You are a moving target and changed your issue on me…I don’t necessarily disagree with some of your points.
You are a moving target and changed your issue on me…I don’t necessarily disagree with some of your points.
Not really…I was responding to the person who said that the competitiveness of the race is deteriorated by the fact that racers have to qualify at IM races. So I pointed out that isn’t the case for everyone so the race already is inherently less competitive.
2 options
- race faster
- move to hawaii
Seems like Amstel should move there, stay for three years and avoid getting the shit kicked out of him. Then, and only then he would qualify as a Hawaii resident.
I still think it is ridiculous that you can go to the world championships in ironman with out having completed an ironman. I agree, they are completely different races, require a completely different race plan, training, nutrition etc…
If it didn’t it would probably only award 24 slots total. I doubt it really takes slots away from anyone else.
Seems like Amstel should move there, stay for three years and avoid getting the shit kicked out of him. Then, and only then he would qualify as a Hawaii resident.
I don’t understand this part of your reply. Is the big island a tough place to get along? I am confident that I would be able to hold my own against a bunch of other mainland transplants. It would have made more sense if you said " and avoid getting drunk every day on the beach…" Either way I would like my chances qualifying at this race as a Hawaii resident…
ST seems to have so many who think they have a better business model. Wonder why none of them ever show us how their ideas make a better race by putting one on. :o)
I don’t know what you people are talking about??? Who said anything about a better business model or being forced to race in Hawaii. My only point is it doesn’t seem all that fair when you get beat by a bunch of people in you AG but still get a Kona slot based on your state of residence. I would think that living and training in the state that the race takes place is enough of an advantage.
I agree. I know guys who get slots as Hawaii residents who would be lucky tp place top 150 in their AG in IMNA races. They basically have 1-2 guys too compete against. So all they have to worry about is beating their buddy.
S
If it weren’t for the Big Island slots, Kona residents would hate the race even more then they already do. Kona would do just fine if we didn’t have 1 week of sure chaos in mid october. It’s more of a burden then a benefit.
I still think it is ridiculous that you can go to the world championships in ironman with out having completed an ironman. I agree, they are completely different races, require a completely different race plan, training, nutrition etc…
I agree entirely.
Terry
I can’t believe this race allocates 44 Kona slots to Hawaii residents and only 24 to AGers. This doesn’t seem very fair to me
What are your thoughts on the lottery, CEO, military, celebrity and handout slots?
Yes, it can be tough. Some Hawaiians don’t take kindly to mainland transplants, especially the ones that act stupid… like getting drunk every day on the beach.
I can’t believe this race allocates 44 Kona slots to Hawaii residents and only 24 to AGers. This doesn’t seem very fair to me
What are your thoughts on the lottery, CEO, military, celebrity and handout slots?
Yo don’t see the difference? If you are going to hand out Kona slots to people in Hawaii, why even have a race?
If it didn’t it would probably only award 24 slots total. I doubt it really takes slots away from anyone else.
Spoken like someone who got a resident slot… 
Yep, you bet I did. But in reality, there were less resident slots this year. And from what I understand the race has to fight for those slots every year.
ST seems to have so many who think they have a better business model. Wonder why none of them ever show us how their ideas make a better race by putting one on. :o)
I don’t know what you people are talking about??? Who said anything about a better business model or being forced to race in Hawaii. My only point is it doesn’t seem all that fair when you get beat by a bunch of people in you AG but still get a Kona slot based on your state of residence. I would think that living and training in the state that the race takes place is enough of an advantage.
I agree. I know guys who get slots as Hawaii residents who would be lucky tp place top 150 in their AG in IMNA races. They basically have 1-2 guys too compete against. So all they have to worry about is beating their buddy.
S
I think you folks are missing the point. The Ironman was not only born in the state of Hawaii, but Hawaii hosts the Kona Ironman every year. I think it would be terrible to ask Hawaii to host a race (which is by qualification or lottery only) where none of its locals participate. Without Hawaii state and big island residency slots, it’s conceivable that no locals are in the race. This is not the same for other Ironman events where you can simply sign up for the race (whether you’re a local or visitor).
Where a Hawaii local stacks up against others in their AG in IMNA races is irrelevant, just as long as a Hawaii local in each AG has a chance to participate in their own back yard – and Hawaii state and Big Island slots serve this purpose.
Side note - the comment about Hawaii residents being lucky to place in the top 150 in their AG implies that locals aren’t competitive or are somehow non-deserving. A quick look at the results says otherwise…
2010 Hawaii 70.3 Results:
1st place m35-39 hawaii resident
1st place m40-44 hawaii resident
1st place m45-49 hawaii resident
1st place w40-44 hawaii resident
And several others hawaii residents who place in the top 5 in their respective AGs.
I really don’t have an issue with the Hawaii residents getting slots, its just Ironman nepotism, and there needs to be some nepotism in the world for things to work, like it or not.
I don’t agree with any 70.3 qualifying for IM’s. Its not even the same event. I’ll probably never qualify, but it does piss me off when you hear about the guys who miss KQ by a few seconds when their ag has only a few slots.
Didn’t the Kiwis lose a bunch of Kona slots at IMNZ to new 70.3 races?
Hawaii is not an easy place to live. Food, housing,energy and overall living expenses are very high. Good paying jobs are hard to find. When I moved here almost twenty years ago the “rule of thumb” is that 1/2 the people that move to Hawaii without roots here leave after one year. Of the half that stayed more than a year, half of them leave before 5 years. After that you “get it” and will probably stay a good while.
There is a lot of truth in that rule. Believe me, it is like a revolving door in the hospital industry. (one of the better jobs here)
Like any other town, a lot of people don’t give a rats arse about the triathlon, marathon, 10k run, fishing tourney, hoop it up or whatevers.Anytime you get that many folks in a small place they sort of take over. They even had a chapped fisherman try and run over the swim field with his boat in Kona one year. I pushed off his boat as he was pulling away from the pier is how I know that. Cops stopped him and he was arrested.
Kona Town does make a lot of money off the Ironman, but they also have to put up with all the jackasses that act like they own the place for a week of the year. Blocking traffic, have a “dig me” attitude, and flash cash like a lot of locals can not do. If you do qualify or just come to watch, please be nice and considerate. Those folks live there 52 weeks of the year. And a whole bunch of them volunteer to help with the race.
As far as the Big Island Slots, and the Hawaii resident slots… We are a rock in the middle of the ocean. The cost of road trips is huge, sort of like your Kona budget is everytime we go to a race. It is nice of them to cut the locals a bit of slack. I really could care less if they did or not, but it is their race so do what they want.
I am not trying to stir the pot here, but the whole tone of this thread sort of suggests to me, you guys don’t quite “get it” yet. But someday you might.
Nice response. It’s definitely not the only race venue around the world where the community embrace over-ego’d athletes who pee on their hedgerows!
Seems to me the ones who have the biggest issues with the qualification system are those who aren’t fast enough to qualify. If you want it that much, don’t be bitter, train harder!
All I can say is I know a guy who races the Honu and is slow and all he has to do is beat his buddy to get a slot in previous years. It is also more work for us mainlanders to get to Hawaii- not to mention expense, so the field is not as stacked as mainland IM races, plus as mentioned before it is only a 70.3. So competition is less and they are more slots. Don’t get me wrong I know there are some very fast guys racing there from the mainland and Hawaii, but not a ton.
S