Travel Juneau CEO and President Liz Perry, Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Ironman regional director Dave Christen hold a sign for the 2022 Juneau Ironman event as they announce the race’s Alaska debut on the University of Alaska- Southeast campus on Aug. 9, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Travel Juneau CEO and President Liz Perry, Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl, City and Borough of Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon and Ironman regional director Dave Christen hold a sign for the 2022 Juneau Ironman event as they announce the race’s Alaska debut on the University of Alaska- Southeast campus on Aug. 9, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau picked to be 1st Ironman host city in Alaska

The unique full-distance triathlon is a grueling test of endurance by run, swim, and bike.

Juneau will join a select group of cities worldwide as it becomes an official host for an Ironman triathlon beginning in 2022.

The Ironman Group, which operates the run-swim-bike athletic events worldwide, is partnering with Travel Juneau to host the first official event by the organization in Alaska.

“This is our first time doing anything in Alaska,” said Dave Christen, regional director for The Ironman Group, in a news conference at the University of Alaska Southeast, the center of the three-stage race. “Juneau has the right boxes to tick.”

Ironman reached out to a number of communities in Alaska, but Juneau showed a keen and immediate interest in hosting the event, Christen said.

“This will be unlike anything I think Juneau has seen,” said Liz Perry, president and CEO of local nonprofit Travel Juneau. “We don’t have a big sports facility, but the landscape lends itself to this.”

The city expects 1,300 to 1,600 competitors plus their hangers-on, said Mayor Beth Weldon in an interview. The city will provide transportation and medical support for the event, as well assistance in making the roads safe during the event if necessary, Weldon said.

“We’ll greet each and every one of them,” Weldon said. “We’re excited this athletic event is coming to Juneau.”

Ironman reached out to Travel Juneau approximately eight months ago, Perry said. Owing to pandemic conditions, Travel Juneau will pay Ironman $50,000 for the first race, and $125,000 for the 2023 and 2024 races, to be held on the first Sunday of August each year, on the current contract. Ironman will likely look at a contract extension in about a year and a half, after clocking how Alaska’s first Ironman event went, Christen said.

“We plan to be in Juneau for a long time,” Christen said.

This full-distance Ironman will include a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180-kilometer bike ride, and a 42.2-kilometer running portion, all run consecutively, which outdistances the Aukeman Triathlon held this weekend in Juneau by more than 200 kilometers. For comparison, a regulation marathon is 42.2 kilometers.

Iron man translates to “Gayéis Káa” in Lingít, the Tlingit language, Christen said.

“This world-class host city will demonstrate to the Ironman community a truly Alaskan experience at every turn. Native to the Juneau region are the Tlingit people, and they share a value called Haa Latséeni which means, Strength of Body, Mind and Spirit,” Christen said. “This aligns well with what it takes to be an Ironman athlete and that ‘Anything is possible!’”

[Get ready, get set, go: Athletes compete in Aukeman Triathlon]

The one-day race will be anchored around University of Alaska Southeast, with the swimming portion in Auke Lake, the bike portion going Out the Road and the running portion including laps toward Montana Creek and Kaxdigoowu Heen Dei Trail, according to Ironman organizers.

Local artist Crystal Kaakeeyaa Worl was commissioned to create the unique logo for the Juneau Ironman race, according to the news release, reflecting Juneau’s Alaska Native heritage.

“I am thrilled to share Tlingit art and cultural values on Áak’w Ḵwáan territory,” Worl said in the news release. “The salmon symbolizes the strength, resilience, and endurance it takes for the journey home to spawn.”

Regular registration for the Juneau Ironman event will open on Aug. 23, 2021, with priority registration opening a week earlier on Aug. 16, according to organizers.

Juneau residents would be given priority in registering for the event, Christen said. Registration for similar Ironman events in the United States cost $800, according to prices on the Ironman website. Those who qualify will receive the opportunity to compete in the 2022 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii based on their performance at the Juneau Ironman.

“Be prepared for rain,” Weldon said to potential entrants.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

The full-distance Juneau Ironman will include a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180 kilometer bike ride, and a 42.2 kilometer running portion, all run consecutively, as seen here during the race’s announcement event at the University of Alaska- Southeast on Aug. 9, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

The full-distance Juneau Ironman will include a 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180 kilometer bike ride, and a 42.2 kilometer running portion, all run consecutively, as seen here during the race’s announcement event at the University of Alaska- Southeast on Aug. 9, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

More in News

Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File
The Aurora Borealis glows over the Mendenhall Glacier in 2014.
Aurora Forecast

Forecasts from the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute for the week of March. 19

The FBI Anchorage Field Office is seeking information about this man in relation to a Wednesday bank robbery in Anchorage, the agency announced Thursday afternoon. Anyone with information regarding the bank robbery can contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441 or tips.fbi.gov. Tips can be submitted anonymously.  (FBI)
FBI seeks info in Anchorage bank robbery

The robbery took place at 1:24 p.m. on Wednesday.

Kevin Maier
Sustainable Alaska: Climate stories, climate futures

The UAS Sustainability Committee is hosting a series of public events in April…

Reps. Tom McKay, R-Anchorage, and Andi Story, D-Juneau, offering competing amendments to a bill increasing the per-student funding formula for public schools by $1,250 during a House Education Committee meeting Wednesday morning. McKay’s proposal to lower the increase to $150 was defeated. Story’s proposal to implement an increase during the next two years was approved, after her proposed amounts totalling about $1,500 were reduced to $800.
Battle lines for education funding boost get clearer

$800 increase over two years OKd by House committee, Senate proposing $1,348 two-year increase

A call for a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature to cast a vote that would reject recently-approved salary increases for legislators and top executive branch officials is made by State House Speaker Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, during a press conference Tuesday. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, rejected the joint session in a letter to Tilton on Wednesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
House efforts to nix legislative pay raises hit Senate roadblock

Call for a joint session rejected by upper chamber, bills to overturn pay hikes may lack support

A simulated photo shows the tailings stack and other features of Hecla Greens Creek Mine under the most aggressive of four alternatives for expanding the mine in an environmental impact assessment published Thursday by the U.S Forest Service. The tailings stack is modestly to drastically smaller in the other alternatives. The public comment period for the study is from March 24 to May 8. (U.S. Forest Service)
New study digs into alternatives for Greens Creek Mine expansion

Public comment starts Friday on four options that could extend mine’s life up to 40 years

This image shows the Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament's logo. The club is looking for submissions of logos for the historic tournament's 75th anniversary. The winning artist will receive a $250 prize. (Screenshot)
Take your shot at a Gold Medal logo

Upcoming milestone prompts call for art.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, March 23, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The Juneau School Board recently announced the three finalists for the district’s superintendent position: Frank Hauser, Carlee Simon and Thom Peck. The district is hosting a public forum from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27 at Thunder Mountain High School for students, parents and staff to meet the three candidates. Additionally, the trio will be interviewed by the school board on Tuesday, March 28. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
School district announces finalists for superintendent post

Public forum and interviews scheduled for next week.

Most Read