Media Releases
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Spectators invited to cheer on Subaru IRONMAN® Canada athletes in Whistler
Tourism Whistler media release
For immediate release - July 22, 2014
Spectators invited to cheer on Subaru IRONMAN® Canada athletes in Whistler
Suggested Tweet: Get your cheer on in #Whistler as #IMCanada athletes make their way through town. IRONMAN info at www.whistler.com/ironman
Whistler, B.C. – The Subaru IRONMAN® Canada triathlon returns to Whistler this summer and the community is gearing up for the energy and excitement the event brings to the resort.
Approximately 2,500 competitors will push their bodies to the limits for the Subaru IRONMAN Canada on Sunday, July 27. Spectators are invited to join in the celebration of sport, cheering on the athletes as they make their way along the grueling course, which starts with a 3.8-kilometre swim, moving to a 180-kilometre bicycle ride and finishing with a 42-kilometre marathon. When it’s all said and done, athletes will have travelled through the Callaghan Valley, Whistler and Pemberton.
Many of the athletes have been spotted along the highway, on trails and in the lake, training for months. On official event day, it all begins at 6:30 a.m. with the mass start swim and ends at midnight at the finish line near Whistler Olympic Plaza.
Whistler welcomes guests on event day with spectators encouraged to enjoy the event while taking part in the many activities Whistler has to offer. The official spectator guide outlines everything to know about the event and race day in Whistler.
Whistler Village will also host a variety of entertainment and a business showcase over the weekend and While Whistler Olympic Plaza is the hub of the event, hosting the welcome ceremony, the event Expo and video coverage on event day, the energy of the event will be felt throughout Whistler.
WHERE TO WATCH
- Rainbow Park: Both the swim and bike legs start here; note that there is no parking so spectators must arrive and leave on foot or by bike. Rainbow Park is easily accessible by the Valley Trail
- Whistler Golf Club: Head to the Whistler Golf Club for the Hairpin Turn barbecue party from 12:30 – 4 p.m. where you can cheer on the athletes nearing the finish of the bike leg as they come through the 270-degree hairpin turn. Spectators must arrive on foot or by bike as cars will not have access to the parking lot; the Whistler Golf Club is centrally located alongside Highway 99 and is easily accessed from the Village via the underpass on Whistler Way
- Alpine Meadows Market: North of the Village, Alpine Meadows Market along Highway 99 is a great vantage point for watching the competitors travel Highway 99 on their bikes. The highway will not be open to traffic; spectators must arrive on foot or by bike
- Village: The run course goes through Whistler Village, so there are multiple areas to spectate as runners pass by
- Rebagliati Park: In the heart of Whistler, this park is on the route to the Upper Village and easily accessible. Runners will pass Rebagliati Park along the Valley Trail
- Nicklaus North Golf Course: Runners will pass the driving range and cross the railroad tracks on their way along the Valley Trail to the north side of Green Lake. Nicklaus North will also host a beer garden
- Whistler Olympic Plaza: Watch athletes on the big screen
- Finish line: Adjacent to Whistler Olympic Plaza, on Blackcomb Way, cheer on the competitors as they make their way to becoming an official “IRONMAN”
GETTING TO AND AROUND WHISTLER ON EVENT DAY
Whistler is excited to host the Subaru IRONMAN Canada event July 27 and spectators are welcome! It will be an exciting weekend in Whistler. In order to ensure IRONMAN Canada is enjoyed by all, please plan ahead and make note of the following traffic changes on event day:
- Driving north to Whistler Village, Highway 99 will be open on IRONMAN Canada event day, Sunday, July 27
- Highway 99 is fully open from Vancouver to Callaghan Valley (Whistler Olympic Park turn-off). Callaghan Valley Road will be closed between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Single-lane northbound travel from the Callaghan Valley to Whistler Village between 7a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Minor delays can be expected
- From 12:30 p.m. onward, Highway 99 south of Whistler Village will be open in both directions
- From 1:30 p.m. onward, Highway 99 is open to Pemberton and points northeast (with some turning restrictions)
- Drivers may risk experiencing detours and delays throughout the Whistler and Pemberton areas throughout event day
- In addition to these traffic changes, public transit will be significantly impacted from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- The Valley Trail will remain open, however the section used for the event will see heavy competitor traffic
- Parking Lot 4 will be closed for public use from July 24-28, however there are many other parking lots throughout Whistler
For those who want to create their own modified Whistler triathlon experience, there are a number of activities to choose from. For your own Whistler triathlon, enjoy a swim at one of our many refreshing mountain lakes, rent a bike for a family cruise along the paved Valley Trail network and take in the breathtaking mountaintop views with the PEAK 2 PEAK alpine sightseeing experience. Or make your triathlon a golf, bungee and zipline adventure. Or perhaps an alpine hike in the morning, followed by an afternoon ATV excursion and an evening spa treatment? In Whistler, the opportunities for adventure are endless. Check out the Whistler’s must-see summer experiences in Tourism Whistler’s Iconic Attractions & Sites itinerary.
Whether it’s sightseeing, mountain biking, golf or zipline that gets your adrenalin pumping, or if you’re looking for a relaxing spa escape, summer packages are available to suit everyone’s tastes – choose from some of the most popular vacation packages, or create your own and enjoy the carefree days of summer in Whistler. Whistler-based travel consultants at whistler.com can also customize vacation packages, taking care of flights, ground transportation, accommodation and activities. Whistler.com offers the largest selection with no booking fee for accommodation and activities and the price match guarantee. Call 1.800.WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) to request a no-obligation quote or visit whistler.com for more details and offers.
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Whistler is Canada's premier year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Consistently rated the top ski resort in North America, Whistler was the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The resort offers an extensive range of accommodations totaling 10,000 bedrooms among 24 hotels as well as townhomes, condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler also boasts more than 100 restaurants and bars, 200 retail shops, 25 spas and countless activity options from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.
About the FE&A program
Celebration is an essential aspect of Whistler culture. This was highlighted during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games when the community presented the most outstanding display of sport, entertainment and culture the resort had ever seen. The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and resort partners continue to build on that momentum through the Festivals, Events and Animation (FE&A) program to develop and attract a wide range of high-quality, year-round programming, including an exciting line-up of festivals, events and entertainment for all ages and audiences.
The FE&A program is funded by the Province of British Columbia’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), which invests in programs and projects to build tourism throughout BC. The FE&A program is overseen by the FE&A Oversight Committee comprised of staff from the RMOW and Tourism Whistler, a community member at large and a Whistler council representative. Learn more about the FE&A program.
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