Ironman returns to California with Ironman Lake Tahoe

Ironman makes its return to California (since 2001), with the introduction of Ironman Lake Tahoe on Sunday, September 22, 2013.

“Lake Tahoe’s natural beauty and experience in hosting world-class endurance events have made it one of the world’s most appealing sports destinations,” said Steve Meckfessel, Managing Director of Global Race Operations for WTC. “The launch of a full-distance Ironman event in California has been a long time coming. We’re confident this race will develop into a cornerstone of the global IRONMAN Series.”

The race will start with a two-loop, 2.4-mile swim in the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe at King’s Beach, which has an average water temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in September. Athletes will enjoy a lakeside transition before starting a two-loop 112-mile bike course that is comparable in difficulty to the bike routes at Ironman Lake Placid, Ironman Canada and Ironman Wisconsin. Cyclists will travel along the lake into Tahoe City before following the Truckee River past Squaw Valley and into the town of Truckee. From there, the course turns south back toward Lake Tahoe, has a short loop in Martis Camp, continues past Northstar and climbs to Brockway Summit. After a descent back down to Kings Beach, athletes will complete a second loop, and then a final, flat 17 miles to finish the bike course at Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics. With a transition at Squaw, runners will proceed along the Truckee River bike path into Tahoe City, and continue south along the shores of Lake Tahoe to a turnaround in historic Homewood, Calif. The largely flat run course traverses one of the most scenic lake vistas in the world before finishing along the cobbled corridors of the Village at Squaw Valley.

Ironman Lake Tahoe will be a P-2000 race with a $75,000 USD professional prize purse. Additionally, the race will offer 50 age group slots to the 2014 Ironman World Championship taking place on Oct. 11, 2014.

Registration for the inaugural IRONMAN Lake Tahoe will open on Mon., June 18, at Noon PT on www.ironmanlaketahoeCA.com. For more information on the Ironman brand and global event series, visit www.ironman.com. Athlete inquiries may be directed to laketahoe@ironman.com.