Triathletes in Asia now have new options if they want to race in an Ironman branded race with the announcement of the return of Ironman Korea and the new Ironman 70.3 Korea triathlon event. The new Ironman event offers those an additional opportunity to race and qualify for the Ironman World Championship race in Kailua-Kona now that Ironman Malaysia and Ironman Japan will not taking place in 2011.
Ironman returns to Korea with a new combined event set for Sunday, July 3, 2011. Ironman Korea Jeju and Ironman 70.3 Korea Jeju will be held on the same day on a redesigned race course on beautiful Jeju Island in South Korea.
Ironman Korea will offer 50 qualifying slots for the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship, held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Ironman added an additional 20 slots to Ironman Korea's intended allotment due to the fact that there will not be a full-distance qualifying race in Japan this year.
The event will be a "Triple Qualifying" event with Ironman 70.3 Korea offering 25 qualifying slots for the 2011 Ironman World Championship 70.3, taking place for the first time in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada on September 11, 2011 and qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, held in Laguna Phuket, Thailand on Sunday, December 4, 2011.
While the race returns to Seogwipo City the host of Ironman Korea from 2000-2005, the racecourse will be significantly redesigned from the old courses featuring a new and sheltered swim venue and run course. Remaining essentially intact is the single loop bike course that winds its way through fishing villages and farmlands, and up and over Halla Mountain's scenic foothills. More information will be available online at IronmanKorea.com in the coming weeks.
Ironman Korea and Ironman 70.3 Korea will be produced by Avix Global headed by long-time Ironman race director, Yong June Lee.
"Ironman is excited to be back in Korea," said World Triathlon Corporation's Managing Director Asia Pacific, Murphy Reinschreiber. " The new race course design assures that the swim can be held except in the most extreme weather and will provide will provide a quality Ironman experience from swim start to a rocking midnight finish line."
Jeju Island is easily accessible for internationals, either directly from select airports around the Asia-Pacific, or directly via Seoul's Incheon and Gimpo International Airports.
Entries for both triathlon events will open online at IronmanKorea.com at 10am KST on Friday, April 1, 2011.
Source: Ironman.com
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