Friday, Oct. 6, KONA, HAWAII -- After last night's carbo-loading party, where competitors showed up in force to chow down and get into the spirit of racing, Friday was a bit more quiet with racers getting in last-minute swims, bikes or runs and then getting their bikes checked in to the first transition point located at the Kona Pier.

Recapping some of Thursday night's festivities:

• Scott Tinley was inducted into the Ironman Hall of Fame--a memo from Tinley to his boss in 1982 was read by Dave Yates which requested time off from work in order to go do the Hawaii Ironman to "get it out of his blood" so that he could put his attention back to his work. Well, this is his 16th Ironman, and, as Tinley said, he's still "giving it a whirl."
  
• Ex-football pro Darryl Haley, the youngest competitor Loke McMichael, 18, and the oldest competitor, Jim Ward, 78, were brought on stage to receive the best wishes of the crowd.
  
• Traditional Polynesian dancing and singing followed for the racers as they tucked into their food.
  
• And, finally, the World Triathlon Corporation put on a kaleidoscope of images from Hawaii Ironmans spanning the last five years in order to psyche up the racers. It worked.

A few observations from the bike check-in on Friday: Germany's Thomas Hellriegel (winner of Ironman Lanzarote, second place at Ironman Germany) came in looking fresh and strong. He's been training in the Canary Islands for the last six weeks in weather hotter and more humid than Hawaii's. Hellriegel expressed his surprise with the climes in Kona: "I thought it would be hotter here." But he was quick to add that he was more than happy to do without the heat. Like Jurgen Zack, Hellriegel is expected to blast on the bike (as he did in tandem with Zack at Ironman Germany). Even the King himself, Mark Allen, mentioned his name at the press conference as someone who would really push the pace on the bike.

American Donna Peters (fifth at '94 Hawaii Ironman) said she was feeling good, confident after a win at an Ironman race in Denmark last August. She's been trying a new formula for her diet, and it seems to be working well. Like many others, she said to watch out for the Germans in the men's race. Predictions are that as many as five Germans will place in the top 10.

Paula Newby-Fraser was all smiles. And all eyes--and camera lenses--were on her as she checked in. As always, she was looking strong. She gave a friendly pat on Brazilian Fernanda Keller's back as she passed. Keller (third at last year's Hawaii Ironman) was also getting her share of fanfare; known for her risqué outfits, she did not fail to draw attention to her skimpy attire today. But that's how it is at "Dig Me Beach."

Greg Welch was in and out of check-in, in the blink of an eye. No doubt he was already shoring up his reserves for the big battle with The Grip tomorrow.

Tim, Tony and Tom DeBoom were also on hand. They are the only triple brother combination to ever race the Hawaii Ironman. Newly disengaged from Dr. Philip Maffetone, Tim and Tony are on their own in Kona. That's fine with them, they say. They're managing pretty well even without the doctor's guidance--as Tony did admit that Maffetone is a fine kinesiologist.

All in all, the pros all seemed fairly relaxed the night before the race--Wendy Ingraham, Jeff Devlin, Isabelle Mouthon, Cameron Widoff and others, including those mentioned above. With the competition so deep, this year's Hawaii Ironman promises to be the most exciting of all.

New Start: For the first time ever, the pros will be set apart from the age-groupers. All competitors will start at the sound of the cannon, but the pros will have a swim start that is 10-20 feet ahead of the rest of the pack. This will give the female pros a better chance at a good swim start, to begin close together and have a fairer race.

Forecasts: Currents are expected to be stronger than have been had in the last week. Winds blowing across the lava fields have been pretty stiff in the last few days. If it's like this on race day, then the cycling specialists like Jurgen Zack will have an edge.

From the press conference: Welch ponders his odds and goals. An Aussie repeat at the `95 Ironman?

Few people can say they achieve their lifetime goal at age 30. At one time, Welch used to say his greatest quest was to win the Hawaii Ironman. And last year he achieved this objective, noting that "one Ironman win is worth an entire career. It's all bonus from here."

When asked about his competition this year with Mark Allen, his close friend and professional idol, Welch chuckled and said, beating Mark in the Ironman "would be the greatest day of my life."

As previously reported, Paula Newby Frasier has announced her retirement from triathlon at the end of this year's Ironman, while fellow triathlon veteran Mark Allen alluded to his withdrawal within a year.

On the rise, however, are this year's promising young stars each determined to make their mark on the sport's most prestigious event.

"I would like to see Ironman become more a cyclist's race," said German cycling powerhouse Jurgen Zach. Recognizing that it takes more that just a strong bike to win, Jurgen said he'd find happiness short of total victory this year, glad to hold the lead at some point in the race "even if I just had a two minute lead."

Many top athlete's were proud to simply be racing with some of triathlon's greatest.

"As the year's went by, I realized how great this race was," short-course great Karen Smyers told the crowd. "I am more excited about this year's [Ironman] than any other triathlon." she added.

"I am just glad to be here," added French athlete Isabelle Mouthon.

This year's Ironman has a few new incentives for competitors. The winner of this year's race will be awarded the $20,000 prize. A major bonus of $100,000 awaits the first male athlete to break the eight-hour mark, or the first female to finish in less than eight hours, 45 minutes.

In addition, race organizers are offering $1,500 in Timex-sponsored bonuses to the first male and female athletes to reach the 80-mile mark on the bike and the six-mile mark of the run.

This story prepared by the editorial staff of Triathlete magazine