My KPR Recommendations for 2015

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To check out the current KPR format and rules, head to: 

 http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/organizations/pro-membership.aspx#axzz2xqxYYc6w

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The basis of my recommendations come from the idea that Kona should be treated like a World Championship in any mainstream sport. A champion is crowned and then the playing field is level heading into the next season. These are extreme changes no doubt, but hopefully some or all of the points can be taken into consideration.


1) Season must end with the World Championship.

To do this, the season needs to end with Kona and start after a certain amount of time has passed. Some of the races will need to change dates to accommodate and the World Championships need to happen around the same time at the end of the year. The new season would then start December 1 or January 1, etc.


2) Standardization of prize purse and points. 

This takes out trying to decide if a certain finish at one race is better than another and by how much...Prize purse standard.

   $80,000 for Ironman
   $40,000 for 70.3


3) Separation of Ironman and 70.3 rankings.

They are different races and placings at one distance should have little impact on another.


4) Elimination of points in Kona. 

Most other sports crown a champion at the end of the year and then level the playing field for the next season. This helps accomplish that, instead of granting an easier path to Kona finishers for the following season. 


5) Equality in sport.

Though I am all for equality in the world and sport, it's apparent through the awarding of Kona slots (and through analysis of finish times, etc), that qualifying as a male is more challenging than qualifying as a female. With that in mind, shouldn't prize purse distribution follow suit? I don't know how to solve this, I just know that's an issue that should be considered.


6) Champions Go.

Win an Ironman, you are in. Win a Half, you are in. This is how it works for qualifying for a major in golf... Seems to make sense for triathlon.


7) An increase in prize purse each year. ~ AT LEAST 3%

Comments

Unknown said…
Some great points Blake. I'm particularly in favor of 5, 6 and 7. Thanks for sharing
9:47 AM
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