Challenge sets purses in Americas
The Challenge Family announced their 2015 professional prize purse structure for all of their 15 events in North and South America – amounts which compete with many Ironman and Ironman 70.3 race purses in depth of payout and total amount.
Challenge will offer 50,000 Euro pro prize purses for their full distance events and 25,000 Euros for their half distance triathlons in the Americas. At the current exchange rate, that means $28,496 pro purses for half distance events and $56,992 pro purses for full distance events.
Challenge Family specified that their purses will go 10 deep for pro male and female finishers (except for Challenge St. Andrews, which will pay 5 deep.). This stands in contrast to Ironman races which pay 6 deep for $25,000 70.3 races and 8 deep for Ironman $50,000 races.
Charlie Patten, Challenge Family Americas board member and founder of the Rev3 Triathlon series, which in September 2014 merged its races under the Challenge Family banner, said, “We’re thrilled to finally announce the detailed breakdown our prize money and welcome professionals to all of our events. This is something we’ve worked hard to bring to fruition – an unparalleled series of races spanning the Americas region and catering to every level of athlete, from weekend warrior amateurs to world-class professionals from around the globe.”
Seven of the Challenge Family professional division races in the Americas are events which began as part of the well-run Rev3 series. The revival of pro purses at these races, which were eliminated by Rev3 midway through last season due to economic factors, was welcomed by many pros.
Richie Cunningham, the 2012 overall Rev3 series champion and Rev3 runner-up in 2014, said, “I can’t emphasize enough how meaningful the support of the Rev3 series has been to my career. I’m referring to support across the board from the Rev3 crew, not the least of which was financial. It’s simply a reality that earning potential is a factor in any pro’s decision as to where and when to compete. So for Challenge Family to revitalize prize purses in the U.S. is a major positive for everyone in the pro ranks. The more quality race options, the better!”
Lauren Goss, who earned several Rev3 titles and podium finishes in her first years as a pro, said, “I’m elated to know that Challenge Family will offer a significant prize purse structure throughout the series. As an up and coming pro, I literally built my career on Rev3 races… The fact that Challenge Family will now carry forward and expand on this tradition as a major player in the North and South American markets, offering a pro prize purse at each and every race, increases my own racing opportunities and is great news for everyone on the professional circuit.”
The 2015 Challenge Family professional division races in the Americas include:
May 17 – Knoxville Half
June 7 – Quassy Half
June 14 – Williamsburg Half
June 21 – San Gil Queretaro Half
June 28 – Atlantic City Full
July 5 – St. Andrews Half
August 16 – Pocono Half
August 23 – Maceió Half
August 30 – Maine Half
August 30 – Penticton Full
September 13 – Cedar Point Full
October 18 – Rancho Cordova Half
November 1 – Ixtapa Half
November 15 – Florida Half
November 29 – Florianopolis Half
The Challenge Family has made a serious bid to compete economically with the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races for a professional presence – as well as with its trademark hospitality and quality treatment of all athletes at its races. For 2015, Challenge Family pro purses are better than many Ironman 70.3 races but are outgunned by most Ironman payouts.
The Challenge Family Americas half distance pro purses stack up ahead of 12 worldwide Ironman 70.3 races which offer $15,000 purses, and slightly ahead of 12 more worldwide Ironman 70.3 races which offer $25,000 purses. The Challenge half distance races will fall roughly $1,500 short of five Ironman 70.3 $30,000 races and well below $60,000 purses at 5 prime Ironman 70.3 races and two prime $100,000 70.3 races.
The Challenge full distance pro purses are bigger than 15 worldwide Ironman races, but fall behind 4 Ironman events which feature $75,000 pro purses, 4 which offer $100,000 pro purses and 5 continental championships which offer $150,000 prize money.
In the matter of World Championship purses, Challenge Family has upped the ante with its $500,000 pro purse in Bahrain – twice what the Ironman 70.3 World Championship now offers. While the $625,000 offered at the Ironman World Championship was the biggest in the sport last year, the 2015 Challenge Triple Crown Grand Final in Bahrain will offer a $1 million pro prize.
