Three time's the charm - Ben Hoffman Champion, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
ST. GEORGE – Ben Hoffman, 28, of Grand Junction, Colo. racing his third Ironman St. George, took the Ironman St. George Championship May 5 with a 9:07 time on the last planned full Ironman in the friendly city encased in red rocks.
“It was a hard day,” said Hoffman. “It was the hardest race I’ve ever done, I mean, hands down the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
No doubt it was hard. The morning started at Sand Hollow reservoir with water like glass which quickly turned to two foot white caps when the wind kicked up, causing considerable difficulty for many competitors. The wind continued to present a challenge to those who completed the swim and took off on their bikes. But finish they did, most of them. And Hoffman took the title.
St. George News offers this gallery of photos taken throughout the day. A day marked by triathletes of considerable determination, the ever-important supporters, volunteers and staff involved that make such a high energy, multi-distance, event such a success. It cannot be trite to say that it was historic – it happened, it was remarkable and it is memorable, in part because it is St. George’s third hosting of the event and the last planned full Ironman here. Enjoy a revisit of the day from the vantage point of our photographers.
Ben Hoffman wins the title, Ironman St. George, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George NewsChuck Sloan cycling, Ironman St. George, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George NewsBen Hoffman, thoughts on the race won, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George NewsChoppy swim Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George NewsRoute markers became obscured by waves with many contenders going off course, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George NewsContenders succumbed to the whitecaps by the boatload, Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George NewsSupportive son of an Ironman, Ivins Festival mid-course, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Morgan, St. George NewsCyclist through Ivins, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Morgan, St. George NewsCompetitor rounding 100 S & Main St., Marathon Lap 1, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George NewsMeredith Kessler, leading professional women in first lap of the Marathon, 100 S and Main St., Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George NewsThey ran through our neighborhoods, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George NewsFire & Rescue took to smaller wheels for Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George NewsCyclist pack heading to marathon transition, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George NewsT-shirts, signs, costumes! Supporters out to draw attention to their own Ironman, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 6, 2012 | Photos on Left by Joyce Kuzmanic, on Right by Alexa Morgan, St. George NewsRunning, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George NewsRunning, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George NewsRunning, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George NewsDetermined running, Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George NewsRelishing the run to the end, Ben Hoffman, Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George NewsWorking photographers at the finish line, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George NewsSTGNews reporters Todd Tischler and Dallas Hyland, readying for the first finish, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
And more photos
St. George News photo journalist, Todd Tischler, found a lot of competitors all too ready for the camera – shown here at the top of our thumbnail gallery.
T-shirts, signs, costumes! Supporters out to draw attention to their own Ironman, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 6, 2012 | Photos on Left by Joyce Kuzmanic, on Right by Alexa Morgan, St. George News
Three time’s the charm – Ben Hoffman Champion, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Contenders succumbed to retrieval by the boatload, Choppy swim Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George News
Choppy swim Sand Hollow Reservoir, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George News
Choppy swim at Sand Hollow Reservoir in pursuit of Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George News
Relishing the run to the end, Ben Hoffman, Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Determined running, Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Running, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Ben Hoffman, thoughts on the race won, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Dallas Hyland, St. George News
Cheerleaders go to great lengths to be noticed, Ironman St. George, Ivins, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Morgan, St. George News
Cyclist through Ivins, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Morgan, St. George News
Supportive son of an Ironman, Ivins Festival mid-course, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Alexa Morgan, St. George News
Cyclist pack heading to the marathon transition, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
STGNews reporters Todd Tischler and Dallas Hyland, readying for the first finish, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Paparazzi at the finish line, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
And Neumann brothers 4 had a whole family of fans, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Ironman David had some fans, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Ironman Derek has some fans, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Waiting for your “person” can give time for a nap, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Fire & Rescue took on new wheels for Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
They ran through our neighborhoods, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Meredith Kessler, leading professional women in first lap of the Marathon, 100 S and Main St., Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photos by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Competitor rounding 100 S & Main St., Marathon Lap 1, Ironman St. George, Utah, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Joyce Kuzmanic, St. George News
Cycling, Ironman St. George, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George News
Ben Hoffman wins the title, Ironman St. George, May 5, 2012 | Photo by Todd Tischler, St. George News
Copyright 2012 St. George News. This material may not be published or rewritten without written consent.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joyce Kuzmanic has been editor in chief of St. George News since 2012, having contributed as a reporter and assistant editor since the publication's inception in 2010. Before St. George News, Joyce has been a private business owner and enjoyed a long career as a paralegal in real estate, business and tax law transactions.
She enjoys hospitality, thinking, reading and adventuring in the great outdoors. Joyce currently resides in St. George with her husband and her dog, Scratch.
Why would you call working professional photographers paparazzi? That is a terrible name that should only be affiliated to actual paparazzi – photographers who hunt down celebrities, invade their privacy and sell photos of celebrities at an excessive rate. Covering a sport event is not the same as paparazzi.
Honestly, it was just tongue-in-cheek, our own were among those working photographers as well as myself. No offense intended and I haven’t taken the name as a general pejorative.
Nonetheless, it is easily remedied – and I have already changed the photo caption. Thank you, truly, for taking the time to bring your “ouch” to my attention.
Why would you call working professional photographers paparazzi? That is a terrible name that should only be affiliated to actual paparazzi – photographers who hunt down celebrities, invade their privacy and sell photos of celebrities at an excessive rate. Covering a sport event is not the same as paparazzi.
Honestly, it was just tongue-in-cheek, our own were among those working photographers as well as myself. No offense intended and I haven’t taken the name as a general pejorative.
Nonetheless, it is easily remedied – and I have already changed the photo caption. Thank you, truly, for taking the time to bring your “ouch” to my attention.
Good riddance to Iron Man.
The photos are great, thank you. I am SO,SO,SO proud and happy for nephew Ben. Way to go!
Its too bad the weather was so foul. I feel for those who trained so hard for so long, only to be pulled from the water.
I was covering the swim exit and that was an epic swim by everyone.
So sad the full will not be returning…for a while. Had been planning and looking forward to taking on that beast next year! : (
Congrats, Ben, but dude, you look like your in your 40s yo! No offense