Seriously, I remember something in my freshman businesses class about supply and demand, and that when demand was high, you raised prices until supply and demand were well balanced. Perhaps pure capitalism at it’s best. So why aren’t KONA prices drastically high to minimize demand and increase revenues. OR why aren’t lottery slots so exorbitantly priced so that it is more realistic for a chance to get in. I wouldn’t personally want to see prices higher, but I’m surprised that Mdot isn’t trying to make more money, or offer more in the prize purse, whatever.
And while I am on a rant that is sure to have people hating me, what about the idea of another Kona race. Say 6 months after the big one. Not a championship, but still an Mdot so that all the MOP’ers that try year after year to get in to fulfill that lifelong dream could go and race the course sans pro racers. Again, more money to them, more money for Hawaii’s tourism economy, more opportunity for all the triathletes that would like to race the course that probably inspired them to try tri in the first place, but just can’t manage an AG qualifying spot. I say they could do two HIM’s next year and fill them both no prob. Who knows, pros might even go just to test their tactics on the real course.
Maybe they should just do 2.4 miles in the YMCA pool, ride a computrainer 112, and treadmill a marathon; all the while pretending to be in Kona. That would be the same, wouldn’t it.
Maybe they don’t deserve to go until they have a sub 10 hr time, and that is what makes going so sweet; but it would be nice to see the big dance more accesible for so many who hold it as one of the crowning achievements of their lives.
The thing you need to remember is that at IM - we as commoners get to play on the same field on the same day and the same time while the Super Bowl and World Series goes on around us…not in any other sport does that happen. That is part of the day…with out that part, some of the soul is gone.
“OR why aren’t lottery slots so exorbitantly priced so that it is more realistic for a chance to get in.”
Ever seen the prices they go for when they auction them off on E-bay?
“I wouldn’t personally want to see prices higher, but I’m surprised that Mdot isn’t trying to make more money,”
I’d guess they have done at least a little marketing research and know what the break point is. That being said as teh price is lower the demand goes up…notice they are filling demand with new races…and making more money.
“what about the idea of another Kona race.”
Without it being the “championship” it looses it’s “Aura”. People don’t go just becasue of teh venue but also becasue getting there takes something special. Working that hard to get there, excluding teh lottery, makes the experiance that much more special.
Not arguing against the idea just saying the experiance would still not be the same…IMHO.
Without it being the “championship” it looses it’s “Aura”. People don’t go just becasue of teh venue but also becasue getting there takes something special. Working that hard to get there, excluding teh lottery, makes the experiance that much more special.
Not arguing against the idea just saying the experiance would still not be the same…IMHO.
i think there will be differing opinions on this. honestly, i would be all for a 2nd kona race, as long as the course is identical. i think the destination and the history of the race itself has plenty of aura on its own. plus i think it would also preserve the original intent of the race to made available to the common people. maybe the one policy which should be added is that completion of a full ironman w/in past year or so be required to validate the entry. like i said, some will agree, some won’t.
I would enter a second race for sure. I really want to race in Hawaii but odds are I won’t qualify and it is too expensive to just go. I wouldn’t pay $5000 though.
Like I said no problem with a 2nd or 3rd or fourth race. But to me it would simply be a “destination race” vs a “Championship”. Certainly I’d likwly want to do it as it would be a cool race. But I’d be WAY more anxious to do the “Championship” if I qualified.
Thanks for the imput guys. I like the way that sounds: destination race. I think that the race itself does carry enough Aura without the pros performing. I mean, I can go race with the pros at IMAZ or IMOO. I would love to race KONA as my only A race of the season, no qualifier. Just spend the whole year gearing up for the big non championship race, and not have to worry about a dumb lotto draw. Now if I could just get the names and emails for all the people on the lotto list, maybe we could work out a deal with WTC. Do we have anyone on the inside who can at least ask about this happening? Even if its once every 10 years or something?
The thing you need to remember is that at IM - we as commoners get to play on the same field on the same day and the same time while the Super Bowl and World Series goes on around us…not in any other sport does that happen. That is part of the day…with out that part, some of the soul is gone.
You don’t think that turning what was essentially a grass roots sport into a global corporation involves a fair amount of soul selling anyway?
then why not have have the olympics every four years - then have the same events held every fifth or sixth year - at the same location.
IM Hawaii is for many the Holy grail - the ultimate achievement in IM distance racing - to qualify is to have performed at a level deserving of playing on the world stag each year.
A second race would be fine - but should never be compared to IM Kona in terms of history, prestige and most importantly - MEANING - to everyone who has ever used this as a benchmark and goal (achievable or not).
Think about how few people are talented enough - and lucky enough to start on that one day in October each year.
It is their day - let’s not try to diminish it by thinking about another race on the same course.
Sure - you could travel there and swim, bike and run the same course - but it would not be Ironman Hawaii.
I dont know about you money bags but that would certainly turn me off from Kona… I would give two shits about Kona if was 5000 Tri’s are expensive enough…
The thing you need to remember is that at IM - we as commoners get to play on the same field on the same day and the same time while the Super Bowl and World Series goes on around us…not in any other sport does that happen. That is part of the day…with out that part, some of the soul is gone.
Dude, you just used the word ‘Soul’ in reference to IM and M-dot racing. I find that very humourous. I often joke that M-dot and IMNA are owned by Starbucks or some other faceless money making corporation.
People always ask, “Why do they make us sign up a year in advance, 25% of the registrants never even race?” Well my friend it is because they can take the $425 from 25% of the people and not have to give any product to them. Do the math: 700 X $425= $297,500. By opening the race up a year in advance they earn an extra 300K of ‘free money’ from people who never make it to the starting line.
Another joke i frequently use is the “Corporate IM World Championship”.
if you cant make on your own hard work and training then throw money at it ? ridiculus!! and kudos to steve larsen he kicked y’all asses fair and square
