Kona Qualifying- What it takes.. (Page 5)

That is probably the way they are going to go .......... I remember last year when they still hadn't inked the deal for the Kona slots at Eagleman (which had them for years before the 70.3 brand kicked in) and how pissed people were about that.  But they did just confirm that they have inked another 3 years for the slots there.  They only give one or two per AG as well.  Major kudos to Mike for having the chance to make the choice!  I don't necessarily think it is a bad thing to have limited slots available at the 70.3 races.  Just think how exciting this year is going to be with McGlone and Alexander going for their first Hawaii event by getting there slots at Clearwater last year!  I'm willing to put a few bucks down on McGlone to be in contention .... but not Alexander - he's awesome, but he's got a little work in my opinion to be up there in contention with Macca, Stadler and Faris.

And yes, I would have had a Clearwater slot if I had wanted it at Eagleman this year like Fred, but it was not on my agenda being one week away from IMFL.

I see where the top three should only get it can make sense.  But I would ask what if those top three have already qualified somewhere else.  You have a really good athlete who races 2 -3 races and places top 3 in them all (a/g or o/a) then if they didn't "roll down" then you don't have those slots spread out.

If that was the case, not only would the establishment not make the money from the people getting the roll down, but the person who busted his/her butt kinds ends up on the short end too.  But I can see the point of if they can't get into the top three, then the technically don't "deserve" it.  Just looking at it from both sides.

Yes.  Because there is no reason somebody should HAVE to race 2 IM in one year.

Don't need to ask your opinion on the lottery then, eh?

But I do agree on the rolldown issue .... the fact that that last rolldown guy for Clearwater in the 35-39 field was over 5:1X just diminishes the feat a bit.  I can't imagine that a HI slot would roll down past the teens, but if someone doesn't claim the 65 - 69 ladies slot or something and it rolls into the 35 - 39 and a slower guy just happens to be hanging around and gets that slot, it is a bit bogus.

bryancd - 2007-08-20 1:08 PM BUT...besides it being hard to do 2 IM races in one year, SHOULD these slots be awarded at 70.3 at all????? Man, it's like herding cats with you guys!

Just because you don't like the answer, it doesn't mean it wasn't answered. 

YES!!!!!

Don't need to ask your opinion on the lottery then, eh?

bogus.

And I answered that too.  Do you think the top racers at Eagleman (just picking one of the races with slots here) will be uncompetitive at Kona?  I think it's good that they give the top athletes a chance to get into the Wolrd Championship IM race without having to commit to doing 2 IM in a single year.  I think those slots are more difficult to get than the slots at an IM race.  I don't see how an IM-finisher that could conceivably have qualified if there were an extra few slots to go around has any room for complaint.  I see it as fair to all involved. 

But in the end, it's a corporate decision anyway.  Hardly a major issue in my mind.

Edit:  And the last point is also perhaps why I don't have much problem with the lottery either.  I wouldn't go to Kona through the lottery, but that's just my own personal stance on it.  Don't see why it should be viewed as a big problem for people to do so or WTC to continue offering it.  There's plenty of slots currently available for people to earn their way there.

I also think that it's ok to give Kona slots at 70.3. 

Why?  I think it's 2 fold.  I don't think that anyone will argue that the two races are different animals so that's not in debate.  But I do think that someone that does very well at a 70.3 race has the motivation and "talent" to at least do moderately well at the IM distance.  Plus you have the financial aspect.  You can do two 70.3's for the price of one IM AND you can do both of those in an attempt to earn your way to Kona in the same year.  You're able to recover faster so you can pull off a late season 70.3, qualify and still get ready for IM.

I don't think there should be a limit for roll down slots for Kona.  If you place 20th in your A/G, run a "super fast" race and the people in front of you were too lazy to stick around.  Then by all  means have the slot.  Granted, I'm talking from the 30-34 a/g here, so 20th in that Age Group generally is still fairly good.  20th in the 50 - 55...perhaps not so much.

I personally would not enter the lottery, but I'm ok with it.  I think that if they had to take away some spots because it was getting crowded, then the first spots to go should be from the lottery.  The corporate spots will never be removed because that's  how they make their money, so you can't reduce those...much.

edit:  Reality is that the make more money from keeping the lottery from the people that don't get selected than by shorting the "racers" a slot here and there.  So, I'm sure I know where the slots will come from when they need to pear down the race numbers.

Lottery?

I'll never do it, and I personally don't think it should be around either.

But I'll never belittle or criticize someone who enters it and is selected.  That was their choice to take part in a great event, and as long as that option is available (and since the WTC makes $50 or so off of every person just entering the lottery on top of the $475 entry if they do get in, it's a cash cow they would be fools to stop), people can go for it!

But we've goten way off topic in the last page or so ........