Frodeno wins in any conditions!
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It’s fun on ST
‘ Ironman is quintessentially US and I think should stay that way. The more globalist perspective is where Challenge should move into, along with a rotating championship. Both covering slightly different segments of the long distance triathlon market’
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Is it???
Pretty sure there are more non-US athletes than US ones?
Hang on, I’ve left my blinkers with my gun…
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I think they’ve realised if they don’t put something on they will be a bit snookered. But in putting on something that isn’t Kona, jeez, wouldn’t like to have qualified for Kona to be offered anywhere else! Seems their Ts&Cs allow for a change. Also think that Sacramento is being seen as the “unofficial” world champs this year (Lionel is going, I think Jan too, and others, to keep the same rhythm and timing as Kona) - Ironman have probably realised they need to do something for the pros. Can feel for Jan - looks like he will have lost the chance to win 2 more Konas. Wonder if he had his eye on 6…
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Also reading between the lines they must know Feb 22 is in serious danger, maybe they’re trying to put pressure on?
Agree, currently has to be Kona - dream was always doing the world champs on the one day on that course.
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Urm yeah. I’m pretty sure Ironman have actively tried to snuff that out on many occasions.
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Always thought Challenge should move closer to ITU…or World Triathlon as they are now, but they did and it hasnt seemed to add anything to the “official” Long Distance World Champs
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Triathon is declining in the US, Ironman has a financial obligation to its owners, therefore becoming US focused would be dereliction of its corporate responsibility… basically its not going to happen, no matter how much guys on ST whing
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Given that the oldest non Hawaii IMs are Canada (now defunct), NZ and Oz, I’d say ‘no’.
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So tempted to hop over and say ‘given recent Kona winners, not to mention Olympics plus other factors like the enduring popularity of Roth I’d say it’s now German centric, or at least European and the WC location should reflect that……’
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I think in the days before the 70.3 re-branding when you could qualify for Kona at a HIM there was probably a lot more Kona slots on offer in the US than in the rest of the world combined. Now I think most of the slots are awarded outside the US
Do it!
Not just HIM, there were a couple of shorter ones you could do it at and they didn’t have to be IM branded races.
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You should do that, and throw in something casual about the US’s declining geopolitical relevance.
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And 'is hawaii really the US anyway?!
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Kona is AnyTown USA for sure, it looks like any non famous city in the US, so I’d say yes!
I’m surprised that the ST thread is not as rabid as expected. Sure there are plenty of America First posts, but also plenty supporting a move away from Kona. IMJ is far more one sided.
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Got the 
on their flag 
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Is it just me, or does this feel like a permanent change is in the air. There is a distinct sense that Kona has had its time, and the current situation is just bringing things forward
Ive been pretty clear in my views on this topic. However, I would still be a little sad if it happens, even though in my view its the right thing to do
It would help them get a bigger field and maybe not upset the locals. Moving about has worked quite well for the 70.3 so far.
But, there seems to be that magical element about it, let’s face it, people often call it Kona rather than the World Champs, not sure Blackpool has the same lure 
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