Ironman Triathlon events calendar for 2010: Asian, African and Oceanian edition

(All rights reserved - Photo by: Bakke-Svensson / Ironman)

Following are the Asian, African and Oceanian events in the 24-race Ironman Triathalon 2009/10 season, with registration and fee details where applicable. As of December 1, 2009 there are slots available for all events, and as each event finishes applications for the 2011 equivalent are invited.

The 2009/10 Ironman Triathlon season started in September in Madison, USA, followed by October's Ironman World Championship in Hawaii (grand finale for the 2008/09 season, and also considered a valid part of the 2009/10 season), three events in November in Florida, Arizona, and Mexico, and the first of two Australian competitions early in December.

The season is run as a succession of qualifiers rather than as a round robin or league-based tournaments: various numbers of qualifying slots for the 2010 Ironman World Championship are awarded to the top finishers at each qualifying triathalon, but the standard of competition means that it really is only the best of the best who make it through to Hawaii in October. Most entrants to Ironman Triathlons do so just for the challenge of completing the course.

One other way to gain entry to the World Championships is to take up residency on Hawaii's Kona Island, and in fact there are triathletes who have done just that - exceptionally resilient one-armed triathlete and Ultraman competitor Jason Lester being one of them.

For hopefuls who have missed the cut-off for their local event, registrations for the following year's Ironman typically start the day after the current one is over. All fees are presented in the organizer's preferred currency, and dollar amounts are US Dollars unless otherwise stated.

February 27, 2010
Ironman Malaysia, Langkawi
Registration: Open until February 1
Fee: $420
http://www.ironmanmalaysia.com.my

March 6, 2010
Ironman New Zealand, Taupo
Registration: Open until January 17
Fee: $825 NZD
http://www.ironman.co.nz

March 14, 2010
Ironman China, Haikou, Hainan Island
Registration: Open until full, no refunds beyond February 10
Fee: $450 to $550
http://www.ironmanchina.com

March 28, 2010
Ironman Australia, Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Registration: Open until January 31
Fee: $675 AUD to $705 AUD
http://www.ironmanoz.com

April 25, 2010
Ironman South Africa, Port Elizabeth
Registration: Open until March 15
Fee: Residents, R2200 to R4000. Internationals, €400 to €450.
http://www.ironmansouthafrica.com

June 13, 2010
Ironman Japan, Goto, Nagasaki
Registration: Open until March 31
Fee: ¥46,000
http://www.ironmanjapan.com

34th Ironman Triathlon World Championiships, 2009/10 season finale
October 9, 2010
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Registration: Qualifying via a previous Ironman Triathlon, the limited place lottery system, or resident's application. Lottery opened October 1 2009, to close February 28 2010.
Fee: Optional banquet - Adults $48, children 6-11 $33, children under 6 go free.
http://www.ironman.com/events/worldchampion