I don't know much about yellow jerseys or green jackets. I just know the dude with "1" marked on his arms and bike is the dude (among others) to watch at Kona.

I also thought that a jersey was a weird choice. Triathletes don't exactly wear jerseys (and calling a tri-top a jersey is a stretch) and if/when they do, they are using it for only leg of the race. Stripes is a lot more flexible as they can be applied to many pieces of clothing or equipment. I wouldn't blatantly steal the cycling stripes palette thought, I'd come up with something unique yet easily recognizable.

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Velosurance - bicycle insurance

Should be a jersey actually made of iron, like a medieval breastplate. If I saw someone wearing that I would know they were a true Ironman

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They should make them wear the famous Cowman horns! Didn't his shirt say "I am Ironman"?

I see what they are doing here. And I think the phrase "they are trying too hard" is the exact opposite. A jersey seems like the easy way out.

That being said, I like the idea of what they are trying to do here. Yellow jersey. Green jacket. Lombardi trophy. Stanley Cup. With each of those there is a coveted item that the athletes are focused on. It's just another way of saying "World Champion" and more importantly, it's a symbol. The whole jersey deal is a bit lame....though, the options are definitely limited. I can't honestly think of something else that would be better. A Superbowl type ring would be cool. But we athletes aren't exactly the kind to wear big, gaudy jewelry.

Maybe they make one of the wooden Kona bowls into something a bit more exciting?

I have no issue with a distinctive jersey or shirt, but the idea of using another sports tradition a la the rainbow stripes is idiotic. Kona is associated with the tri WC so how hard is it to come up with a design incorporating some sort of hawaiin theme?

If they do come up with something then they should make it a WC only and not sell them to any triathlete, although i doubt WTC could resist

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Styrrell

For the win !!! ... people would be like... you win a jersey ?? pffft whatever !

This would trump winning a pink or yellow sweater any day ...

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I thought I saw Tim DeBoom actually use rainbow stripes before Crowie ever won his first Hawaii. Seem to recall he had Zipp wheels & rainbows on his bike. Not sure about his kit though. Could be wrong but really thought I had seen him wearing them.

SQW has had gold and silver stripes on his kit...

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Also I'd think after time the jersey would "dry rot" sitting in a drawer or wherever it would land up. A Stanley Cup isn't rotting...nor a ring...however that would mean WTC spending more on something than a jersey & that is counter-productive to them. Not ripping on them this moment...it's the truth. They are a business.

If this were ITU WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (long or short), does anyone think each AG winner should be wearing the rainbow stripes (or something to that effect?) Maybe the ITU logo circles with a rainbow splash around in a circle. After all, they would be world AG champ. Maybe that would be too dorky too. Just tossing ideas around here.

Well, the giant rainbow stripes on the shirt aren't exactly "nothing" ;) https://www.facebook.com/...232942287&type=3

I saw Macca wearing a rainbow collar for 5150 Zurich in 2011, too. On his pre race kit, that is, and I can't find a picture; maybe it was some variation of the Specialized kit. Or do you mean "nothing on their race kit"?

I seem to remember Reid with stripes too... all I could find was this pic... I dont know if the stripes are implied here or something diff completely

WTC is a for-profit business, yes? I am not sure of the point of your observation. Of course it has to do with money. Corporate altruism doesn't exist, and rightfully so. Like any company, they are simply implementing an initiative to drive brand awareness and improve their product. I won't ever wear the jersey, but it seems like a cool idea.

I recognize the community's fear of WTC "selling out", bastardizing the IM brand, and potentially taking the sport down with it, but that's not going to happen. As the IM brand grows, so will competition. Competition has historically drive improvements in quality, variety, options, r&d, and a better user experience. We should be rooting for the WTC instead of knocking them for every move.

I'd hate for the ITU to just adopt the rainbow jersey, because i associate it with cycling. Come up with your own tradition. I'm not entirely sure they could anyways it may be copywrited. But if they do use a variation thats OK. What I find odd is riders just making their own. The rainbow jersey is given to cycling WCs. The green jacket is given to the Masters winner, the Stanley Cup is given to the NHL winner.

Seriously if people saw a guy in the airport wearing a Green jacket, that looked like one from the Masters and went up and talked to the guy, only to find out he had it made for himself when he won the biggest tournament in Frisbee golf, what would you think?

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Styrrell

I hope if they do it the jersey reflects the traditions and history of the Hawaiian people. When I was in grade school we used to make cloth out of palm tree bark. Probably not great for racing but something along those lines.

Nice! You deserve it Jordan!

Looks like his own variation. The official UCI Rainbow Stripes are in this order: Blue-Red-Black-Yellow-Green

I first noticed Simon Lessing wearing them for Kona (2004), I believe he was the 70.3 champ at the time. I thought it was weird to see him wearing it, and thought he must be South African (same colours in their flag). -- but he's English.



Ironically, WTC protects the Ironman brand and MDot logo so vigorously, yet their "champs" don't mind violating UCI's trademark

From: UCI Trademark PDF

The UCI is the owner of the trademark ‘rainbow stripes’ (n° IR 1032330) and has been using the strips of colours blue, red, black, yellow and green as its rainbow colour chart, emblem and corporate identity for many years. It has gained an indisputable reputation for this chart, which is recognised worldwide as representing the Federation. The ‘rainbow stripes’ are also the symbol of the World Champion in all cycling disciplines. The UCI therefore wishes to closely monitor all and any use of the ‘rainbow stripes’ in order to avoid any deceptive exploitation. This type of protection should strengthen the reputation of the mark and increase its value for the authorised users.

(But I think Pat has bigger fish to fry right now).

Never really thought about it before, you'd think the Rainbow Jersey would use the same order as in rainbows. ;-).

I doubt the UCI would bother going after an individual, but I suspect they would if it was WTC or ITU

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Styrrell

Why does Macca have a "world champion" jersey on? He's not the reigning Kona champ. The tradition is the current champ wears a rainbow jersey, former champs get sleeve/collar stripes.

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Macca won the 2012 ITU Long Course World Champs (4k/120k/30k) in July in Spain

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Ah, thanks.

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ECMGN Therapy Silicon Valley:
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So, where are the pictures of Jacobs and Cave wearing the magical jersey?

awards ceremony is in a few hours. I'm sure it will be there.

They should do it TdF style and put it on right after crossing the finish line.