As part of its return to Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i Island after a three-year hiatus, IRONMAN has announced course modifications and community enhancements for the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship.
The course and transition adjustments are aimed to increase accessibility and traffic flow for the Kailua-Kona community and other parts of the Big Island of Hawai`i during race week, while also further showcasing the athletes for those who want to watch key moments of the race.
For the first time in the event’s history, the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship will take place as a two-day event on Thursday, October 6 and Saturday, October 8, 2022, with over 5,000 athletes registered.
New for the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship, portions of the bike and run course have been modified to better optimize community traffic flow and involvement. The event sees athletes utilizing the southbound lanes of the Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway from Palani Road to Kaiminani Parkway for both the bike and the run course. Meanwhile, the northbound lanes from Palani Road to Kaiminani Parkway will now be open to public traffic.
Most notably, IRONMAN notes that this adjustment will allow for greater accessibility to the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole while maintaining the highway as part of the bike and run course. To monitor the flow of traffic, more than 100 police officers will be managing key intersections along the course to keep vehicles and cyclists in their respective lanes.
Enhancing the opportunity to view the pro athletes, their transition area will be moved off the pier to a new location on Ali`i Drive, in close proximity to the finish line structure.
Not only does this further feature the professionals during critical portions of the race, but this adjustment allows for age group athletes to be better spaced on the pier. Additionally, the mount line for athletes to start the bike will be moved 130 yards with the turnaround point for the bike leg in Hawi accordingly moved 130 yards.
Additional changes to the 2022 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship venue include mile one of the bike leg in which athletes will take a small one-block detour around the Target Center. This allows for greater community access to the old airport and the addition of more parking and one of two new shuttle locations for the race.
“As we prepare to welcome back athletes from around the globe, it is our goal to be good stewards and create a world-class experience for all involved, whether they are an athlete, spectator, or resident of Hawai`i Island,” said Diana Bertsch, Senior Vice President of World Championship Events for The IRONMAN Group.
“These adjustments to the event course were made with both the community and athlete in mind and allow for increased community accessibility while maintaining an exceptional race experience for athletes.”
Spectators can catch the race action from several areas along the swim, bike and run course. Additionally, continuous shuttle services for athletes, spectators, and volunteers will be provided from October 5-8.
The Keauhou to Kona Shuttle Service will be offered along Ali`i Drive from Keauhou Shopping Center to Hale Halawai Park between 03:45 – 07:00 PT on both race days. The Kona Area Shuttle Service will be offered on both race days from 03:00 to 01:30, running between Old Kmart Parking Lot and Lanihau Center, and on non-race days, Wednesday and Friday, from 07:30 to 19:00, running between Old Airport Park and Tony Honda.
Athletes registered for Saturday’s IRONMAN World Championship may not train on any portion of the IRONMAN World Championship race course on Thursday, October 6, except they may swim on the swim course after 11:00 and may run on the Ali`i Drive section of the run course before 11:00.
Registered athletes caught violating this rule risk disqualification. IRONMAN notes that the local laws and guidelines should be followed throughout the duration of the visit, starting before the race when athletes arrive on the island to train and prepare and extending after the race, for any training beyond the race days.
