Just Finishing is a Victory: Filming the Ironman Triathlon [Video]

A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile run. That is what defines the Ironman Trianthlon, one of the most physically grueling competitions in the world, a race so harsh, the sport’s mantra is “Just Finishing is a Victory.”

Victory Motorcycles has released a video showing a different side of the famous Ironman World Championship at Kona, Hawaii, taken from the perspective of the motorcycle-riding camera operators which film the  annual race. Victory sponsored some of the camera teams that filmed this year’s race for outlets such as NBC television and the 12-minute video shows some of the work that goes into this subset of motorcycle riding.

With a rider at the controls and a cameraperson at the back, these motorcycle camera crews encounter challenges most riders don’t normally have to face. The camera operator has to  shift into different body positions while holding the camera as steady as possible to get the right shot, all while carrying extra batteries, lenses and other equipment, and often blind to the direction the motorcycle is heading.

The rider has challenges as well, having to travel at low enough speeds to match the running or bicycling pace of the competitors. They must also maintain balance with a passenger carrying a load shifting around without warning.

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[Source: Victory (YouTube)]

By Dennis Chung