Talking with Zibi Szlufcik
Last month Challenge announced THECHAMPIONSHIP, to take place in Šamorín, Slovakia, on June 3, 2017.
While THECHAMPIONSHIP will not have the title of “world championship” (the ITU would object, successfully), it is Challenge’s analog to the World Championships hosted by Ironman at full and half distances. We asked Challenge Family CEO Zibi Szlufcik why now, what athletes can expect, and also about some of Challenge’s stumbles in the U.S. and the Middle East.
SLOWTWITCH: We've been hearing rumors of some sort of championship for at least two years. How long was this race in the works and how did you ultimately settle on Šamorín?
ZIBI SZLUFCIK: For us a championship has from day-one been a critical element of our growth. With any championship event it must meet expectations. We have been working on a collaboration with our inaugural host, x-bionic sphere, a venue unparalleled in the world. You have to see it to believe it.
Apart from the first-class facilities and culture of the region, the venue was also chosen due to its easy access from across Europe, with Šamorín being a short drive from both Vienna and Bratislava international airports.
ST: Do you envision Šamorín being a permanent host for THECHAMPIONSHIP, or is this an event that Challenge will look to rotate to other venues?
ZS: As of today, THECHAMPIONSHIP will take place at x-bionic sphere in Šamorín in 2017 and again in 2019. We are well advanced on venues for 2018 and 2020 at a different location and will hopefully be in a position to announce this shortly. Our aim is to rotate THECHAMPIONSHIP and provide all regions the opportunity to host the event.
ST: Are you concerned about having a championship event without any qualifying races in the world’s largest triathlon market?
ZS: We would love to have a qualifying event soon in the USA. In the meantime we have Challenge Penticton and Challenge St. Andrews; Challenge San Gil Queretaro and Ixtapa; races in Brazil with Amazonia, Maceio and Florianapolis, and at the end of the season Challenge Aruba. While we have some steps to take in mainland USA, we do offer some brilliant destination races for U.S. athletes with plenty of qualifying slots for age groupers and professionals.
ST: Are you currently seeking out or talking to any licensees in the U.S. about bringing the Challenge Family back to the States?
ZS: We have a number of leads and pending discussions and we’re reviewing several options as for business models, partnerships and potential venues across the country.
ST: A few of your former licensees say that can't speak on the record about why they did not renew their contracts. Why the need for a gag order?
ZS: We can’t change the past; we can only craft the future. Sometimes it’s better to end with pain than to endure pain without end. Our focus is on the future of our sport and Challenge Family’s development with the right partners in place—sharing the same vision, ethics and morals, with a view to being back in the USA very soon.
ST: Will you cap THECHAMPIONSHIP professional field at a certain number?
ZS: We have a natural cap of the professional slots in direct relation to the qualification system. There are a total of 212 qualifying slots for the professional men and women across the qualifying events. Of course we may see a duplication of qualifiers at events, so we don’t expect to see 424 professional athletes lining up on race day.
ST: Will the qualification system be based on results mainly at Challenge races or will athletes also be able to qualify based on Ironman and ITU results?
ZS: We have opened up the professional athlete qualification system to all champions of our sport independent of series or distance. That includes Challenge Family events, the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, [ITU] World Triathlon Series, [Ironman] 70.3 Worlds and Kona. Our qualification system is also not based on a points system—which wears athletes out—rather it awards great performances at our individual qualifier events. The majority of qualifying spots are available at Challenge Family events, with the top five finishers at each Challenge Family event qualifying for THECHAMPIONSHIP. Athletes who qualify at a non-Challenge Family event will receive an invitation to race, however they will also be required to validate their spot at a Challenge Family event within the qualifying period.
Our age-group qualifying system is focused only on Challenge Family events, with the top-six finishers in every age group at all Challenge Family events worldwide qualifying for THECHAMPIONSHIP. We’ve also allocated 300 loyalty spots to any athlete who completes four or more Challenge Family events within the qualifying period.
ST: Will the money for the prize purse be coming from Challenge, the local organizer, sponsors, or a mix of all 3?
ZS: The prize purse as well as the entire execution of THECHAMPIONSHIP is a team contribution of x-bionic sphere and Challenge Family, as well as sponsors and partners involved in the event.
ST: Was the June date selected not to interfere with Roth, Kona and 70.3 Worlds?
ZS: As you can imagine we have been carefully studying the worldwide schedule of the sport of triathlon as a whole. Our aim is to add value to the sport and help to grow. Therefore we have decided to avoid any crossover with major events of the ITU and other organizations.
ST: What have you learned from the situations with Bahrain/Dubai, Atlantic City and Rev3 that might help Challenge going forward?
ZS: Each and every day brings new things to learn and each of these events have been a steep learning curve, helping us to reach the next level and grow the Challenge Family brand across the world. Our key learning is simple: It’s not always that one size fits all. We need specific adaptations in different regions and countries, with the USA being one of those markets requesting the return of the Challenge Family the most. With the current status and dominant role of one brand, the situation is not healthy and monopoly never led to anything good in any aspect of life.
