Kona course a go despite Sunday's earthquake
By Cameron Elford
Oct. 19, 2006 -- Despite an earthquake on Sunday, World Triathlon Corporation president Ben Fertic, a triathlete himself who has presided over the company for the past two years, assures triathletes that everything is on schedule for the Saturday race.
"We were actually ahead of schedule," said Fertic of the Hawaii Ironman preparations, "but the earthquake pushed things back." Fertic notes that all the materials and supplies, from timing mats to cups and race-day nutrition products, - and much of the manpower, are shipped or flown in, and the 6.8 magnitude earthquake, which hit early Sunday morning, temporarily disrupted the transportation infrastructure within the islands.
While Kona avoided significant damage, residents and tourists reported numerous broken windows as well as minor damage, including TV sets, computer monitors and pictures which came crashing down during the initial tremor or as a result of one of several powerful aftershocks.
Although no tsunami warning was issued, the quake, whose epicenter was located several miles northwest of Kailua-Kona, caused numerous rockslides, which blocked sections of the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, which winds north to the bike turnaround point at Hawi.
"Within two hours of the quake," said Fertic, "we had people driving the entire course to Hawi checking for damage." Once the debris was removed, however, no significant damage was reported, and Fertic said that the Ironman course is ready for Saturday's race.
Still, Fertic says that race officials would have been ready for the event on Saturday even if course damage had occurred. "We have two or three contingency bike courses," he noted.