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www.hvchamber.com
GREATER ZION WELCOMES BACK IRONMAN On the heels of the prestigious IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship held in St. George in September 2021, IRONMAN announced that it is bringing its 2021 IRONMAN World championship event, traditionally held in Kona, Hawaii, to St. George on May 7, 2022. The IRONMAN World Championship is the longest-running and most distinguished endurance event in the world, but due to Covid-19 restrictions in its home state, the culminating experience in IRONMAN’s full-distance triathlon (140.6 miles) circuit has not happened since 2019. “We are fortunate to have built such a strong and trusted relationship with our friends in the greater St. George region over the past 10-plus years,” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “St. George stepped up to ensure IRONMAN athletes will have a 2021 world championship, even if delayed into 2022. “The honor to host the first IRONMAN World Championship outside of Hawaii is as humbling as it is glorious,” said Kevin Lewis, Director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office. “There are few events that hold the prestige and respect of Kona. To be chosen as the destination with the capacity and character to host this event takes my breath away.” Paul Huddle, Senior Regional Director for The IRONMAN Group said: “With the longstanding history the events have built over the years here in Southwest Utah … we know our athletes will be excited to once again race 140.6 miles across this breathtaking and challenging course in the Southwestern United States for the first time since 2012.” “We are thrilled to bring such an epic event back to a place known as the Land of Endurance,” said Kevin Lewis, Director of the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office. “In its first three years, IRONMAN St. George gained a reputation as one
of the toughest IRONMAN events in the world. The terrain and conditions here demand the ultimate level of commitment and determination. This event symbolizes the core attributes found in our heritage, and the communities involved genuinely appreciate the athletes that are willing to rise to it.” The IRONMAN World Championship will begin by taking athletes along a 2.4-mile two-loop swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir. Then a 112-mile bike course will take athletes through Snow Canyon followed by the 26.2-mile run through Red Cliffs Reserve before finishing in the historic Town Square of downtown St. George. The IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will also return to Greater Zion in October 2022 for a two-day event followed by events continuing through 2024. Additional details on these IRONMAN events can be found at IRONMAN.GreaterZion. com and the Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office at GreaterZion.com Contributed by Sara Otto
