because of the power of the Ironman name, I will be signing up as soon as registration opens as I fear this one will fill up quickly.

Yeah, I feel similarly.  I won't say I'll never do another WTC event, but I will say that the $500 cancellation fee they charged me when I wasn't able to start IMMD this year because of my chronic lyme disease has left a bad taste in my mouth.

So you got a partial refund ?  Would that have been covered under the insurance?

They charged me $500, and refunded $150 of the $650 registration.  I believe it would have been covered if I'd bought the insurance for another $100+ (IIRC).

Some make the mistake of underestimating the Ironman brand.  You're making the mistake of overestimating the Challenge brand.

I do agree that location has a lot to do with it but it's location plus the race org that completely sells it.  I did IMC-Whistler twice.  I never had any desire to do IMC when it was in Penticton.  Whistler is an awesome place and that sold me.  That being said, the Ironman brand name solidified it.  if it was Challenge Whistler I would not have been there in 2013 or 2014 or ever.  I'm not the only one that thinks like this and I'm not a complete honk for the IM brand.

Look at was has happened with the Atlantic City race.  Within driving distance of 100,000,000 people in the most densely populated part of North America and Challenge could only muster 150 people for the full and 550 for the half this year.  Ironman takes over the exact same HIM race and they went over 2000 registrations in two days, and will probably sell out all 2750 spots in less than a week.  If they decide to do a full IM in AC (which I suspect they will in 2017), it also sells out quickly.  So IM could effectively have 5,500 registrants for the same exact set of races to which Challenge could only pull 700.  Add the way more isolated and less populated west coast USA/Canada and places like Whistler and Penticton become less appealing without a M-Dot logo attached.  Ironman Canada would sell well no matter where it is located... because it has the IM name.  People aren't traveling to do Challenge races.  They just aren't.  Look at the start list for Challenge Penticton and Challenge Atlantic City.  It's very, very regional.  I think IMC-Whistler is 60-70% Americans.  Challenge Penticton is 10% Americans, 70% BC Canadians, and 20% other Canadians.  It would be the same amount of Americans if it were in Whistler.  The Challenge AC start list is overwhelmingly northeastern US athletes. and very few travelers outside the few hours driving radius.

90% sold out according to the email I got this morning.

Completely forgot, as of yesterday SOLD OUT

so what did that take, 9 days?  Little more if you count the club pre registration.