Ultraman (endurance challenge)
The Ultraman World Championship is a three-day, 515 km (320 mile) annual endurance race held on the Big Island of Hawaii. The race is divided into three stages over three days: The first is a 6.2-mile (10-km) ocean swim from Kailua Bay to Keauhou Bay, followed by a 90-mile (145-km) cross-country bike ride, with vertical climbs that total 6,000 feet. Stage two is a 171.4-mile (276-km) bike ride from Volcanoes National Park to Kohala Village Inn in Hawi, with total vertical climbs of 4,000 feet. Stage three is a 52.4-mile(84-km) double-marathon, which starts at Hawi and finishes on the beach at the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Each stage must be completed within 12 hours or less. The swim portion of stage one must be completed in 5.5 hours or less. Participants who do not reach the finish lines within the time limits are disqualified.
This event attracts athletes who seek to explore the extreme in physical and mental abilities. The race is limited to 40 athletes on an invitation-only basis and attracts participants from around the world, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia and the United States. Racers must have reached their 20th birthday prior to the start of stage one. Each racer must be accompanied by an individual support team of at least two people over the entire course. Many support team members are volunteers from the Big Island community.
History
The first Ultraman Triathlon was held in 1983 and organized by Curtis Tyler, Alex Smith, and Conrad Will. Among the group Curtis Tyler served as original race director with the goal of having more than just a competition but an event which focused on the guiding principles of Hawaiian culture.... "aloha" (love), "ohana" (family), and "kokua" (help). In 1992 Tyler turned over Ultraman to Jane Bockus on the condition that there never be prize money. Jane Bockus often referred to as "Ultra Mom", has kept the event the same with the exception of a course change in the years 2001 & 2002 with a start and finish in Kailua-Kona instead of the around the Big Island format. Popularity of the previous format won over and things have changed little since.
In 1993 a second Ultraman was organized in Canada (Penticton, British Columbia) which once served as a qualifier event to gain entrance to Ultraman World Championships. Today that race is held under the Ultra 515 brand and is no longer a qualifier. A third event, Ultraman United Kingdom began in 2011 and was held in Wales for three years. Ultraman launched in early 2014 in the Central Florida region. There will likely be another event added in 2015 in Australia. Ultra 515 events are held in Brazil, Canada, Puerto Rico, Marble Falls, Texas and Mallorca, Spain and though the distances are the same, they are not currently qualifiers for Ultraman World Championships.
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We came together as strangers, competed as friends, we part as brothers and sisters.
— Gerry van de Wint
Results
| Year | Sex | Place | Athlete | Age | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Men | 1 | Kurt Madden | 28 |  United States |
21:41:02 |
| Women | 9 (overall) | Ardis Bow | 27 | United States |
26:57:45 | |
| 1984 | Men | 1 | Scott Molina | 24 | United States |
24:49:01 |
| Women | 13 (overall) | Lyn Brooks | 36 | United States |
33:15:24 | |
| 1985 | Men | 1 | Kurt Madden | 30 | United States |
22:11:04 |
| Women | 3 (overall) | Ardis Bow | 29 | United States |
25:44:51 | |
| 1986 | Men | 1 | Jim Freim | 40 | United States |
25:43:21 |
| Women | 23 (overall) | Sherri Wellis | 38 | United States |
33:31:19 | |
| 1988 | Men | 1 | Gary Shields | 33 | United States |
24:42:01 |
| Women | 18 (overall) | Manako Mizuntani | 28 |  Japan |
35:41:14 | |
| 1989 | Men | 1 | Gary Shields | 34 | United States |
23:14:56 |
| Women | 8 (overall) | Tina Bischoff | 31 | United States |
25:45:51 | |
| 1990 | Men | 1 | Gary Shields | 35 | United States |
22:19:16 |
| Women | 25 (overall) | Angelika Castaneda | 47 | United States |
31:27:45 | |
| 1992 | Men | 1 | Don Newman | 33 | United States |
26:20:23 |
| Women | - | - | -- | --:--:-- | ||
| 1993 | Men | 1 | Hans-Juergen Schley | 37 |  Germany |
25:50:38 |
| Women | 13 (overall) | Hiroe Fukushima | 25 | Japan |
34:19:52 | |
| 1994 | Men | 1 | Daniel Schallmo | 37 | Germany |
23:50:34 |
| Women | - | - | -- | --:--:-- | ||
| 1995 | Men | 1 | Kevin Cutjar | 29 |  Australia |
23:19:39 |
| Women | 22 (overall) | Tracy Preston | 25 |  Canada |
32:25:37 | |
| 1996 | Men | 1 | Erik Seedhouse | 32 | Canada |
22:51:36 |
| Women | - | - | -- | ---:--:-- | ||
| 1997 | Men | 1 | Peter Kotland | 25 | United States |
21:52:51 |
| Women | 14 (overall) | Tracy Preston | 27 | Canada |
34:08:00 | |
| 1998 | Men | 1 | Holger "Holgie" Spiegel | 26 | Germany |
21:41:22 |
| Women | 19 (overall) | Tracy Preston | 28 | Canada |
30:53:03 | |
| 1999 | Men | 1 | John Nickles | 35 | United States |
22:46:27 |
| Women | 17 (overall) | Linda Bialla | 36 | United States |
29:19:00 | |
| 2000 | Men | 1 | Uros Velepec | 34 |  Slovenia |
22:15:08 |
| Women | 10 (overall) | Monica Fernandez | 33 |  Guatemala |
28:08:09 | |
| 2001 | Men | 1 | Uros Velepec | 34 | Slovenia |
22:44:30 |
| Women | 10 (overall) | Monica Fernandez | 33 | Guatemala |
27:56:54 | |
| 2002 | Men | 1 | Gordo Byrn | 33 |  New Zealand |
23:24:56 |
| Women | 12 (overall) | Conny Dauben | 27 | Germany |
28:32:59 | |
| 2003 | Men | 1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | 38 |  Brazil |
22:20:26 |
| Women | 6 (overall) | Shanna Armstrong | 29 | United States |
27:31:51 | |
| 2004 | Men | 1 | Jonas Colting | 31 |  Sweden |
21:41:49 |
| Women | 16 (overall) | Lauren Fithian | 46 | United States |
32:03:16 | |
| 2005 | Men | 1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | 40 | Brazil |
24:32:28 |
| Women | 4 (overall) | Shanna Armstrong | 31 | United States |
28:03:34 | |
| 2006 | Men | 1 | Jeff Landauer | 39 | United States |
24:30:47 |
| Women | 9 (overall) | Shanna Armstrong | 32 | United States |
28:13:11 | |
| 2007 | Men | 1 | Jonas Colting | 34 | Sweden |
21:59:44 |
| Women | 8 (overall) | Shanna Armstrong | 32 | United States |
26:43:24 | |
| 2008 | Men | 1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | 43 | Brazil |
21:49:38 |
| Women | 10 (overall) | Shanna Armstrong | 34 | United States |
26:25:03 | |
| 2009 | Men | 1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | 44 | Brazil |
22:10:12 |
| Women | 7 (overall) | Shanna Armstrong | 35 | United States |
25:48:46 | |
| 2010 | Men | 1 | Mike Le Roux | 34 | Australia |
21:55:57 |
| Women | 5 (overall) | Amber Monforte | 32 | United States |
24:07:11 | |
| 2011 | Men | 1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | 46 | Brazil |
22:09:54 |
| Women | 6 (overall) | Amber Monforte | 33 | United States |
24:42:02 | |
| 2012[1] | Men | 1 | Alexandre Ribeiro | 47 | Brazil |
22:51:12 |
| Women | 3 (overall) | Amber Monforte | 34 | United States |
25:29:09 | |
| 2013[2] | Men | 1 | Miro Kregar | 51 | Slovenia |
23:42:07 |
| Women | 3 (overall) | Hillary Biscay | 35 | United States |
24:30:50 | |
| 2014[2] | Men | 1 | Tobias Winnemoeller | 35 | Germany |
23:28:14 |
| Women | 7 (overall) | Yasuko Miyazaki | 37 | Japan |
25:40:49 |
Ultraman Events
As of November 2013, there are three existing Ultraman Triathlons:
- Ultraman Hawaii, held on the big island of Hawaii Thanksgiving weekend at the end of November; Started in 1983.
- Ultraman Florida, held in the central region of the state of Florida; Starts in 2014
Gallery
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UltramanJB SwimPier 99 2011.jpg
Swim escorts prior to Stage One 6.2 mile swim at Kaiakeakua Beach
-
Ultraman stage3 brazilian 2011 ©rick.kent.jpg
The Stage Three 52.4 mile is mostly run on the Queen Kaahumany "Queen K" Highway which must be completed in under 12 hours
-
2010.ultraman swimmer.paddler ©.rick.kent.jpg
Swimmer with required escort
-
Alexandre.Ribeiro red.road UMWC 2011.jpg
Frontrunners of Stage Two 171 mile bike followed by a media vehicle along the Red Road
-
UltramanJB Stage3 33 run.circle.jpg
Participants gather in a circle with support crews and staff in an outer circle before 52.4 mile run
-
2011Ultraman jane.sheryl.ruth.dave.jpg
Ruth Wildman, Race Director Jane Bockus, Assistant Race Director Sheryl Cobb, and Head Mechanic Dave Cobb
-
Ultraman run.finish old.airport Rick©Kent.jpg
Final stretch of 52.4 mile run at the old airport. Participants frequently complete the journey with family, friends, and support crew
-
Great Finish at Ultraman World Championship 2011 Andrés Traslosheros.jpg
The energy of finishing an Ultraman
-
Ultraman flowers run.finish 2011 Rick©Kent.jpg
Finishers are awarded a lei from Jane Bockus
-
Ultraman finish family 2011 Rick©Kent.jpg
Some participants use family members for support crew adding to the ohana
See also
References
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