Letter from the Event Director

Welcome and thank you for your interest in Ironman China presented by K-SWISS – Asia’s ultimate endurance experience. Our long-term goal is to make Ironman China second only Ironman Kona in stature.  To get there we intend to be second-to-none in the way all the athletes, their families and companions are treated during their stay in Haikou.  From the selection of 4-Star and 5-Star accommodations, to the warm hospitality of the local residents, to the striking beauty of the venue itself, to Haikou’s vibrant city life, Ironman China will deliver a first-class athletic and travel experience like none other.
 
So that we can best assist you in preparing for Ironman China, please make yourself familiar with this web-site, the full-service travel and accommodation packages we can offer to you, and the race and event schedule. Our FAQ page will cover many areas of interest for this inaugural event, and I hope you will avail yourself of this information so that you will feel completely comfortable, prepared, and ready to compete upon race day. Finally, I also ask you to carefully read and understand the race rules that will be strictly enforced on race day. 

General Information

Event Schedule:
TBD

Venue:
Haikou, Hainan Island, China.    

  

Production Team:
Ironman China presented by K-SWISS is owned and produced by Ironman China Ltd., a subsidiary of EWP Inc., in conjunction with PCH Sports Marketing.

Ironman China Blog : Click here>

Sanction/License:
The race is an officially licensed event of the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) and will be sanctioned by CTSA, China’s triathlon association. Ironman China presented by K-SWISS features 50 qualifying slots for the Ironman Triathlon World Championships.

Date:
April 19, 2009

Distance:
Full Ironman distance:
3.8K swim \ 180K bike \ 42K run
(2.4 mile swim \ 112 mile bike \ 26.2 mile run)

Prize Money:

Men & Women
1ST       $8500
2ND       $5100
3RD       $3200
4TH       $2400
5TH       $1900
6TH       $1200
7TH       $  900
8TH       $  700
9TH       $  600
10TH     $  500

TOTAL US $50,000
Prize money distribution subject to WTC’s 10% rule. Prize money is paid after the event by wire transfer. Prize money wills are required to provide necessary banking details to accomplish the wire transfer.

Television Coverage:
To be announced.

Entry deadline:
March 30th, 2009
The entire entry fee will be refunded in full to any applicant whose entry is not accepted. Any registered competitor who withdraws prior to February 20, 2009 will receive a refund in the amount of $150. No refunds will be offered after February 20, 2009. No exceptions. Entries are not transferable.

Entry Limit:
1,500 - The total entry for both races (Ironman China and Ironman 70.3 China presented by K-SWISS) is 1500. The final number of Ironman China entries to be accepted depends upon the number of Ironman 70.3 China registrations. 300 entries are initially being allocated to Ironman 70.3 China leaving an expected 1,200 entries available for Ironman China.

Entry Fee:
USD $470 -The Entry Fee includes a gift pack and complimentary admission to the Carbo Loading Party and the Awards Banquet. There are no additional processing or registration fees.

Qualifying slots for Kona: 

Ironman China presented by K-SWISS offers 50 qualifying slots to the 2009 Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona.
45-46 slots will be offered to age group athletes.
At least one slot shall be allocated to each five-year age group category in which any age group athlete sends in an application, both male and female, per the age group categories listed above. If there are no athletes entered in the race in a particular age group, then that slot will be moved to the largest populated age group in that same gender.

The race organization retains the right to combine age groups for Kona qualifying in the event that very few athletes register in one or more age groups. Final slot allocation will be posted on the event website and at the race site when available.

A minimum of 4 slots will be offered to the Pro Divisions (male & female). The race organization reserves the right to assign a 5th slot to the Pro Divisions if warranted by the number of registered pros.

The distribution of all slots is governed by the then current rules and regulations of the World Triathlon Corporation. The race organization reserves the right at any time to re-award any slot due to changes in the final race results or other errors.
Transfer to CLSA Ironman 70.3 China presented by K-SWISS Athletes wishing to change their registration entry in order to race CLSA Ironman 70.3 China presented by K-SWISS may do so by logging on to Active.com and following the procedures specified there. There will be a $50 Transfer Fee charged for this service in addition to the usual fee charged by Active.com to process the 70.3 registration. Athletes electing to transfer to the Ironman China 70.3 race should expect to receive a net reimbursement of $200.

Race Headquarters:
To be announced.

Email: info@ironmanchina.com

Hainan Island is a vacation and triathlon gem set in the South China Sea. Featuring pristine blue waters teeming with reef fish and unspoiled white-sand beaches set against a lush tropical background, Hainan is the Hawaii of China. It is a rapidly developing international destination with world-class facilities, including five-star resort hotels. Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, offers all the facilities important to a triathlon, such as roads, communications, high-speed Internet service, and governmental cooperation. All factors considered, Haikou is a world-class venue with all the amenities necessary to make your stay enjoyable.



Hainan Island boasts a spectacular shoreline of 1500 kilometers, and nearly half of its 34,000 square kilometers is covered by primeval forests. Haikou, a city of 1.7 million, is a short flight from either Hong Kong or Guangzhou, although many competitors will be connecting to flights from Shanghai and Beijing. Haikou’s weather is tropical with April high temperatures in the high 20’s (Celsius) and average water temperatures in the mid-20’s (Celsius) perfect conditions to qualify for Kona. Register now if you want to experience the premier Ironman event in Asia.

Race Rules
Updated 03.10.2008
Participation in Ironman China presented by K-SWISS is governed by the rules of CTSA and WTC as stated in Ironman China’s published rules. It is the responsibility of each athlete to be familiar with these rules.

(See Complete Rules here. )