Anyone have any opinions of quality "all-women's" triathlons?

Quality of any race is based on the organization that is putting it on and the challenge of the course, that's it.

Other than that, not very clear on what you are inferring.  Stirring the pot perhaps????

Like Daremo said, depends on the race organization.

Like JohnnyKay said, CGI puts on a great one...but their all-women's race is in Philly, so it's not feasible for everyone.

I volunteered for that race; Philly Women's. Great venue, great people, great race. Larry and Michelle know how to put on a race.

Rick-

Sorry, I should have been more clear with my question. I was just looking to get first hand opinions of competitive all women's triathlons. I wanted to hear which triathlons are the "total package," as far as being well organized, challenging, and having a competent staff. I looked on tryfind.net but (as I am sure you could imagine) was bombarded with an enormous list of races.

The female age groupers are the largest growing group of athletes in the sport (more "middle aged" women than any other category - 35 - 55 range - although of course I would never classify someone in that range as middle aged).  Every year more women are entering races as new competitors than men.

The Danskin series has always been known as a really strong event package.  I'm personally only familiar with the Columbia Irongirl as it is done in my backyard basically by the Tri Assoc. that handles the majority of the events that I participate in and I've only heard really good things about the race.

Been discussed here before but the general consensus is that it's to lower the intimidation factor to get new people (ie women) to try a triathlon. An overwhelming number of women at an all women's tri are first timers. Some because they don't like how they look in spandex, and others because they are just learning and are worried about not being fast.

Thats a good reason.  And it is true especially in the longer distances....A lot of my woment triathletes think that everyone is superfit and have no body fat etc.  Esp at the 70.3 and 140.6 distances.  There are alot of those people, but a lot are not 8% body fat as well.

I'd agree with the other posters' answers.  I've registered for regular tri's running alongside the guys, but I admit I am nervous about that part.....it's intimidating for women to think the guys may be going twice our speed and be so much bigger and run us over....kind of feels like I might be jumping into the middle of a football game with potential aggression levels (maybe not, but it's perception)......I'm jumping in anyway, but many women I know wouldn't. 

 So it's a business decision to widen the market pie, to be able to sell more to a wider audience, to remove that remaining objection towards entering the sport for many.  

Maybe if guys could imagine being alongside a group of superhumans up to 100% bigger or more, going up to twice as fast with 2 or more times the shoulder span, and that they made up more than half the field of participants....just imagine!

I've never done an all-womens tri, and I will admit I like the eye candy at co-ed races I never get sick of thin, cut, tri-hotties in spandex. The things that freak me out during races have nothing to do with the gender of the participants. The fast bikes are fast bikes - they scare me no matter who is riding them. I suppose the only good thing about not racing with guys is that during the swim, since my wave always seems to follow the Clydedales, I won't end up almost getting kicked in the chest by some 200+ lb dude, when I come up on them.

I am intrigued by women's races however, because I hear the schwag is usually great, plus there tends to be a lot of pink I lof pink. And girls being all "grrrrrl-bonding" and such is fun (no, not THAT kind of girl-bonding, you pervs).

To answer the poster:  I have only completed the Danskin Sprint.  I found it to be well-organized, well-staffed, and well-attended.  However, the girl-power vibe approached a near toxic level.

To the issue of "all-women's" triathlons in general:  I am really conficted about the "women only" triathlon.  Triathlon is among the few unique sports that offer the same challenge to both men and women--no exceptions, no excuses.  I am looking forward to competing alongside men next season.  In truth, I opted for the Danskin race because I was afraid of the OWS.  In addition to the fear of drowning, sharks, etc., I heard nightmare stories of aggressive guys punching and swimming over people.  I figured, if I wanted to get coldcocked by some burly guy in a speedo, I could do that any given Sunday at the Jersey Shore.  In the end, the all-women events seem less about triathlon than TRYing for a personal victory.  Swim, bike and run are just the means to an end.  I won't define myself as a triathlete until I've competed at a level of greater intensity.