I have found a few races out here in Korea that offer prize money for Amateurs and was wondering if there is anything comparable back in the states? I noticed that the 5150 series has "products/prizes" in terms of a monetary value. Does USAT have rules governing how much races can pay to amateurs or how much as amateurs we are allowed to be rewarded?
Now to preface the below: I by no means should be getting paid to race, I am no where near fast enough and completely understand that.
But this weekend I went out to a race that the Korean Tri Association put on. They had listed prize money for the event for 1st-3,000,000Won(~$3,000USD), 2nd-2,000,000Won(~$2,000USD), 3rd-1,000,000(~$1,000USD). There was not mention in the race pamphlet or on the website of how many "pros" had to show up or how many required participants for the money. Friday night I was informed by my Korean friends that they had pulled the prize money for 2nd and 3rd due to the lack of "pros". There was Park Byun Hoon and Kim Ji Hwan, who are both actual professionals in Korea. Then for some reason they put all of the foreigners on the elite/pro start list as well, which meant I was listed on there as an elite/pro. I am nowhere near a elite/pro, but am one of the top amateur triathletes here in Korea and didn't mind being on the elite/pro start list, as it is always good to get a good ass kicking. I ended up being 2nd Overall and got beat by 9mins by Kim Ji Hwam, which 6 of those he put into me on the swim and then more than likely 1 on the bike and 2 on the run, still awaiting splits, but those are my rough estimates by taking splits on the course. It was pretty close to the same deficit that I put into the 3rd place guy. I went there thinking there was prize money and if things played out right I could of found myself in 3rd. It was hard for me to complain/raise a stink about it due to the fact that my Korean is limited and I was in no position to jusitfy being paid as I am not a true elite/pro. I really have no place to complain, since they paid for my trip out there and for all meals and hotel. The only thing that sucked is it was a 3 hour drive to the port, then 3 hour ferry ride just to get there. Then after the race we went to another island to swim around it, which was another 2 hour ferry ride, but more about the importance of this island and ferry ride whenever I get to my race report. Anways with all of the travel I do not know if I would of went if I would of known about the lack of prize money for top 3 and only 1st.
(Yes Paulo you can refer me to the "EVERYONE BITCH HERE" post and I can move it over there ;)
The summary of this post and the questions I would like answered:
1. As an amateur in the US are we allowed to accept prize money? Does USAT have a rule against this?
2. Has anyone experienced not getting paid at a race when prize money was supposed to be paid?
-Brad Williams
Website | Twitter: @BW_Tri |Instagram: @BW_Tri | Strava | Co-Founder & Coach at: KIS Coaching
Partnered with: Zoot Sports | Precision Fuel &Hydration | ISM
Now to preface the below: I by no means should be getting paid to race, I am no where near fast enough and completely understand that.
But this weekend I went out to a race that the Korean Tri Association put on. They had listed prize money for the event for 1st-3,000,000Won(~$3,000USD), 2nd-2,000,000Won(~$2,000USD), 3rd-1,000,000(~$1,000USD). There was not mention in the race pamphlet or on the website of how many "pros" had to show up or how many required participants for the money. Friday night I was informed by my Korean friends that they had pulled the prize money for 2nd and 3rd due to the lack of "pros". There was Park Byun Hoon and Kim Ji Hwan, who are both actual professionals in Korea. Then for some reason they put all of the foreigners on the elite/pro start list as well, which meant I was listed on there as an elite/pro. I am nowhere near a elite/pro, but am one of the top amateur triathletes here in Korea and didn't mind being on the elite/pro start list, as it is always good to get a good ass kicking. I ended up being 2nd Overall and got beat by 9mins by Kim Ji Hwam, which 6 of those he put into me on the swim and then more than likely 1 on the bike and 2 on the run, still awaiting splits, but those are my rough estimates by taking splits on the course. It was pretty close to the same deficit that I put into the 3rd place guy. I went there thinking there was prize money and if things played out right I could of found myself in 3rd. It was hard for me to complain/raise a stink about it due to the fact that my Korean is limited and I was in no position to jusitfy being paid as I am not a true elite/pro. I really have no place to complain, since they paid for my trip out there and for all meals and hotel. The only thing that sucked is it was a 3 hour drive to the port, then 3 hour ferry ride just to get there. Then after the race we went to another island to swim around it, which was another 2 hour ferry ride, but more about the importance of this island and ferry ride whenever I get to my race report. Anways with all of the travel I do not know if I would of went if I would of known about the lack of prize money for top 3 and only 1st.
(Yes Paulo you can refer me to the "EVERYONE BITCH HERE" post and I can move it over there ;)
The summary of this post and the questions I would like answered:
1. As an amateur in the US are we allowed to accept prize money? Does USAT have a rule against this?
2. Has anyone experienced not getting paid at a race when prize money was supposed to be paid?
-Brad Williams
Website | Twitter: @BW_Tri |Instagram: @BW_Tri | Strava | Co-Founder & Coach at: KIS Coaching
Partnered with: Zoot Sports | Precision Fuel &Hydration | ISM