Any ST’ers want to share their tri tattoo with everyone and it isn’t an M-Dot tat?
I love tattoos. I’m getting one or two more on the 11th. But they aren’t tri related.
My brother is a big surfer and has something similar to this. Same basic dolphin pattern but no wave behind it. His also has a cool vine type thing going around it.
This is the tat I had done after Ironman New Zealand this year.
http://jkath.com/photos/nz_tattoo/index.html
It’s based on traditional Maori moko work, done by a chap who does moko for the maori community, it incorporates designs representing, earth, water, strength and unity. It’s not complete, as it will have symbols for the three tri events, swim/bike/run in the spaces left within the design. We couldn’t work out the design for the three triathlon symbols to either of our satisfaction, that’s not the stuff he usually does, so they will be inked locally when I have them worked out. He did everything freehand, a one off design, that moves with my muscle and still looks good and level when I stand.
With the symbols in place, going around my calf, it represents the never ending cycle of swim/bike/run/repeat that is our strange world of triathlon, it represents the two years of preparation towards my goal of ironman, the fact that triathlon brought me back into serious sport after a long lay off from my old competitive running days, it represents a change in my life and the fact that on turning 40 I’m in better shape that I have been for over a decade. To me it has many layers of meaning.
It would have been complemented by an Mdot symbol below at the back, had I completed the race. The Mdot would have had the NZ leaf symbol cut out of it, to represent ironman new zealand. When I eventually go back and complete the race, I may have it added then. The tri symbols should be being inked later this month, I’m working on them with an artist I know here.
J.
My favorite tattoo is the one I saw that said; “I’m going to regret this when I’m old, but at least it isn’t on my neck.”
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That’s beautiful work! You are a much braver man than I am for getting freehand ink done.
I always wanted a tattoo all over my body of me, only taller…
I’d like to see the MDot ones too.
All his work is done freehand, I’d seen a lot of his work which is why I chose him. For example, when he sketched the design on my calf, I was sitting down, when I stood up, it moved and wasn’t level, when my muscle flexed it changed the shape etc. If you just do a flat design and then lay it over the area to be inked, it might not work when you move or when your muscle is in a different tension. It took him an hour an a half of changing and retrying things to get it to his satisfaction.
Then, he inked in the main outlines and the rest, all the detail work, he did completely freehand, no outlines, no plans. He started off as a tradional maori woodcarver, learning the history, the designs etc, then it was his carving instructor that pushed him towards doing traditional tattoo work, which has now become his primary job.
His work on larger pieces, with the shading and detail is just incredible. I took a long, long time investigating artists before I chose him, I had no qualms about him working freehand on me.
here’s a really cool tattoo:
tattoos are really cool
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If that guy ever gets burned out, hes going to be seriously depressed.
It’s rather profound, Jim.
you think that is a guy…in a skirt type thing???
Dude, I have to agree. I have been in the sport 2 years and seriously considering a Tri tatoo but a little wary that I will regret it 10 years from now…that being said if/when I complete IM will definitely get the IM logo on my shoulder as is standard.
Is it stupid to just get the swim/bike/run pictures (you know the stick figures you see everywhere) on your back or somewhere??
I think the stick figures can be much, much more ‘cool’ than a boring old IM logo. It totally depends how it’s done. But to each their own…
Agreed. I would spice it up with some color and maybe something wrapping around the whole thing.
Also on the IM thing, I would list where and when under it(maybe by the time I am 80 year old it will go all the way down to my azz!)
Wait this is sound more and more flaky…
That is a girl, her name is Eberle Kush. You can do search for that name and race results should pop up.
chick, dude whatever.
To me, idolizing something so much to brand it on your body is almost like saying “I wish to associate my identity with this thing”. Bringing your life to the level of any inanimate thing is demeaning or devaluing yourself in my eys.
I was not looking to debate the merits of her tattoos, just pointing out that she is in fact a female.
I generally speaking don’t engage in this debate. It happens every couple of months or so, and those who hate them express their disdain for them while those who like and/or have them defend.
I don’t care either way, they are personal the individual who chooses to have it put on them. I am pretty sure that 99% of those people that get them, don’t give a rats ass what anyone else has to say about them.