I personally wish that pros made more money, I really do… but nothing annoys me more than people complaining about how little they make at their job. Eric, you literally point out how your value is less than others or how others are willing to do more for less. Welcome to capitalism!
https://youtu.be/YB07h-Wkc4s?t=258
With all that said, dude, I feel for you. You deserve to make more.
I’ve never managed to feel sorry for triathletes who say they don’t make enough money. They travel to races, train outside and don’t have to do a day job, which is what I call a weekend and do in my spare time.
For people who do feel bad about their plight, they can write a check and help them out (my bet is most don’t really feel that bad).
What I’d really like is someone to sponsor me so I don’t have to work all day and can spend my time training in places like Kelowna. I accept interac transfers or checks.
It’s a shame that was your only takeaway worth sharing.
For me, the video is about slowing down and enjoying the lifestyle. A welcome contrast to the monologues we get from others in the pro field.
The fact he is a realist about the economics shouldn’t dilute that message.
Scott
He’s wallowing… but glad you see the bright side.
Eh I think he’s real. He’s staring the reality that this sport has no real way to support it’s “pros” beyond pretty much world class of the world class. He’s staring and dealing with the newer hardships.
No more olympic distance races, more hurdles to get with sponsors. I think he’s just being real as fuck with the reality that that lifestyle isn’t likely sustainable or that yes “van life” is going to have to continue even more.
So I dont think he’s wanting anyone to take pity on him, I think he’s just being real in a very real moment.
Prize money comment is a such a small comment. You analyzing their swim workout would have been more insightful.
Thumbs up to Eric and Paula on an honest and non-ego video about life as pros.
Living in the van with your hot and fit girlfriend, traveling the world like a retired person, and making a few bucks here and there, certainly could be worse. I think and hope he realizes that these will be some of the best times of his life. The only difference a few more bucks makes is the food you get to eat, and maybe a nicer RV rig. But in the end, most non top pros just end up in the same exact place when they retire, pretty much broke and ready to start the next phase of their lives. Only question is when does this happen, in 10 years, 15, or 20+. IT truly is about the journey for guys like him, good results just enable you to keep putting off the inevitable, which I highly recommend doing for as long as you can!!
Of course there is always that brass ring to keep grasping for, a small % actually get it and can set up that 2nd phase quite nicely…Stay on the merry go round Eric, you have the rest of your life to do that other thing, whatever it is…
speaking of hot gf… his ex Magali Tisseyre seems to have completely fallen of the tri scene radar. anyone have updates on her? Last seen 2018 doing an xterra race
Well she’s 37, so it’s kind of time to probably move forward. She was on a MTB in Whistler 5 weeks ago and hasn’t tweeted in 2019. But why are you asking? When you could like…google?
IRT to the actual question about the prize money. Honestly, I look at what it pays to 5 deep. I do agree that prize purses aren’t big enough at most races. But going back to say the PTO crap. Where do you think that money will come from? Hello my registration fee, no thanks! Although, if Eric wants to start a Patreon he puts out some good stuff and probably could get a few patrons.
speaking of hot gf… his ex Magali Tisseyre seems to have completely fallen of the tri scene radar. anyone have updates on her? Last seen 2018 doing an xterra race
Eric is on slowtwitch and posts from time to time. Shit like this above is exactly what keeps pros out of slowtwitch. I have nothing against OP, whether its a fair comment or not, he did it with taste but for fuck’s sake leave his past and current relationships out of this conversation.
Enjoy his videos way more than anyone that hires a vlogger to interview them on life updates.
One thimg i always wonder is just how.bad many pros are at selling themselves, not saying eric is.
From everything to a website or just having a FB page, some pros dont seem to care.
I use to think pros were worth more… but the market has spoken, they’re not.
Paula can always go back to medical school.
the reality is actually that Ironman/ Wanda, and the previous owners, do not provide any platform for pro’s to be professional athletes.
if this was treated as a sport, rather than a fun run, with proper coverage showing the racing and race dynamics of long course triathlon, then it would be very different in terms of outside investment entering the sport.
this is primarily the joke coverage of professional racing in long course and along side this you have the absolute unprofessionalism of the governing bodies.
as it is, the coverage, even in kona, currently shows the leader of a race just outside exercising and telling age grouper stories. along with moronic commentary. boring af, even if you are a genuine fan of the sport, let alone bringing in new casual fans.
the people who are saying pro’s should be grateful just for having the lifestyle of being able to train and race, don’t seem to have the same attitude towards other sports stars making millions, where proper coverage and a platform is provided to them to be professional athletes. very odd and thoughtless.
treat triathlon as a sport, not some bs fun run.
Note: I haven’t listened to the interview. But as to triathletes being underpaid, yeah, they may be underpaid, but, as far as underpaid professions, they don’t crack the top 100.
“I play real sports. Not trying to be the best at exercising.” Kenny Powers.
…
the people who are saying pro’s should be grateful just for having the lifestyle of being able to train and race, don’t seem to have the same attitude towards other sports stars making millions, where proper coverage and a platform is provided to them to be professional athletes. very odd and thoughtless.
treat triathlon as a sport, not some bs fun run.
I don’t think it is fair to compare it to big money sports. Triathlon doesn’t get 50000 people paying $100/ticket (or whatever) to watch a race. It’s not a spectator sport so there will never be big sponsor or fan money. Pro triathletes know that going in, its a lifestyle they choose, and I’m jealous, but it is what it is.
how much do you think ticket sales contribute to the multi million dollar prize funds at tennis grand slams?
triathlon for sure does not need to rely on ticket sales (or age grouper revenue) to fund the professional sport).
gives the pro’s a proper platform to create a fan base and the external investment will come. benefitting pro’s, ironman corp and age groupers.
I believe Magali has posted on instagram recently that she is retired from competition.
I dont think it’s the governing bodies or the poor race coverage that is keeping the professionals “down”. I think it’s the fact that the sport can’t generate interest that is allowing races to go away (non draft olympics), or the fact that long course triathlon is boring AF. And that it’s boring AF has zero to do with how they broadcast the event and has far more to do with the actual racing ability/content it can provide.
Your sport is successful and makes millions if you can provide an entertaining product to the masses. That’s it. And keep in mind you have a boring AF sport like cycling as well that has figured it out. Their races are as boring as IM’s are and at times nearly as long. But they have a fan base and culture that reveres the sport. We don’t have that. Hell the own AG athletes continously say “I dont care about pros”, so if they dont who in the hell thinks joe schmoe sitting on the couch is going to be bothered to care.
And that’s why you actually see wonky ideas like the Collins Cup who’s going to allow “interaction” with the athletes in real time be part of the broadcasts. They are trying to drum up excitement for it. Of course that Collins Cup has been talked about and then paused for like 3 years now.
It’s also why the reality of it is that the only real successful chance anything triathlon has to making it is going to be in short course racing. Fast paced racing that takes place in under 2 hours. Not this all day racing, that’s boring AF and for the birds. And I actually coach and support a group of developing pros that some only have a chance of making it at the long course distance. I’d love for IM to be on ESPN and watched by millions. But it aint going to happen. Hell go look at the Super League downloads on Youtube. If they’ve even gotten 100k views, I’d be shocked. So then it’s simply about doing the best you can with what you got and I think IM does it well for that. I don’t think they are going on the “cheap” with their broadcasts to keep the sport down. They are putting in what exactly they think they should.