CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — St. George and surrounding communities are the backdrop for the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by the Utah Sports Commission, which is making its return Oct. 28-29. As this legendary event brings 6,000 to 7,000 athletes from all over the world to Greater Zion during race week, upwards of 4,000 volunteers will rise to the challenge of hosting an IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in their own backyard.
This formidable, yet beautiful, region presented great obstacles to early pioneers who traversed this land in the late 1850s, as they fought to find water and lumber, plant crops and create economic prosperity despite scorching summer temperatures, inclement weather and high winds. With unwavering grit and determination, these early settlers prevailed and legends rose, leaving legacies for generations to come.
Nearly 170 years later, echoes from the past cast shadows upon canyon walls, and the “Land of Endurance” continues to draw men and women from near and far to test their physical and mental limits, awakening warriors from within. No matter how big or small or visible the pioneers’ contributions were, life today wouldn’t be the same, and the same goes for the volunteers – it takes every effort to pull off this legendary event.
The century may have changed, but the cast of characters remains – this is where hope is born and legends rise as they’re carried on the shoulders of thousands of volunteers, unsung legends who lead athletes to the edge of exhaustion, daring them to press on further than they ever imagined.
“All of the communities who host the world championship events are giving and have so much to offer,” says Diana Bertsch, senior vice president of world championship events for The Ironman Group, “but the community in St. George definitely sets the bar high. As we’ve worked through putting on events leading up to and through the pandemic, they’ve set the stage and proven that when you all come together, anything is possible.”
Through the eyes of an IRONMAN volunteer captain
Jan Howes has been an IRONMAN volunteer captain for 12 years. She has supervised seven pre-race and race-day areas, including athlete registration, gear bag sorting and checkout, T2 (the second transition area, from bike to run), bike checkout, packet stuffing, finish line medals and finisher awards. She has volunteered at a bike aid station, as a finish line catcher and as food coordinator for volunteers. She has also trained other volunteers as captains of different areas for various race-related support duties and locations.
Why does Howes volunteer for IRONMAN when it comes to St. George?
“I agree with Steve Jobs, who said, ‘Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.’ Our world can be stressful, confusing and very negative at times. I volunteer with IRONMAN to reaffirm my belief that there are really good, strong, healthy, genuinely kind and generous people in our world.
I love seeing the positive attitudes and incredibly focused energy the leaders, athletes and volunteers have, and want to put myself in their presence. It strengthens me so that I can then go and build up the spirits of others.”
Howes recently retired from full-time employment, and she’s begun mapping out the next phase of her life.
“You can bet I will continue volunteering for IRONMAN as long as they keep coming to St. George. I will also try to volunteer with other sports-related events,” she said. “I love being around people who are kind and treat others with compassion. We need more happiness in our lives, so I seek out those experiences.”
Howes is excited every time she thinks of participating with IRONMAN. She looks forward to helping and leading and laughing, and meeting “amazing IRONMAN staff, athletes and volunteers.” She said they have become her dear friends and a deep source of happiness.
What does it mean to her to be a part of these larger world championship events? She said she’s amazed.
“Wide-eyed, jaw-dropped, kind of amazed and so honored to be a part of a community chosen to host an event of this caliber. I get to meet the best of the best athletes. I get to volunteer side by side with the best people in the world.
“I get to be a part of a massive group whose whole purpose is to provide an opportunity for crazy people to put their bodies through insane stress and come across the finish line happy and wanting to do it again. I get to meet people I probably would never meet without IRONMAN.”
Howes welcomes the community to come and be a part of the atmosphere of this race in this city.
“It will change their lives and return their faith in the goodness of humanity.”
One family always finds a way to help others
Nate Staheli has been volunteering for IRONMAN for over 10 years. His family, friends and associates have all assisted in traffic control and parking near the entrance of Sand Hollow State Park. His team assists law enforcement to create an organized atmosphere for the smooth transition of athlete buses, spectators and local traffic in the area.
Initially, Staheli and his family volunteered their assistance at the request of his lifelong friend, Colby Neilson.
“Colby requested that we help, and knowing the great contributions he has made to the race and the impact he and Ironman have had on the community, we couldn’t deny his request and the opportunity to help,” Staheli said.
Since the first time the Stahelis volunteered through today, volunteering has been a family tradition – which includes 3 a.m. breakfast burritos – and they’ve recruited others to help.
“We wake up as early as 3 a.m. to get going for the day, but our preparation begins long before our day of service,” he said. “This includes gathering flashlights, signage and other supplies. The most important assignment on that day is who is getting the morning breakfast burritos to bring to our crew!”
Staheli is a CPA and enjoys helping others with their tax and accounting needs. Outside of work and IRONMAN, he loves watching his children in their sporting events, spending time with his family watching other athletes play sports and participating in outdoor activities, such as going to the beach.
“We have a close family and spend a lot of time together,” he said. “We love working on our small garden, spending time in our cabin in Pine Valley and enjoying time in Hawaii.”
IRONMAN is a large part of his family’s life. “As a family, we have always tried to find ways to help others,” he said. “This has been our family culture for many years. This event is one of many that gives us a chance to help others find joy in their own individual journeys. I don’t believe we truly know the large impact this has on others around the world, but I know that, as a family, we can see the impact it has had on the community, the athletes, the spectators and especially ourselves.”
For example, as a St. George-area accountant, Staheli said he’s spoken to many locals who have witnessed the economic benefits from IRONMAN’s large number of participants and spectators, many of whom supported local businesses in the process.
As a lifelong resident of this beautiful area, it means a great deal to Staheli and his family to be part of these world championship events. Staheli said they have taken great pride in having others from around the world come and participate in our great community and enjoy the amazing place that our ancestors helped establish.
“Although we don’t always get the opportunity to visit one-on-one with the athletes, we have had many opportunities to talk to the visitors, and we love telling the story of our amazing community and the people here,” he added. “They all have been so impressed with the beauty of the area, but the No. 1 thing they say is that the beauty of the hearts of the people is far superior than anything else.”
During an IRONMAN event in November 2019, Staheli’s family was fortunate enough to assist a participant named Makoto from Japan who was practicing for the race the following day. Makoto’s bike tire had just been punctured, and the Staheli family stopped to help. He did not have the resources to fix the tire and needed a ride back to his resort, Staheli said.
“We loaded him up in the van and drove him 20 miles to his destination. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak to him in Japanese (although he spoke great English) and find out a little more about him. After just 20 minutes, we had developed a great relationship and he has since visited our home with his support crew to have dinner after one of the recent events in St. George,” Staheli said. “He is now trying to grow IRONMAN events in Japan and has been back to participate in subsequent events in St. George. He says he loves St. George and the people. He is a great ambassador of our amazing community.”
Sharing a love of motorcycles with IRONMAN
As motorcycle captain, David Guymon has embraced one of the most unique and enjoyable volunteering opportunities that involves his love for motorcycles, otherwise known as “motos.” The moto crew provides transportation for IRONMAN race officials because their motorcycles can get in and around athletes much easier and safer than a car can.
The officials sit on the back and judge the race from the motorcycles. They carry clipboards to write down athlete numbers and when they see an infraction like drafting, the official has the moto driver pull up next to the athlete. The official can talk to the athlete while they ride alongside them and give a warning or penalty card.
If the official shows an athlete a penalty card for something like drafting, the athlete has to go straight to the next penalty tent and is held there for a certain amount of time depending on the severity of the penalty, Guymon explained.
One of Guymon’s responsibilities as motorcycle captain is to recruit safe moto drivers for officials, VIPs, photographers and videographers. Depending on the event, he recruits anywhere from 25-45 riders.
“This can be challenging, as it’s difficult for me to find that many who are willing to do this in the St. George area,” he said.
Often, IRONMAN events are hosted by much larger cities that have a much larger pool of riders, Guymon said. This last IRONMAN event, he was challenged with finding 45 motos because it was a world championship event.
“I had to go outside of St. George for recruitment. We had riders come from California, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, South Carolina and many other states. Once someone works these events, they want to come back,” he said. “It’s a really fun day. It can be a super hard day also. It’s an honor and a privilege to be involved in this event.”
Guymon has also been involved as a USA Cycling MotoRef for many years and worked several major cycling events in the U.S., including the Amgen Tour of California and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. He’s sad to see those events leave but has kept involved with IRONMAN.
“My first love is spending time with my amazing wife and kids. Also, I’m a new grandpa and that’s just the best thing ever. We love to camp, hunt, fish and ride motorcycles, of course,” he said. “I love my career as a fireman. I love that I have the opportunity to help others in need. Working on the front lines where people can be having a really bad day and knowing that my actions can somehow help make it all better is a great and rewarding feeling.”
Guymon has been involved with IRONMAN since the beginning of its time in St. George. He said he looks forward to this event every year.
“We often have one of the pro athletes stay with our family, where we have the chance to spend a lot of time with them and learn all about what they do – such amazing and humble athletes,” he added. “I really doubt there is any other place on the IRONMAN circuit that has the amount of volunteers and community support that St. George gives to this event year after year. We are a volunteer community and love to serve and help others.”
Volunteering for IRONMAN
Guymon’s moto crew has a few spots left for the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
“They (individuals interested in volunteering in the moto crew) need to contact me to sign up because of the nature of our job. I need to personally know their riding experience to see if I feel they are qualified and have the right type of motorcycle to work the event,” he said. “We can’t just let anyone do this, as not all motorcycles are good and comfortable for passengers and not all riders are comfortable with passengers on the back. I can be contacted at [email protected] if someone wants to talk to me about working the event with us.”
This year, Howes is the captain over athlete registration happening Tuesday-Thursday, Oct. 25-27. She said they can use more volunteers, especially in the afternoons. Additionally, Howes is one of two captains on both race days at the finish line handing out medals. On Friday, Oct. 28, they need volunteers for the afternoon shifts. On Saturday, Oct. 29, they could use volunteers throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Anyone interested can go to the Greater Zion website, click on the volunteer registration button, scroll to athlete registration or finish line medals, and check the box(es) for the shifts they would like to help fill.
Interested in a different IRONMAN volunteering opportunity? Each year, it takes thousands of volunteers to take IRONMAN athletes across the finish line. To learn more about volunteering for the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship presented by the Utah Sports Commission, click here.
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