She’s easily one of the “voices” that is respected within the sport, whether or not she’s the current champion or not. To think otherwise, is foolish.
No debate. There is also no debate that she is not the champion.
From a purely technical standpoint this is correct. No disrespect to Mirinda Carfrae - she’s an amazing athlete (and how about Hy-Vee?!) However, I’m sure she would feel a lot better if she could beat CW this year.
Chrissie is undefeated at Kona and at Ironman races. She is always the 800 lb gorilla in any interview with female iron pros. I assume people will subconsciously think of her as “the champ” until she actually loses in Kona.
If there are women complaining out there there was money (and points) left over at that race. If the pro fields aren’t going to take the races seriously why should WTC.
Jordan commented on having fields at Ironman events without professionals in them and his issue was that an amateur would win the race and thus have the title of Ironman Champion which they could take with them when/if they turned Pro which is confusing for fans and sponsors.
I do recall that the inaugural year of the Chicago Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon did not have a prize purse although Kara Goucher did race and win (she beat every male as well). I suspect that she received an appearance fee for that race.
This year we’ve seen some strange decisions by Adreas and Michael Realert and the points system and validation played a role. If WTC requires Kona qualifiers to validate why not pay them an appearance fee to race one of the lesser Ironman races that have small points/purses and just move the points/money to another race and pay more money deeper.
This way the Pro, or any number of Pros, who get the appearance fee receive some guaranteed money, they validate their spot, and likely win the race.
Many Ironman races are going to sell out whether or not they have a Pro field. Fact. I do see value in having Pro races, but to address your point above, it’s hard watching a race with only a few people in it.
OR
Don’t pay the appearance fees and just drop the points and purses from some of the races and have faith that triathlon fans will be able to identify the Pro triathletes from the Amateurs based on their participation at the bigger prize money events.
For example, I didn’t know Nikki Butterfield was that good on the bike. I do now!
From a purely technical standpoint this is correct. No disrespect to Mirinda Carfrae - she’s an amazing athlete (and how about Hy-Vee?!) However, I’m sure she would feel a lot better if she could beat CW this year.
Chrissie is undefeated at Kona and at Ironman races. She is always the 800 lb gorilla in any interview with female iron pros. I assume people will subconsciously think of her as “the champ” until she actually loses in Kona.
I agree with everything you said. Contrary to what most are assuming, I like Chrissie and believe she can beat any other female pro (including Mirinda) in Kona when in good health. But, the fact remains, she is not the current champion. That’s all I was saying.
I’m with you - Mirinda won the race last year, and deserves all the respect that comes with it.
If there are women complaining out there there was money (and points) left over at that race. If the pro fields aren’t going to take the races seriously why should WTC.
Jordan commented on having fields at Ironman events without professionals in them and his issue was that an amateur would win the race and thus have the title of Ironman Champion which they could take with them when/if they turned Pro which is confusing for fans and sponsors.
I do recall that the inaugural year of the Chicago Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon did not have a prize purse although Kara Goucher did race and win (she beat every male as well). I suspect that she received an appearance fee for that race.
This year we’ve seen some strange decisions by Adreas and Michael Realert and the points system and validation played a role. If WTC requires Kona qualifiers to validate why not pay them an appearance fee to race one of the lesser Ironman races that have small points/purses and just move the points/money to another race and pay more money deeper.
This way the Pro, or any number of Pros, who get the appearance fee receive some guaranteed money, they validate their spot, and likely win the race.
Many Ironman races are going to sell out whether or not they have a Pro field. Fact. I do see value in having Pro races, but to address your point above, it’s hard watching a race with only a few people in it.
OR
Don’t pay the appearance fees and just drop the points and purses from some of the races and have faith that triathlon fans will be able to identify the Pro triathletes from the Amateurs based on their participation at the bigger prize money events.
For example, I didn’t know Nikki Butterfield was that good on the bike. I do now!
I agree most IM races are going to sell out regardless of the pro field. I just completed IM Louisville and I would bet that most of the participants could not name any other pros in the field besides McDonald and Biscay (because they were introduced at the athlete dinner).
Also, IM Coeur d’Alene 2012 is now down to only foundation slots. Can you say for sure which pros are going to race next June. I don’t think we can at this point, but yet general entry is sold out.