By Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
The nation’s only “Paddling Ironman Tourism Event” combining canoeing, running, and cycling is now accepting registrations until 11:59 PM on May 25. This year sees the debut of an individual two-discipline “Paddling + Running” category, which can solve the inconvenience past participants faced in transporting their bicycles.
The 2012 Xiuguluan River Paddling Ironman Tourism Event, in collaboration with international triathlon magazine Tri-Magazine and a Japanese triathlon tour group, features local athlete Chen Zhongren (second from left) and foreign friends sharing the joy of paddling. (Photo provided by the Eastern Taiwan Scenic Area Administration, Tourism Bureau)
Organized by the Eastern Taiwan Scenic Area Administration of the Tourism Bureau, this year marks the third edition of the Paddling Ironman competition. In addition to retaining the individual triathlon category, team triathlon category, and government agency triathlon category, the newly added individual two-discipline category allows participants to experience the thrill of mountain and sea adventures without needing to bring a bicycle.
This year’s event is scheduled for June 17. The race begins at the Ruisui Xiuguluan River Paddling Center and includes three challenges: an 11-kilometer canoeing stretch along the Xiuguluan River, a 12.6-kilometer run along the Ruei-Gang Highway, and a 44-kilometer cycling route on Provincial Highway 11 and County Highway 13 in eastern Taiwan—letting athletes race across the breathtakingly rugged coastline of Hualien and Taitung with fiery passion.
Additionally, as the event coincides with the summer break for universities nationwide, a new “University Full-Course Paddling Competition Category” has been introduced, allowing college students to register as teams of eight.
For detailed event information, please visit the Eastern Taiwan Scenic Area Administration’s official website: http://www.eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw.
● Read more: Sun Moon Lake Circular Highway Selected as One of the World’s Most Beautiful Cycling Routes
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