Pirate outings in 2014

Bouncing Barlist wrote (see)

I dont think it has? id doubt it ever will be, its an enormous lake.

Bouncing Barlist wrote (see)

I dont think it has? id doubt it ever will be, its an enormous lake.

it was last year

M.r Zuvai wrote (see)

Bouncing Barlist wrote (see)

I dont think it has? id doubt it ever will be, its an enormous lake.

it was last year

Oh dear..its a lot of money to pay to drown

I vote for somewhere completely out of the price range of normal people with families etc...

Let's keep the plebs out!

Crash Hamster wrote (see)

I'd rather do Austria that Switzerland; Worthersee was orsum for the swim, the bike was quick and the run course was much less confusing than at CH. Did they not also have a finishline announcer who announced a certain pirate as "Aleeson Asshole"?

Oh, and GOM can buy Mrs G an eternity ring...

and If ANYONE fecking mentioned YMCA there will be blood shed


Austria 2015 .. bring it on  

M...eldy wrote (see)

Crash Hamster wrote (see)

I'd rather do Austria that Switzerland; Worthersee was orsum for the swim, the bike was quick and the run course was much less confusing than at CH. Did they not also have a finishline announcer who announced a certain pirate as "Aleeson Asshole"?

Oh, and GOM can buy Mrs G an eternity ring...

and If ANYONE fecking mentioned YMCA there will be blood shed


Austria 2015 .. bring it on  

If GOM did anything other than look fucking miserable, tap away online when everyone else is being sociable, I would pay to witness it. (No I wouldn't, that was just for dramatic effect)

i have only got myself a 2013 diary today........no no chance for 2015

Seems odd to think of Challenge Henley as "The Champs" this year, since almost all of the well known, established Pirates are going to Lanza instead, aren't they? Henley feels very much "after the Lord Mayor's show" with about as much Wow Factor as the opening of a tin of spam. Especially after doing another low-key, UK event last year, I imagine it might broaden the appeal of Pirating, but it certainly won't deepen it.

I'm with you as always, KK; somewhere expensive and warm where they do funny dances to soft-rock anthems. Keep out the plebs, families and above all the dog owners .

Oh... and I think Sweden sold out 1,950 places in 3 days this year, so it's unlikely to solve the "how will we all get in" challenge any better than Austria.

Austria swim is GAWJUSS - I should know I spent enough time in it

slowerthanilook wrote (see)

Seems odd to think of Challenge Henley as "The Champs" this year, since almost all of the well known, established Pirates are going to Lanza instead, aren't they? Henley feels very much "after the Lord Mayor's show" with about as much Wow Factor as the opening of a tin of spam. Especially after doing another low-key, UK event last year, I imagine it might broaden the appeal of Pirating, but it certainly won't deepen it.

I'm with you as always, KK; somewhere expensive and warm where they do funny dances to soft-rock anthems. Keep out the plebs, families and above all the dog owners .

Oh... and I think Sweden sold out 1,950 places in 3 days this year, so it's unlikely to solve the "how will we all get in" challenge any better than Austria.

It's a diificult one, and as much as some of the old hands will be spitting blood at me now because they can afford the 'lifestyle' option of making it an (expensive) holiday and enjoy that, and maybe that's the way it should be, to follow tradition? I did Nice in 2008 and had a blast, but only because I had a bit of money at that time and could go and play.

Well said, Spital's finest!

I really ought to go where Crashie goes. I stoopidly managed to get my kids' spreadshirt tees printed with "Crashies Little Fan Club", thinking that was just a sample print and I'd be able to get my own name inserted. They'd have a purpose if Crashie was there too!

I now can't afford that and if the Pirate ethos is really all encompassing, you're still conveying the message that IM is not accessible to people who could really do well possibly, because of the cost of venue choice.

It becomes elitist just by virtue of who can afford these 'holidays'. Maybe the way forward is to not big up the 'Pirate Championship' in a climate off limits to many, but go to that place but somehow combine it with a home race, to get everyone involved?

Or just say... "This is what the original pirates were, people who could afford to spend a shit load on an IM combined with a holiday, and we've made really strong friendships through that, join us if you can"

I afforded it for one year, and it was great but my point is that maybe you need to branch out and wake up to the point that for many trying to get involved in this; they haven't got the spare cash you have.

cougie wrote (see)

Ironman isnt cheap. At least we're giving people notice that there will be a ten year anniversary race and it looks like it will be abroad. Abroad isnt that much more expensive than in the UK - and at least we get a better chance of sunshine.

We've had the official races in the UK for 2 years in a row.

Basically - if you're really skint - then you probably won't be doing triathlon. Skint people cant really afford to piss away upwards of ??200 on a race entry. (dont tell me how much the real cost is - I close my eyes when entering)

I cut the costs by not taking the family to races overseas. Its not much of a break for them anyway.

Cougs, I'm out of the equation anyway financially. And you're right about not doing tri if you're skint. I don't have the time or money to do tri at the moment but I'm still organising races for my club. I just come back to the time many years ago when my mother put the fear of God up me as a kid because I'd left something important in the Post Office after running an errand for her. She got really angry with me and I ran my lungs out retrieving it... And that's been my cheap drug ever since. Running