Paul Wolff It is Merrell but they have improved their offering for the expo.via·24 minutes ago12:53 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Sean Do you still have the same apparel sponsor? I always look to buy something, but the merchandise is so poor. When will this change?via·24 minutes ago12:53 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff This has been done at a variety of races overseas and it takes about 20 minutes for everyone to get into the water.via·24 minutes ago12:52 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele what is the official start time of swim? at 10 people every 10 seconds with 3000 participants, its going to take 4 hours till till last swimmer heads offvia·25 minutes ago12:52 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Self-seed means you estimate your swim time. So you put yourself in the time group you think you will end in. You don't need to have done a qualifying race or prove that you can swim 30 or 40 minutes. Just remember, if you seed yourself in a quicker group than what you swim in, you WILL be swum over.via·25 minutes ago12:52 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Iain Rolling swim start based on an estimated swim time or a previously achieved swim time?via·26 minutes ago12:51 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Likely less European pros as this is a small point race at the moment and qualifying is for 2016via·26 minutes ago12:50 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Sean As it is mid-season in Europe - will there be fewer pro's then we see at the early season 70.3 ELvia·27 minutes ago12:50 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No age groups, no gender groups, just self-seeding for the swim.via·27 minutes ago12:50 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Guest Paul, Will there still be age groups with the swim start?via·27 minutes ago12:50 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff You will be running to the main gate so you will have it in view. You can't run around it otherwise you will be crossing roads.via·27 minutes ago12:49 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Guest Just out of interest, did you consider incorporating Moses Mabhida stadium as part of the race? Perhaps as a transition/finish zone?via·28 minutes ago12:49 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff It's undulating both ways so not really a difference between going out and coming in. It will be a fast one, I'd love to do this course.via·28 minutes ago12:49 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Clinton Hi Paul, would you say the first half of the bike leg is more difficult or coming back ? (No wind factor )via·29 minutes ago12:48 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From James Thanks to Standard Bank!!!! I just hope we get n full distance IM in durban next year. It more central and affordable that flying stuff down......plus flatter route lolvia·29 minutes ago12:48 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff You should be able to train at the Cradle or you can swim at Germiston Lake. Some people even train in the Vaal Rivervia·29 minutes ago12:48 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele are you aware of any dams in Gauteng open now to allow us to trainvia·29 minutes ago12:47 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff 10 people every 10 secondsvia·30 minutes ago12:47 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele at what intervals will the swim batches be set offvia·30 minutes ago12:47 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Yes men and women will be together, it is purely based on how fast you swim.via·31 minutes ago12:46 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Carlie Hi Paul, will the rolling swim start be men and women together in the different groups (30 min, 40 min, 50 min, 60 min)?via·31 minutes ago12:46 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Not happening this year. Rolling starts are a new safety initiative from IRONMAN.via·32 minutes ago12:45 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No, not at a 70.3 via·33 minutes ago12:44 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Nick not happy about this rolling swim. its a race, now we all going to be randomly running our own times with no idea where our mates we competing against are placed. can you not organize an elite batch of age groupers that can start together?via·32 minutes ago12:45 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Spiro When i cross the finish line , will some one scream " YOU ARE AN IRONMAN?" pls say yes.. ;-)via·33 minutes ago12:44 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No, unfortunately not. The refund time has passed.via·33 minutes ago12:43 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Guest Well done on making it non-gender biased anymore. Great work Paul and all involved in growing the sport of Triathlon.via·34 minutes ago12:43 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Stephen Hi Paul. I have come down with something and do not think i will be well enough to compete. Is there any way i can transfer my entry to someone else or do i have any other options? Thanks for your timevia·34 minutes ago12:43 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff 25/11 at the back, and a 53 big bladevia·34 minutes ago12:43 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adam what gearing would you recommend to run on the bike?via·34 minutes ago12:42 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Cuan Smith roughly what is the elevation gain in the bike leg???????via·35 minutes ago12:42 - 4 Jun 2015 Admin: Hi Cuan, the profiles will be available on the website shortly.via·35 minutes ago12:42 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Wherever you save time, you add time to the next legvia·35 minutes ago12:42 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Mandy With regards to cut off times. If you gain time on your swim or cycle do you then get extra time for the run portion or are you timed according to your race chipvia·35 minutes ago12:42 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Only if you have been flagged for medical reasons, you will be contacted if you need to submit a medical certificate.via·35 minutes ago12:41 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele do we need a medical certificate giving us permission to participatevia·36 minutes ago12:41 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff The race infrastructure required does not allow to start the swim there.via·36 minutes ago12:41 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From guest Why did you not do the swim start in front of Ushaka where the waves are generally smaller. With winter swell the waves may be huge in the area you have decided uponvia·37 minutes ago12:40 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Andre, it's all about the training, not about the gear!via·37 minutes ago12:40 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Andre Apart from training like madmen, what other preparations and/ or gear should be considered that is not known to first timers?via·37 minutes ago12:40 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Bottles on the bike, packets on the runvia·37 minutes ago12:39 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Macs Will they be providing bottles or are water points packets of water?via·37 minutes ago12:39 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No, you don't need to do a qualifying race to do the event. You must just be medically fit to do it.via·38 minutes ago12:39 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele Do we have to do a swim to qualify to do the event?via·38 minutes ago12:39 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Swim exit to transition is about 200m apartvia·39 minutes ago12:37 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adam how far is the swim exit to transition?via·39 minutes ago12:37 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Timing chips will be issued at registration - it is part of your entry.via·40 minutes ago12:37 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Andre Do we need to obtain our own timing chips, or is it part of the reace-pack?via·40 minutes ago12:37 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Bike cut off is 4 hours and 5 minutesvia·40 minutes ago12:36 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Will the groups be split between men and women or are they purely set by time? Also, when do we need to advise of our preferred start? Pls clarify bike cutoff. Is it 4h05m or 4h50m?via·40 minutes ago12:36 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No, no pasta evenings at IRONMAN 70.3svia·41 minutes ago12:36 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From deantyler2504 Is there not going to be a pasta evening like at Ironman?via·41 minutes ago12:36 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Yes to both questionsvia·41 minutes ago12:36 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Devan This is my first Ironman. I've heard that assistance to / from another athlete on the bike (in respect of punctures, etc) is not permitted. Is this true? Also, what if we see a fellow athlete sustain an injury that needs immediate attention? Are we allowed to assist, or will we be penalised / disqualified if we render any assistance?via·41 minutes ago12:35 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff We are fortunate enough to be able to open a brand new event this year. Without Standard Bank coming on board, we would probably have had no events this year. We were able to run IRONMAN South Africa without a title sponsor last year, but it would have been impossible to do so for a second consecutive year. Simply put, without Standard Bank there would be no IRONMAN in South Africa right now. Standard Bank has allowed us to implement innovations such as our hosted live streaming of the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship, implementing our biometric registration system while also working hard at promoting the event and sport in a way that has never before been done in this country. We are constantly engaging with Standard Bank looking for ways to further improve our events. The fact that we now have a race in Durban is one such way that Standard Bank is already helping us further the sport.via·43 minutes ago12:34 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Guest With Standard Bank now being a sponsor, what improvements have been brought to hosting local IM events?via·44 minutes ago12:33 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff This is a slightly different awards to usual, no entry cost for partners as it is an open air venue.via·44 minutes ago12:33 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Helder The awards eve...what is the price for the partners to attend???via·45 minutes ago12:32 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff You need special permission from Sharon if this is the case for religious reasons. Please email sharon.talbot@ironman.com.via·45 minutes ago12:32 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Dan any provision for alternate bike check in time for those of whom saturday may be an issue for religious reason?via·about an hour ago12:31 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele Will this Q&A stay up for us to refer back to if need be?via·about an hour ago12:31 - 4 Jun 2015 Admin: Hi Adele, yes it will remain online to view afterwards.via·about an hour ago12:31 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Yes, your bike, your run and bike bags stay overnight in transition. You bring your street wear bag on Sunday (that's where your clothes go when you put on your wetsuit). More explanations will be in info guide.via·about an hour ago12:31 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From James First timer......so you hand in your bike on saturday and its kept there overnight so that you only bring swimsuit and running gear on race day?via·about an hour ago12:30 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff 1h10m for the swim, 4h5m for bike and 3h15m for runvia·about an hour ago12:29 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From wez Hi Paul. What are the cut off times?via·about an hour ago12:28 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff You have red buoys to your left, yellow is to your right, you must swim between them.via·about an hour ago12:28 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adam please tell us about the guide bouys, are they different to EL In that you have to stay between the two?via·about an hour ago12:27 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No Paul Kaye is in Europe, it will be Gordon Graham welcoming everyone homevia·about an hour ago12:27 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Carlie Will Paul Kaye be greeting us on the red carpet or will he still be busy in Europe?via·about an hour ago12:27 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff You self-seed yourself on race morning and join the appropriate holding pen. It's better to start in a slower group than be swum over.via·about an hour ago12:27 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Will the groups be split between men and women or are they purely set by time? Also, when do we need to advise of our preferred start? When do we need to advise of our preferred start time on the swim?via·about an hour ago12:26 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff Unless you are leading the race, you have people to follow! Front pro has a motorbike in front of him, so you can follow the leader.via·about an hour ago12:26 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From The loops and covering sections of the bike course repeatedly sounds confusing. will it be necessary to go look at it beforehand. when Im very tired I tend to not concentrate so well.. The loops and covering sections of the bike course repeatedly sounds confusing. will it be necessary to go look at it beforehand. when I'm very tired I tend to not concentrate so well..via·about an hour ago12:25 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff You can leave it in your streetwear bag or in one of your transition bags if it's non-wetsuit.via·about an hour ago12:25 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Macs Where will we put our wetsuits if its not wetsuit legal?via·about an hour ago12:25 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff No, run profile is flat and fast, not like EL at all.via·about an hour ago12:24 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adam what is the run profile like, anything similar to EL?via·about an hour ago12:24 - 4 Jun 2015 Paul Wolff 16 degrees, the wetsuit is compulsory - if you want to take the risk not to buy a wetsuit and the water is too cold, you will not be allowed to swim. Borrow or rent a wetsuit if you don't want to buy.via·about an hour ago12:24 - 4 Jun 2015 Comment From Adele I don't want to go and buy a we suit if the temperature for 3 weeks prior to the event is warm enough to not need one, to call it on the day is just adding an extra expense I want to avoid if possible