The Ho'ala Swim in Kailua-Kona is an official training and test competition, traditionally held the weekend before the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. The event is aimed at professionals, age groupers, and accompanying family members, and offers the unique opportunity to complete the original Ironman Hawaii swim course (3.86 km in the open Pacific Ocean) under real competition conditions.
Procedure and Special Features
- The start is at the famous Dig Me Beach in Kailua Bay, right where the World Championship will also begin a week later.
- Hundreds of athletes regularly participate – in 2024 there were over 850 registrations.
- The swimmers start either in a mass start (professionals) or a rolling start (but one starter every five seconds, typically for age groupers).
- The water is about 26 °C warm, the atmosphere is relaxed yet enthusiastic.
- The main purpose is not only to explore the route, but also to have a real competition – with timekeeping and medals for all finishers.
Significance for the Ironman
- The Ho'ala Swim is considered the unofficial "kick-off" of the Ironman race week and serves many athletes as a way to acclimatize and assess their current status before the big race.
- The Ho'ala Swim course is almost exactly the same as the 3.8 km Ironman swim course, including the finish on the beach near the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.
Participation and registration
- Participation is open to everyone and can be done via the official Ironman website.
- The event usually fills up quickly, so early registration is recommended.
Registration: Ironman Ho'ala Swim
In short: The Ho'ala Swim is an open swimming event on the original course of the Ironman Hawaii, popular as a dress rehearsal and cultural highlight of the race week in Kailua-Kona.
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