What would people apoligize for? Going back to Kona full time was almost a given, I think they were the 1st to sorta have whisper that it would happen “earlier” then then Kona/Nice contract timeline though (split was suppose to run through 2026).
You are right. It was only for 70.3. But I bet it becomes a thing for Kona. It has all the writing on the wall for it.
Oh, there has been a not small and very vocal cohort of people who feel compelled to try and discredit PTN’s coverage on this web site.
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I just have a sneaky feeling they will provide women with slightly more slots than what they demographics should allow. I think it’s currently an 80/20 split of male/female racing IM’s. I just don’t think that will be the percentage in Kona, thus women will get “more slots” even though not “equal” slots.
If they stick closer to 80/20 I’d be more shocked then if they didn’t. With the women getting their equal own day, and it now getting taken back, I just think they’ll figure out a way to have it more than ~600 or less women in Kona. Just my thoughts. Mark on PTN basically came to that conclusion around the 30 min mark, that the iniative programs will factor in to the numbers to make it more than just what the 80/20 split should have it at.
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80/20 is hardly equal. Not even close.
He is trying to say 80/20 is proportionate to participation numbers. He is not saying it is equal.
Also, @Kyleglass91 good call, but also use the mute button when typing.
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Listen to the pod, Brooks: addressed directly by DeRue.
Equality of opportunity as opposed to pure (or even a bit unbalanced) equal numbers.
And research has concluded that boosting the numbers DISproportionately has been to the detriment of female participation at IM (if I understood correctly).
If total number in 2026 is 2750 (midway in the bracket said) then at 80%-20% that’s 2200 men and 550 women. Now I think IM might skew it a little (say 75/25) but no more. The women get 550: plenty enough for women of ‘world champs’ standard.
I’m shocked, after Kelly’s great interview with Kelly that DeRue didn’t go for the Triathlon Hour for the ‘on the day’ verbal detail and context.
Well if it’s 3000 starters and he says 1000 women, that’s 70/30, I just don’t see that happening.
When talking about this point yesterday, DeRue pretty much said that they will reserve slots for initiatives, including but not limited to Women For Tri, and you’ll see certain events / activations that will have additional slots.
Reading between the lines, expect to see increased women’s slots available at races in the US, CAN, UK, and AUS.
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I’m with Brooks. I think it will be a 2/3 M to 1/3 W split. Or maybe 70/30. So 2,000-2,100 men and 900-1,000 women in a 3,000 person IMWC. Which is disproportionate to actual participation but it keeps the hopes and perception of the W Tri initiatives aimed in the right direction.
If you look at registration numbers for 2018 and 2019 in Kona. Women made up 27-28% of registrations. It’s not 20% like everyone is saying.
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You mean the podcast where they said that IM was going to switch Nice to Kona in 2025?
It didn’t happen.
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I was looking at finishers.
Incorrect. They said 2026.
@Kyleglass91 floated the > Kona in 2026 and 70.3WC to Nice for 2026 in one of the pods either from Taupo or in that week before Christmas. #ithappened
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The 20% is general female participation % in Ironmans over the/a year. The number in Kona is slot allocation driven. Listen to DeRue explaining the backgroud/rationale.
November 2024 approx minute 03:50
“the rumor Is alive that the men are in Kona next year”
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It’s a curious thing that. If they just tell you that a higher percentage of women who just raced Kona don’t sign-up for another race, they are telling you sending more women to Kona is the wrong direction. Unless the right direction is all about telling people how much we support women even if it burns them out, turns them off, etc.
Shorter question - if it makes it worse, is it right? Is Kona now a “take your medicine” moment for women?
As a business decision, some of your customers who buy your premium product subsequently buys less of your standard product, you probably want to make sure to target the correct cohort who will not defect after buying the premium product. Keep them content buying the standard product.
Now, Scott might just be covering his butt to justify why he’s making the smart business decision to lean on his strengths (Kona hungry men), but in either case if we care about the health of Ironman rather than optics, then we ought to look at things without an ideological lens. It’s pretty rare that a revolutionary ideologue gets their ideology to line up with the results of reality every time.
It’s good to see Mr DeRue adjust course here in that regard. Now… maybe they’ll get to work figuring out how to get more transition zones, so they can keep leveraging one of the greatest strengths!
ps – I’m pretty sure DeRue called @Kyleglass91 Talbot, right? Important question would be if that was the accidental wrong name on purpose to send a message or just one of those random things every Dad of multiple kids does.
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Yeah and then Pat basically shut that down saying it will be more than likely 2026.
Isn’t the registration numbers are what matters though? Finishers doesn’t take into account dnf or dns. Registrations are those who qualified or got into the race some other way (legacy, sponsor spots, etc).