One thing seems apparent: there is going to be an Ironman race in North Carolina or in a state very proximate to it. What is not certain is where.
But the smart money is on Asheville, especially after yesterday. According to a source close to county politics, the County of Buncombe voted for $40,000 in direct financial support plus the abatement of county services events of this sort, which typically include emergency services, public works, traffic control, harbors and beaches and the like. This is in addition to financial support pledged by the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission.
While WTC has been nosing around the population centers on the Eastern side of the state, in the neighborhoods of Winston-Salem and Raleigh-Durham, Asheville would follow Lake Tahoe as an added jewel in the crown of WTC’s North American season.
The problem with Asheville is a swim venue proximate to hotels. Contemplated is a point-to-point course with the swim in Lake Lure, about a half-hour drive from Asheville. Contestants would be bused to the start, and would exit the swim by cycling north and west toward the Blue Ridge Parkway. They would enter Asheville from the Blue Ridge, and run along the French Broad River.
Asheville has not always been as aggressive in bringing to its locale events such as this, as one close to the process noted. “We are getting our [blanks] handed to us [by] neighboring communities such as Chattanooga, Charlotte and Richmond,” when it comes to landing marquis sporting events. In this case, the county that includes Asheville obviously sees the benefit of the unique showcase and financial benefit Ironman represents.
WTC has asked, according, Ben VanCamp, executive director the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, for a September date, and this works well for the community, as a Labor Day – plus or minus – date would come after the peak summer season and before the visitors who come to see the turning of the Autumn leaves.
Multisporters in the area do have one popular long event in the area, the Rev3 in Anderson, South Carolina. Anderson abuts these great riding environs where Georgia and the Carolinas meet. However, this is a 70.3, or Half-Rev, distance, while what is contemplated is in Asheville is an Ironman — or FullRev, depending on how you identify the distance.
WTC has asked for a 5-year commitment from the community, and VanCamp indicated that Buncombe County’s supervisors voted in favor of their county’s support with that in mind. A local paper, the Citizen-Times, is taking a questionably worded poll online asking, “Should Buncombe County spend public funds to bring the Ironman race to the Asheville area?” As of this writing, the poll results were 65 to 35 against. The poll is here, scroll just down from the top of the page.
This is not a done deal. Asheville is set to respond favorably to WTC’s inquiry. However, there may be other communities that also tender offers of support in order to bring an Ironman race to their communities, and WTC would therefore have a set of options from which to choose.
