Acquisition Paves the Way for a Boulder IRONMAN 70.3
June 11, 2009 (Boulder, CO) – World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) has purchased 5430 Sports, the leading developer and organizer of multisport events in Boulder, Colorado. The acquisition includes five triathlons including the 5430 Sprint Triathlon, Boulder Peak Triathlon, Boulder Kids Triathlon, 5430 Long Course Triathlon and Wild on Windsor Triathlon.
With a focus on multisport endurance events, 5430 Sports was previously owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Barry and Jodee Siff. The two will be retained by WTC to produce the 2009 events and, beginning in 2010, the former 5430 Sports events will be produced by WTC, specifically the company’s Boulder office.
WTC intends to continue producing three Boulder running events previously organized by 5430 Sports: Uni-Hill 2K, West End 3K and Pearl Street Mile.
“The acquisition of the 5430 Sports events gives us an immediate and significant presence in Boulder, a market known for its popular and highly-respected races,” says Steve Meckfessel, WTC’s Chief Operations Officer. “We’re fully committed to carrying forward Barry and Jodee’s vision and legacy for years to come.”
5430 Sports derived its name from the altitude of Boulder, which reaches 5,430 feet above sea level. The triathlons are produced out of scenic Boulder Reservoir, adding to their popularity.
The 5430 Long Course Triathlon is held each year in August, and could be designated an official IRONMAN 70.3 event in the near future. IRONMAN 70.3 races consist of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1 mile run, which adds up to 70.3 miles of total racing or half the distance of a full IRONMAN.
Since its inception in 2006, the IRONMAN 70.3 series has become the fastest growing triathlon series in the world. Now there are 31 events around the world that qualify athletes for the IRONMAN World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida every November.
