25th annual event a huge boon to local economy
Nearly 2,400 of the world’s best athletes will descend on Sonoma County on Sunday, July 12 for the 25th annual Ironman 70.3 Vineman Triathlon.
The 2015 edition of the event begins just after dawn at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville with a 1.2-mile swim, continues with a 56-mile bike segment through several grape-growing regions, and finishes up with a 13.1-mile run ending at Windsor High School.
The race will feature an elite pro field of 65 vying for $50,000 in prize money and ranking points for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
Expected to compete at this year’s event is a professional field that will include five-time world champion Craig Alexander, three-time Ironman world champion Mirinda Carfrae, 2012 Ironman world champion Leanda Cave, and three-time defending women’s Vineman champion Meredith Kessler.
Other notable athletes vying for the top prizes for men and women are Luke Bell, Sam Appleton, Greg Bennett, Emma-Kate Lidbury, Leanda Cave and Heather Jackson.
“This will be one of the strongest fields assembled outside the 70.3 World Championship,” veteran race spokesman Dave Latourette said. “The top 17 men will all be competitive, as will the top 12 women.”
Outside of the World Championship events, the race is typically the deepest and strongest pro field seen in North America each year.
The “race within a race” will also showcase a group of the top age-group athletes vying for bragging rights and 50 coveted qualifying spots for the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Austria this fall.
The Ironman 70.3 Vineman is the second in the Vineman series of triathlons this summer that will continue on Saturday, July 25 with the full Vineman race, along with an Aqua-Bike, and Barb’s Race, a huge fundraiser in the fight against cancer and the only all-women’s 70.3 triathlon contested in the world.
Economic boon for
Sonoma County
The benefits of hosting the Vineman series of races go far beyond the athletic competition, with the events helping to pump millions of dollars into the local economy.
A reader’s poll by Triathlete Magazine ranked the Vineman Ironman 70.3 as the third best triathlon in America, further validating what competing athletes have known for years —Sonoma County is a great place to visit.
The unique combination of lightly traveled, scenic wine-country roads and ideal weather, combined with the variety of activities the area offers makes it a perfect race destination for the entire family.
This year’s Ironman 70.3 Vineman Triathlon is filled to capacity, as the race filled up in a matter of hours after registration opened in November.
Economic impact studies have been conducted in recent years for other Ironman Triathlon events around the country, confirming that the economic impact on Sonoma County has been significant.
In a study by USA Triathlon, the governing body of the sport of triathlon in the USA, it estimates that over 35 percent of triathletes earn between $100,000 and $199,999 annually, with 13.9 percent earning in excess of $200,000. Most compete in four to six events per year, with participation typically involving a two to three day trip to the location of the event.
Studies have also shown the benefit of thousands of spectators on a locale. The Ironman 70.3 Vineman has been known to attract over 10,000 spectators on race day, many of which patronize local restaurants, bars and hotels.
Unlike other events such as the Amgen Tour of California, which requires the local host municipalities to pay a significant fee for hosting rights, the Vineman races have no direct costs to the host community.
For more information on the upcoming Vineman events, visit the official race website at www.vineman.com or contact Race Director Russ Pugh at 707-477-5813 or ru**@vi*****.com.
