Last weekend on Saturday the 31 August IRONMAN JAPAN HOKKAIDO was held not far from Niseko in and around Lake Toya.
The IRONMAN event attracted over 1500 entrants from all over the world. The staggering course consisted of:
3.8km swim
180km bike
42.2km marathon
The IRONMAN JAPAN course
Niseko boasted 5 local entrants in the epic event:
Jess Ripper, Vanessa Colless, Kei Yamauchi, Shigeru Uehara and Ryan McKay.
360niseko readers will remember NISEKO IRONMAN Jess Ripper from our story on him last year. All of the Niseko IRONMAN entrants have been training seriously for well over a year which is no easy task throughout the long Hokkaido winter.
Here are some shots from the bike leg just outside Rusutsu town.
Jess Ripper on the bike, 31 August 2013
Jess, 31 August 2013
IRONMAN JAPAN HOKKAIDO, 31 August 2013
Jess Flyin’ 31 August 2013
See ya, 31 August 2013
Ryan not far behind Jess on the ourskirts of Rusutsu town, 31 August 2013
After the bike leg the competitors powdered out the marathon along the foreshore of lake Toya…wow.
All of the competitors put in incredible performances. Jess ran the race of his life and won his age group and came 9th overall!!!
Jess finishing the marathon, 31 August 2013
All smiles, 31 August 2013
Happy days, 31 August 2013
Jess crosses the finish line, 31 August 2013
Sub 10 hours!! 31 August 2013
Nailed it, 31 August 2013
Next in was Ryan McKay who also put in an amazing performance and came 2nd in his age group not far behind Jess.
Ryan finishing strongly, 31 August 2013
Ryan, 31 August 2013
Ryan crosses the finish line, 31 August 2013
Yes!! 31 August 2013
The Dynamic Niseko Duo, 31 August 2013
IRONMAN debutant Shigeru produced an exceptional result, 15th in his age group and 99th overall.
Shigeru powdering out the final few hundred meters, 31 August 2013
Shigeru, 31 August 2013
Shigeru welcomed over the finish line, 31 August 2013
Shigeru and Azusa loving life, 31 August 2013
Seasoned IRONMAN competitor Vanessa Colless put in another solid performance and came 3rd in her age group and 172 overall.
Vanessa half way through the marathon, 31 August 2013
And finally local legend Kei powered home in 49th in his age group and 439th overall.
Kei on the 2nd leg of the Marathon, 31 August 2013
An incredible event full of incredible people. GO NISEKO!!!
Despite the bad weather in the 2nd half of the race the event was a huge success and we look forward to the event retuning to our backyard next year.
If you’d view more images from the event please take a look at this Glen Claydon Photography gallery.
