Some great comments.

I also feel something was really lost when the name Ironman was trademarked. I can't imagine if "Marathon" had been trade marked or "Triathlon" or "18 holes of Golf"

Macca's idea for a grand slam series is great. Limit the pro races, up the standards for qualifying as a pro and pool money from all of the IM races to offer prize money 30 entrants deep at 4 Pro IM races a year, offering $1M for winning Hawaii, another $1M for breaking the Hawaii IM course record, $250k for winning any of the other races and and another $100k for setting an IM WR with the Pros who get 30th, still getting $10k in prize money.

Have 3 IM races in the Grand Slam series early in the year which would spread the pro field out and then bring them all together at Hawaii. Maybe throw in some of the 70.3 races as part of the series and spread the 70.3 WC far enough apart from Hawaii so that pros can truly contend for both titles.

There already are a number of Iron distance races popping up that are well run which could band together to promote an Iron Distance series, with better pro purses.

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

There already are a number of Iron distance races popping up that are well run which could band together to promote an Iron Distance series, with better pro purses.

Indeed.

You know as great and as competitive as the race is at IMH every year, the irony is that it could be way more competitive and much better. There are more than a few top long distance specialists who choose not to race in Hawaii for one reason or another. The reality is that the WTC does have lots of options. It has a world wide series of races both 70.3 and Ironman distance choose from. It has the infrastructire to do a lot of things. The problem is that it's ham-strung by the history, the legacy and the importance that so many people put on IMH. There is lot that they could do, if they could move away from the current model even slightly.

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Someone should organize an Iron distance race, find a sponsor with deep pockets and put it on the same day as Kona. Offer $1M for 1st Place, $750K for 2nd, $500K for 3rd……live television coverage of the event on Versus, etc, etc.

Then we would see if it’s all about the Prestige/Mystique of Kona or if it really is “about the money.” WTC does what they do and offer scraps to the greatest athletes n the world because there is no competition. If there was a viable threat to their brand they would be forced to keep pace.

Great idea. With all due respect, if it's so easy, don't you think someone would have had a go at this already!

Really the only time that this sort of challenge came up in the sport was back when both the old Nice triathlon and IMH were in the fall. At the time Nice had prize money and believe it or not, IMH did not. I can't remember the exact too'ing and froo'ing but in the end IMH realized that if they wanted to stay viable and keep the top pros coming, they needed to put money on the table.

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

But where will the Iron distance races get the money. I'm doing B2B this year. Roughly the same time frame and region as IMFL. What I like about B2B is its cheaper and smaller. I wouldn't mid if it also had a 20 person pro field, but to attact that they would have to charge more and let in more competitors.

Frankly I don't think there is a market for Iron distance races just as big and congested as WTC races and as expensive, without IMH spots on offer.

Styrrell

One thing I feel strongly about is not messing with Ironman Hawaii. It's a great tradition and should not be screwed with.

B2B is put on by setup inc. I have more respect for WTC than Setup, and that's not saying much. I remember doing one of their races once and they had stated that 1-3 overall would get cash prizes and trophies. The cash wasn't much, but it was some incentive. I was 2nd overall. I received a plastic cup from Race for the Cure, a completely different race that wasn't even put on by Setup.

But, moving 70.3 WC from Clearwater, heck just to Clermont/San Antonio, FL where there are some hills on the bike course, and to a date that makes for a better IM WC and 70.3 WC double.

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

Interesting stuff in your post, but they had nothing to do with my question.

How are non WTC races supposed to get big prize money to attract big pro fields? For most the allure of the non WTC races are smaller and cheaper. If they were big and expensive the choice would be big pro field vs IMH slots. My guess is most would go for the IMH slots.

Styrrell