I meant to add that vote should defo be for those doing it - I'm too lazy but I do like a holiday so will likely come along to drink booze and shout abuse
I can't keep track of all of these rules of who can vote and who can't. I highly doubt that supporters alone are going to make the decision about where the champs are, but I do acknowledge that supporters are as much Pirates as participants. My experience of the champs this year was that the Pirates supporters were the ones that organised the prize giving, the photos, and were the ones that got us all that publicity, particularly at Trogs' stellar finish. From recent experience in participating I can see that the Pirates' reputation is almost moreso based on its support (they're the entertaining ones, let's face it) than its racers. Only my view but I don't consider supporters any less worthy of an opinion; on the contrary I think their opinion means more than mine as a participant.
2018 schedule aready being planned - we will be in Austria come what may but will be happy to try and get to whatever is selected. It's highly likely we'll be at the Mallorca long course weekend too.
Wales Flat Footed Duda
Barcelona Magna Carter
Austria Ironbaws Red Stripe Mrs Digger Digger Littleclown Booo Mr Z Happychap DPS Dave
Loving the M dot Booo Finally a race I can actually win
I wouldn't count on that Pea!.... I saw the pile of grub that Ridgeback Max and I knocked back after IM France at the McD's near the finish line.... it was an impressive performance!
lets be honest.... its all prep for an Ironman on my 100th birthday
To be honest id rather go somewhere warm so you can kick back and enjoy a few beers in the sun. I attended Barcelona this year (DNF) and not sure if id want to do it again, very boring bike route with no support which didnt help but great run route along the beach with lots of support. So for that reason id go for Austria
Ironbaws Red Stripe Mrs Digger Digger Littleclown Booo Mr Z Happychap DPS Dave Cougie Bristol Sparks
Masstricht WildWill Simo429
Sweden Lithium-Dude
Unless anyone disagrees, I've removed the Italy or Challenge Venice vote, as Lithium Dude was clear that Sweden was his first choice, and you can only have one vote, not three!
lets be honest.... its all prep for an Ironman on my 100th birthday
Is IM Austria easy to get to/from? working in a school and it being in term time, I can usually grovel and get a couple of days off, but more than that is nigh on impossible. Haven't really thought about next year yet, but racing with the Pirate massive made a huge difference last year and I'd be keen to do it again if the timings are ok
Fraggle - we flew into Munich and then got a train from the airport a few stops and then changed to a train that took 5 hours or so - but went through some of the nicest scenery in the world. Straight into town.
Hopefully Ship My Tri Bike will be going again - send your bike ahead on that. Much easier than flying with it.
Ship My Tri Bike are going there this year, so I would think they'll do the same in 2018. Top tip with them - if you select a drop-off bike shop that's in a pedestrian zone, the driver may well give up on that idea and pick it up from your house instead.
As an aside and in the interests of pirate spotting, this is Nirvana's page on IMA this year:
Comments
yeah, but the first 100m of the swim course is really, really nice
Austria ticks all the boxes for me to debut at a Champs ... non salty-stingy swim, warm, mid-summer, and non lethal bike course
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Lee The Pea
Booo
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
I meant to add that vote should defo be for those doing it - I'm too lazy but I do like a holiday so will likely come along to drink booze and shout abuse
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
Masstricht
WildWill
I've just asked my family who come to support me and got these answer.
Which race would you like to support at next year?
Wife - " anyone you want dear as long as there is lots of booze"
Mother - "that one in Hawaii looks good."
Daughter 1 - "Disneyland"
Daughter 2 - "McDonald's"
I'm with Persil, and you can buy booze anywhere. Supporters can & should go with the flow I think.
Though in saying that if IM Kabul joins the list it might be slightly less well supported
Loving the M dot Booo Finally a race I can actually win
2018 schedule aready being planned - we will be in Austria come what may but will be happy to try and get to whatever is selected. It's highly likely we'll be at the Mallorca long course weekend too.
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
Happychap
DPS Dave
Masstricht
WildWill
I wouldn't count on that Pea!.... I saw the pile of grub that Ridgeback Max and I knocked back after IM France at the McD's near the finish line.... it was an impressive performance!
Mastricht has my vote although it doesn't look like it will matter
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
Happychap
DPS Dave
Masstricht
WildWill
Simo429
I'm voting for purely selfish reasons as I'm trying to do a triathlon in every western European country before I fall apart!
So in order of preference:
I.M. Sweden (School holiday)
I.M. Italy or Challenge Venice.
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
Happychap
DPS Dave
Masstricht
WildWill
Simo429
Sweden
Lithium-Dude
Italy or Challenge Venice
Lithium-Dude
To be honest id rather go somewhere warm so you can kick back and enjoy a few beers in the sun.
I attended Barcelona this year (DNF) and not sure if id want to do it again, very boring bike route with no support which didnt help but great run route along the beach with lots of support.
So for that reason id go for Austria
I know we did it 2 years back - but it was a stunning place and a well run event.
It's great for beginners and old gits as well. And the standard of waitering has to be seen to be believed
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
Happychap
DPS Dave
Cougie
Bristol Sparks
Masstricht
WildWill
Simo429
Sweden
Lithium-Dude
Unless anyone disagrees, I've removed the Italy or Challenge Venice vote, as Lithium Dude was clear that Sweden was his first choice, and you can only have one vote, not three!
Cougie we can do the train again
Is IM Austria easy to get to/from? working in a school and it being in term time, I can usually grovel and get a couple of days off, but more than that is nigh on impossible. Haven't really thought about next year yet, but racing with the Pirate massive made a huge difference last year and I'd be keen to do it again if the timings are ok
Looking on google, 2hr flight, Easyjet into Ljubljana, 30 miles or so to Klagenfurt. Easyjet are ok with bikes... flown mine with them twice now.
Mind you, I doubt any of the venues listed are a problem with a little planning
Why does that seem like an oxymoron
Fraggle - we flew into Munich and then got a train from the airport a few stops and then changed to a train that took 5 hours or so - but went through some of the nicest scenery in the world. Straight into town.
Hopefully Ship My Tri Bike will be going again - send your bike ahead on that. Much easier than flying with it.
Ship My Tri Bike are going there this year, so I would think they'll do the same in 2018. Top tip with them - if you select a drop-off bike shop that's in a pedestrian zone, the driver may well give up on that idea and pick it up from your house instead.
As an aside and in the interests of pirate spotting, this is Nirvana's page on IMA this year:
https://www.nirvanaeurope.com/en/events/ironman-series/ironman-austria/race-entry-2
Someone looks far too pleased with themselves...
LCW has absolutely convinced me that I want to do Wales. Would love to to be the champs.
Wales
Flat Footed
Duda
Posh Twat
Barcelona
Magna Carter
Austria
Ironbaws
Red Stripe
Mrs Digger
Digger
Littleclown
Booo
Mr Z
Happychap
DPS Dave
Cougie
Bristol Sparks
Masstricht
WildWill
Simo429
Sweden
Lithium-Dude
Although IM McDonalds sounds a close second!
Or at least a consideration for the finishers tent. One good thing about Nice was the McDonalds right next to the finish