(Tampa, Fla.) Aug. 20, 2010 -- Today, World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announces changes to the on-course photography process for this year's Ford Ironman World Championship and Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, Presented by Ford.
To reduce the volume of on-course vehicles and traffic, increase safety and further enhance the athlete experience, the following changes will be implemented:
A new photography site (www.EnduraPix.com) will launch the first week of October, offering high quality on-course imagery and, in its first year, will feature photos from both World Championship events for purchase.
Motorcycle and vehicle access to the bike and run courses will be limited to EnduraPix photographers only, however WTC will continue to offer a press truck for a limited number of credentialed photographers.
WTC will no longer offer media access to the finish line floor. At the Ford Ironman World Championship, credentialed photographers will be stationed on the media bleachers that face the finish line. Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 credentialed photographers will be stationed on the raised platform facing the finish line.
Credentialed photographers will continue to have access to the swim start of both World Championship events via pier and beach in Kailua-Kona and Clearwater, respectively. Additionally, photographers will continue to have access to open areas of the bike and run course by foot.
"We will continue to service the important needs of the domestic and international media who cover our sport and play a vital role in the event," said Diana Bertsch, Ford Ironman World Championship event director. "The safety of athletes and others involved is our primary focus, and the implementation of EnduraPix will meet our safety objectives while allowing athletes, media, volunteers and spectators to accomplish their race-day goals."
The system will provide imagery for media outlets, as well as for consumer, advertising and design purposes in an efficient and cost-effective way. Utilizing photographers from around the world, EnduraPix will assign each photographer to a specific area of the race.
EnduraPix is still considering portfolios for the 2010 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 and 2011 events. The following world-class sports photographers are confirmed to shoot for the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship:
- Eric Bakke -- The Denver Broncos' team photographer for 24 years, Bakke is a veteran triathlon photographer and contributing shooter for a variety of major league sports. His work has appeared in TIME, Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic and Fortune, among others.
- Delly Carr -- With more than 22 years of professional photography experience, Carr is recognized as one of Australia's top freelance sports and triathlon photographers.
- Jero Honda -- Honda has photographed the Ironman World Championship since 1984, as well as the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Honda is based out of Japan and is the Photo Director for Triathlon Trip Magazine.
- Sammy Tillery -- Specializing in sports photography, Tillery honed his skills at the Brooks Institute of Photography. Tillery has shot a variety of Ironman events and has worked with Triathlete and LAVA Magazines.
- Jay Prasuhn -- Prasuhn has been shooting the Ironman World Championship since 1999, with a range including editorial event coverage as well as industry product photography. His portfolio includes coverage of Tour de France, the Tour de Suisse and NASCAR, in addition to an extensive catalog of multisport event coverage. His work has appeared in Road Bike Action, ROAD Magazine, 220 Triathlon Magazine, Triathlete Magazine and Inside Triathlon.
- Michael Rauschendorfer -- Rauschendorfer has been photographing the sport for 10 years and has shot more than 100 triathlons, including six Ironman World Championship events. He has been published in a variety of outlets including Triathlete, Australian Triathlete, Triathlon and Tour Magazines.
- Larry Rosa -- A nationally recognized photographer, Rosa specializes in action sports with a focus on triathlon and cycling events. His work has appeared in outlets such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, Runner's World and Inside Triathlon.
- Tony Svensson -- A six-time finisher of the Ironman World Championship, Svensson has more than two decades of photography experience across five continents. In addition to triathlon, Svensson has also shot for the NCAA and NFL.
Additionally, EnduraPix will offer:
- Photos featuring professional athletes, top contenders from around the globe, scenics and more
- Same-day loading of images to ensure deadlines are easily met
- Flexible and efficient purchasing and licensing options for print-ready and Web-only editorial and commercial imagery
- Advanced search capabilities (by photographer, event and discipline, date and type of photo, among others)
- Competitive pricing ranging from free stock imagery to exclusive photos
Photographers interested in shooting for EnduraPix at this year's Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 and for 2011 events should submit portfolios to Info@EnduraPix.com. For more information on Ironman and Ironman 70.3, visit Ironman.com. Media-related inquiries and questions about EnduraPix can be directed to Jessica Weidensall at Jessica@ironman.com or 813.868.5914.
About World Triathlon Corporation
World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) is a Tampa-based company recognized for athletic excellence, distinguished events and quality products. WTC's ever-growing portfolio includes the Ironman, Ironman 70.3, Iron Girl and IronKids brands, which have a combined total of more than 100 events worldwide each year. Supported by partners including Ford, Timex, Foster Grant and PowerBar, Ironman is the No.1 user-based sports brand in the world and has been a respected name in triathlon since its inception in 1978.
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