I was just reading that the men’s 50-54 rolled 76 spots for NICE. Unsure of other age groups.
In the women’s field, there were 17 slots for KONA left over after roll down was completed.
Crazy
Does Australia have a history of this? It’s a long way to travel for both Kona and Nice, but twice as far for Nice. That may play an even bigger factor than not being Kona.
Does anybody have a magic list of rolldowns by race by year? I’d like to see IM WI rolldown history.
No, there is no history of KONA slots going entirely unused at an event. At least not since the 90s when Kona slots were available at Oly distance races, but even then, I’ve never heard of available Kona slots at an event unable to find a desiring participant.
WTC is on a very slippery slope. When their self designated world championships become no more difficult to gain entry to than any other event, they will soon become no different than ITU Long Course World Championships or any other open race that calls itself a championship.
The appeal of Kona is (was) like the appeal of Boston: it’s exclusivity and the challenge to qualify. When it’s just another race open to all, the prestige and the draw will be much reduced.
I do think a max finish time would be ideal for Worlds. Where would you put the rang for a race within 10 or 20% of the top finish time in each AG? So roll dow as usual, but don’t bother showing up to roll downs if your time is out of reach
No, there is no history of KONA slots going entirely unused at an event. At least not since the 90s when Kona slots were available at Oly distance races, but even then, I’ve never heard of available Kona slots at an event unable to find a desiring participant.
WTC is on a very slippery slope. When their self designated world championships become no more difficult to gain entry to than any other event, they will soon become no different than ITU Long Course World Championships or any other open race that calls itself a championship.
The appeal of Kona is (was) like the appeal of Boston: it’s exclusivity and the challenge to qualify. When it’s just another race open to all, the prestige and the draw will be much reduced.
Totally agree.
I agree also. The lure was the difficulty in being able to qualify It seems to have lost its luster with the new changes.
Does Australia have a history of this? It’s a long way to travel for both Kona and Nice, but twice as far for Nice. That may play an even bigger factor than not being Kona.
Does anybody have a magic list of rolldowns by race by year? I’d like to see IM WI rolldown history.
Typically almost all spots would be taken at Aus races with very few rolling down.
Here is one reason in a post on the Training for Ironman Australia Facebook page…
I agree with him “Fark you Kona!”
This is pretty startling.
Was anyone from the forum at the roll down ceremony and can let us know how it went across the different age groups?
Typically very few roll downs at any Aus IM. Yesterday 17 women’s spots were unclaimed, calling for anyone to take it and a similar scenario for the men. Heard it was much the same at IM New Zealand. IM Cairns will be interesting next month with 75 spots for both men and women. Guessing anyone women that finishes will have the opportunity to go to Kona if they can afford the entry and accommodation. Roll downs have long been one of the most enjoyable parts of the IM experience. Yesterday people were walking out half way through disappointed in what they were witnessing. Ironman are slowly destroying the sport, so disappointing to witness.
Is the Legacy Program now redundant?
I was chatting with someone the other day who kept secret she was off to Kona later in the year. It was only later she admitted to going and explained she felt embarrassed about going due to the roll down. How sad is that.
And this is the problem, whilst some people are happy to accept a charity spot and brag about going to Kona, the vast majority want to earn it, deserve it. If you are in a position where the entry has been so devalued that people are embarrassed about it then it’s a move in the wrong direction obviously. For the record this person did earn/deserve the spot (top 4 finisher) but still felt self-conscious about it unfortunately.
Not sure Ironman are destroying the sport, but they’re sure as hell not doing their brand any favours.
Although they’re the biggest game in town they’re fortunately not the only one. The PTO races are fantastic for the sport and although there aren’t many events around for those of you in the US, Challenge put on a race.
FWIW I knew my race in Aus would be a poor performance bit I did in anyway because I’d got too many parts of the trip paid for without refunds available. I didn’t plan to go rolldown because I felt like going to a World Champs off a performance I knew was poor for me would be like just paying to go to an Iroman theme park. Not judging anyone who takes a slot though. If I’d raced well I’d probably feel different even if it had to roll down 100 places to get to me.
Do Ironman own the full distance world championship or can another company do a rival world championship, one that you qualify for? I think people want to do an Ironman World Championship and want to do it in Kona, but not if the event has lost it’s credibility and prestige. I think having a non Ironman World Champs in some other place that you have to qualify for is going to be more attractive than Kona where anyone can now go. Well anyone except those on the living on the breadline. I don’t think too many people give a fuck about Ironman and although I do get that Kona is the home of Ironman, it seems that the allure of the island has greatly diminished - crazy costs and angry locals…
Not sure Ironman are destroying the sport, but they’re sure as hell not doing their brand any favours.
Although they’re the biggest game in town they’re fortunately not the only one. The PTO races are fantastic for the sport and although there aren’t many events around for those of you in the US, Challenge put on a race.
FWIW I knew my race in Aus would be a poor performance bit I did in anyway because I’d got too many parts of the trip paid for without refunds available. I didn’t plan to go rolldown because I felt like going to a World Champs off a performance I knew was poor for me would be like just paying to go to an Iroman theme park. Not judging anyone who takes a slot though. If I’d raced well I’d probably feel different even if it had to roll down 100 places to get to me.
Problem is that PTO doesn’t want to be involved in AG races, so that won’t work for us. Challenge out on great races but mostly in Europe but largely 1/2 distance
I think there are two trends or points here. Firstly. IM hasn’t done themselves any favours by throwing Kona/Nice wide open to the masses literally. It reduces its prestige. Secondly i think its the sign of the times. Triathlon popularity is in slow decline, races simply don’t sell out anymore. It’s not terminal or on death’s bed but it doesn’t bode well for the future
Heard it was much the same at IM New Zealand.
IMNZ the women rolled a little for Kona but the men rolled big time and I believe many people could just go to Nice if they wanted. Vietnam this last weekend rolled quite deep in some AG for 70.3 Lahtiwc partly that’s because of the accommodation situation I suspect. Kona has the same cost accom issue whereas nice at least for Nzers is a long way to travel.
I’m sure someone who finishes 4.15 in a 70.3 or sub 9.30 in a full thinks a person like me sub 5 10.30 type maybe might not really be deserving of a slot as I’m going to be pack fill. but when u have ppl finishing in 7 hrs 70.3 for lahti or 16+ hrs able to go to kona or Nice it does seem like there is no point to try to earn a slot at all it ceases to have any value. I also think it’s borderline irresponsible to allow a flat course 7/16 type athlete to go race if they might not make the cut off.
I’m going WC lahti nice then nz next year but the allure to earn a slot if they just giveaway at least for me is gone a bit now.
Triathlon popularity is in slow decline, races simply don’t sell out anymore. It’s not terminal or on death’s bed but it doesn’t bode well for the future
I wouldn’t say it’s a slow decline, the sport has always ebbed and flowed in terms of numbers and in Australia races are selling out now whereas 4/5 years ago they weren’t. It could be different in other countries? Numbers for Ironman Western Australia and the 70.3:
IM 70.3
2022 1100 900
2019 1169 800
2016 1300 520
2009 1124 NA
2006 1184 NA
There used to be two 70.3’s in Busso, December and May and Mandurah had one for a couple of years now down to one IM branded race
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There used to be two 70.3’s in Busso, December and May and Mandurah had one for a couple of years now down to one IM branded race
Yeah Triathlon WA were paying IM a fortune to run one of the 70.3s, that contract came to an end and they didn’t renew because of the cost, now that event is an ITU race 2/80/18. Mandurah council gave a thumbs down to the 70.3 after 4 years because the locals were cracking a sad.
There used to be two 70.3’s in Busso, December and May and Mandurah had one for a couple of years now down to one IM branded race
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There is more to life than the almighty M-Dot
Busselton Festival of Triathlon - Busselton Festival of Triathlon
No, there is no history of KONA slots going entirely unused at an event. At least not since the 90s when Kona slots were available at Oly distance races, but even then, I’ve never heard of available Kona slots at an event unable to find a desiring participant.
WTC is on a very slippery slope. When their self designated world championships become no more difficult to gain entry to than any other event, they will soon become no different than ITU Long Course World Championships or any other open race that calls itself a championship.
The appeal of Kona is (was) like the appeal of Boston: it’s exclusivity and the challenge to qualify. When it’s just another race open to all, the prestige and the draw will be much reduced.
Agree, but I don’t think this roll down issue will exist in Kona years.
I got a roll down slot via email for Nice finishing c.20th in the 30-34 category in Barcelona in just over 10 hours. I’m assuming this is because those who qualified at the event and took their Kona slot then decided to defer to Kona.
I’m expecting mens Kona years will be highly challenging to qualify for with little roll down. This will create two tiers of events.