Ironman Triathlon events calendar for 2010: Pan-American edition

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

Following are the remaining North and South American events in the 24 race Ironman Triathlon 2009/10 season, with registration and fee details where applicable. Places have filled up fast; in December there were slots available for the August 2010 Ironman Louisville, Kentucky, and limited community fundraising places remain for both May's Ironman St. George, Utah, and the Ironman Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in June.

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 in early 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 triathlon, 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 organiser's preferred currency, and dollar amounts are US Dollars unless otherwise stated.

May 1 2010
Ironman St. George, Utah, USA
Registration: Full; some community places remain.
Fee: $550; community places $1100
http://www.ironmanstgeorge.com

May 30 2010
Ironman Brazil, Florianópolis Island
Registration: Full
Fee: $550
http://www.ironmanbrasil.com

June 27 2010
Ironman Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA
Registration: Full; some community places remain.
Fee: $550; community places $1100
http://www.ironmancda.com

July 25 2010
Ironman Lake Placid, New York, USA
Registration: Full.
Fee: $550
http://www.ironmanusa.com

August 29 2010
Ironman Canada, Penticton, British Columbia
Registration: Full as of September 1 2009
Fee: $550
http://www.ironman.ca

August 29 2010
Ironman Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Registration: Open, no refunds after July 21
Fee: $550
http://www.ironmanlouisville.com

September 12 2010
Wisconsin, USA (first event of the 2010/2011 season)
Registration: Full.
Fee: $550
http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com

34th Ironman Triathlon World Championships, 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/worldchampionship