Ironman Triathlon Expected To Draw Big Crowds To Tahoe

North Lake Tahoe had its strongest Fall visitor season ever last year and this year's is expected to be even stronger as a popular triathlon is expanding. 

The Ironman triathlon at North Lake Tahoe brought in $8 to $10 million last year. Now, the Lake Tahoe Chamber says the race is expanding. It will include full and a half-distance Ironman races on the same day. Andy Chapman of the Chamber says the combined event will draw 1,000 more athletes and use the same infrastructure, course and volunteers so inconvenience will be minimized.

“Close down roads, close down areas of the community, it is tough on the residents and certainly folks in Tahoe are able to absorb that and understand that and doing it in one day really maximizes those opportunities.”

Chapman says the Lake Tahoe Ironman is considered one of the toughest in the world because of the 6,000-foot altitude. Hundreds of athletes failed to finish last year. Chapman says a half-Ironman will appeal to more athletes. This will be the first time in North America the two races are held on the same day in the same place.