The real question then is how many deluded people are actually in a position to even qualify for Kona. Generally need to be at the very minimum top 10. There aren’t that many people in top 10 condition…the finish times fall away very quickly
I suspect it is the cost ,as these days that much for an Ironman is simply not worth it. Interestingly the 70.3 is still open for registration as well at $650,an equally insane price for what you get. (Challenge Wanaka at their regular price is $460AUD by comparison)
I would not be surprised at all if they can’t get rid of all the Kona slots for women this year as the cost for Australian’s to go to Kona is just simply outrageous. Just watch how far they roll on Monday.
If cost was a problem Busso wouldn’t be a sell out 6 months out. I think its the Kona thing…even though it makes little sense.
The stats for Busso are also impressive, huge numbers in the younger age groups. Kids these days value health, fitness and experiences where as our moron generation thought nothing of wasting $200 on booze for a normal run of the mill ‘good weekend’…
Never done Wanaka but every Challenge race I did was a joke compared to the event IM put on, chalk and cheese. Well worth the extra $190. Like Singapore Airlines versus Jetstar…
The very first Iron distance race in Cairns was Challenge Cairns put on by the same people who now host Ironman. I have done both and there is no difference. I also have done Challenge Wanaka (when it was a full) and was the same as any of the Ironman events I have done or seen around the world.The Ironman “experience” these days is very much a budget version of what it used to be back in the day before they started cutting costs.
We will have to agree to disagree, Ive done Challenge Melbourne, Shepparton, Canberra and yeah…nah.
Different people value different things though I guess. For example people go on about the post race food-the last thing I want to be doing after an IM is sitting down eating, I just want to get out and celebrate with my family.
True true. But just like half the cross country kids I coach who show up and half ass practice and then come race day take off running with the front pack as soon as the gun goes off; there’s a dreamer born every minute who believes Anything is Possible™.
ProTri News ‘Live Show’:
with Thompson, McCloy and Hering
“We are down under in Australia for an episode series leading into [IM Cairns]. This episode is the tackling the race dynamics ahead of race day. Joined by the voice of triathlon worldwide, Will McCloy [and] two of the professional triathletes competing, Australia Record Holder, Nick Thompson and American Record Holder, Jackie Hering.”
MPro start on Sunday June 15 at 0737 local time (UTC+10), which is 2237 Saturday in Europe and 2337 UK. Five minute gap to WPro.
US Saturday afternoon/evening too. Overlaps WPro T100 Vancouver.
Behind the scenes with Jamie Riddle, Penny Slater, Regan Hollioake and Matthew Marquardt
Push through the Riddle ‘stream of consciousness’ or mute the first few minutes