Alaska, the northernmost state in the US, and its capital city of Juneau, played host to the inaugural IRONMAN Alaska triathlon on Sunday, August 7 as part of the VinFast IRONMAN US Series.
IRONMAN noted that… ‘Approximately 1,000 athletes travelled far and wide from 46 US states and 30 countries, regions, and territories for the truly unique IRONMAN Alaska triathlon experience.’
“When I stood on the dock a year ago and looked out over Auke Lake, I knew this was going to be a special experience for athletes,” said Dave Christen, Senior Regional Director for The IRONMAN Group.
“So much work has gone into putting this race together, and to be here to finally see it happening as these athletes experience America’s Final Frontier could not make me more excited. The city and borough of Juneau have done nothing short of rolling out the red carpet for the athletes.
“We had over 1,400 volunteers which is an incredible outpouring of support, and we couldn’t ask for a more amazing host community and destination event.”
The inaugural full-distance IRONMAN event in Alaska featured the terrain and landscape of Juneau. Due to 56°F (13°C) water temperatures and associated safety regulations, athletes began with a shortened 1.2-mile one-loop swim in the spring-fed Auke Lake, with views of the evergreen tree forests and mountain range in the distance.
Once out of the water and on the bike for their 112-mile ride, athletes headed north on Glacier highway until the road ends 28 miles from Auke Lake. The two-loop bike course skirted the edge of the coastlines and green forests that Juneau has to offer.
For the final portion of the journey, the 26.2-mile run course utilized two trails in the area that include Montana Creek, as well as a loop around Auke Lake using the Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei trail to get back to transition and onto the second lap. Athletes were welcomed back onto the campus of the University of Alaska Southeast by family, friends, and Alaskan locals as they made their way down the finishing chute.
The 2022 IRONMAN Alaska triathlon offered 45 qualifying slots to the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship taking place in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 6 & 8, 2022.
The 2023 IRONMAN Alaska triathlon as part of the VinFast IRONMAN US Series returns on August 6, 2023, with general registration for the event opening on August 15, 2022. The event will offer qualifying slots to the two-day 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i on October 12 &14, 2023.
