first IM in Europe. Which one to choose?

Well ,I wouldn't choose Germany because the largest part of the course takes place in the city. I'd rather prefer an IM where there is a bit more nature. (but I think I'll only enjoy it the first half of the race !)

I also considered Switzerland...

ps: I do have some hills to train on.

IM Switzerland was awesome last year.  We had 17 people from our triclub go and for 10 of the people it was their first IM race ever.  All 17 of us finished.

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IM Zurich or IM Frankfurt in Germany are the easiest in terms of bike elevation.

For Scenery, Zurich is the best, around the lake.

I live in Zurich and I am going for the 2009 one. This year I will do Cologne 226. I suggest you www.k226.com, it is a parallel IM circuit, cheaper but of course not for Hawaii...

By the way, the most difficult one in Europe, and maybe in the world, is Embrunman

http://www.embrunman.com/indexe.html

while one of the best scenery is on the Elba island, in Italy

www.elbaman.it

For Elbaman, I can get you some good discount if interested. I train usually with the president of the event...

Very challanging one.

If you see orange guys with Freeradicals label, those are guys from my team. There will be two for sure. 

Simon

There are a LOT of Ironman races in Europe. But if you want it to be an official Dot-M race (possible Kona qualification) then you have to plan ahead a long time as they sell out within hours.

I will be doing the Cologne226 as my first IM this year. I choose this race mainly because it fitted in my schedule and it is FLAT

I had seen/heard that the majority of the European ones do not sell out that fast.  The Far East ones you can get into even later.

Nice and Lanzorate are supposedly the "hardest" offifial IM as far as course goes.  Norseman is the "hardest" iron distance race on the planet.

Quelle Roth is almost always rumored to be "short" in its measurements which is why so many pros break 8 hours there.

Norseman is the one you want, amazing scenery, point to point race which makes it a bit different, also almost completely self supported so no aid stations meaning you need your own support crew, only 200 entry limit each year to get yourself one of the most sought after race t-shirts you can get, black one if you go under the time limit, white if you don't, no medals or anything, just the knowledge that you have completed an IM distance race with 8000m of climbing!!!

Will be doing it as my first long distance on the 9th August

 www.nxtri.com

See you in Cologne! 

I used to go to IM Roth in Germany every year to support my team mates.  I don't know if the course has changed, but it was a fast bike course and the marathon course was pancake flat.  I saw Lothar Leder be the first person under 8hours back then

On another note, how about IM New Zealand???  Anyone? Hehe!