The agreement with the Town of Gilford to host the Timberman Triathlon every August has been extended at the request of the events promoter and organizer Keith Jordan.

The original agreement extended until 2008, and now with the Selectmen voting unanimously to extend that by three years Gilford will be host to this now world class event at least until 2011.

Jordan explained to the Board that since the Timberman Triathlon has gained in popularity it is now a qualifying event for the Ironman Triathlon.

The Ironman Triathlon is an annual triathlon race, made famous by its grueling length, race conditions, and television coverage.

Held every fall in the city of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the race encompasses three endurance events comprised of a 2.4 mile ocean swim in Kailua-Kona Bay, followed by a 112 mile bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hawaii and back, ending with a 26.2 mile marathon along the cost of the island Hawaii.

Jordan said that the reason for the extension, besides wanting the event to continue in Gilford, is that Ironman organizers wanted to extend the Timberman as being a qualifying event, but before that could happen they needed assurances at the town level that the event would continue to take place.

Recognizing the importance of the Ironman affiliation and have the Timberman event itself, the Board unanimously voted to extend hosting of the event for an additional three years.

The Timberman Triathlon is a two-day event that features a Short Course Triathlon (1/3 mile swim, 15-mile bike, and 3-mile run) and Kids Triathlon on Saturday. It wraps up with the Timberman 70.3 even (1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike leg, and a 13.1-mile run). Last year the event was named the top "Must-Do Triathlon Adventure" in the world by Triathlete Magazine.