WTC responds to my letter, and the overwhelming negative feedback...

Below is the email reply I received from the WTC yesterday. It took less than 48 hours for them to respond and 100% of my friends as well as Slowtwitch forum thought they would not. So, I say good on the WTC for a) listening to their customers and rescinding the Ironman Access Program, and b) showing they do care and closing the loop to those athletes that took the time to reach out them.

Case closed, onto more important things like figuring out how the F-K I am going to live in Toronto for the next 4 years with this Rob Ford clown elected as our mayor! REAL ISSUES!

________________

Hello-

Thank you for your E-mail and interest in Ironman.

We announced the launch of the Ironman Access Program earlier this week and due to an overwhelmingly large amount of athlete feedback we made the decision to rescind the program.

Ben Fertic, President and CEO of World Triathlon Corporation, released an official statement about the Ironman Access program and it is currently available for viewing on ironman.com, as well as Facebook. Please see below:

http://ironman.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/ironman-access#axzz13gb4SXT2

We always appreciate feedback, recommendations and suggestions from all athletes and we take everything into consideration while planning future initiatives. Your opinions are welcomed and I will share your concerns internally with my colleges.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we hope to see you at an Ironman event soon!

Please let me know if you have additional questions. Have a great weekend!

Regards-


Athlete Services Coordinator
Ironman World Headquarters|2701 North Rocky Point Drive
Suite 1250 |Tampa, FL 33607

Open letter to WTC's Access Ironman campaign

Dear WTC and Access Ironman:

I submit you re-evaluate your Access Ironman program, or in least, follow the social media reaction via twitter and facebook to learn how your consumer base is reacting. Take a look for #ironmanaccessprogram on twitter and learn how the athletes, age group/pro/world champions, are reacting.

I wrote in a blog report post Ironman Canada that the WTC was on a slippery slope of eroding its core by pushing the business of sport to far right. What you are effectively doing with this program is pushing the amateurs without/smarts not to pay the extra $1,000 off the start line while affording those with $1,000 to the start line. This alongside race fees rising, more athletes on course every year while pro purses stagnate is reaching to far from what makes Ironman great; community by sport. Rarely is community is raised and appreciated by profit margin.

Brand is everything, and your "AMEX" program has tarnished it. Recovery will not be as swift as post race, this will take some undoing and in the interim you have left doors open to very capable competition in the market of Iron Distance racing.

Sincerely in sport,

Rhys Spencer