Matty White

Kona Bound

The last week has certainly been an eventful one as I have been on the edge of my seat watching the last round of WTC qualifying points races before the Kona slots were allocated last week and watching my ranking drop from a comfortable 26th right down to 43rd! with nothing I could do about it whilst sitting at home watching the rain pour down my window in RADelaide.

It was close but I just made it!, this year the pro Hawaii qualification changed in that the first 40 athletes in the KPR points at end of July will be offered a spot with previous winners automatically qualifying, the qualification process involves a compulsory Ironman race and 4 other WTC races. Making qualification very difficult especially if you are an Aussie athlete who can’t travel the world chasing big points races.

My personal situation with work was not enabling me to travel until earl;y August thus meaning I would miss a heap of potential points races to bank up my ranking. Essentially I had to rely on my Australian season points to get me through which they did…..JUST! but I have my spot and that’s all that matters, also I got offered a pro 70.3 World Championship spot in Las Vegas as well which worked out perfectly as I intended on racing a 70.3 race before Kona so

I can now sit back and relax now and finally get things organised with travel etc, as I leave to Boulder Colorado on the 16th of August, directly after Yeppoon 70.3, I am really looking forward to getting back there and training with all the great athletes and most of all enjoy some warm weather. I really think that having a full time prep in Boulder prior to Kona will serve me well, and if I can get in the shape I was in last year I will be on target for a good Hawaii.

I will be staying with my adopted American/Australian parentals the Mortons who are great people and their son Lachlan who is making big waves on the cycling circuit. On another note its great to see so many of my mates doing well on the Tri circuit in the US with the beer loving gnome Tim Reed killing it on the 5150 circuit which I believe he is suited to and Joe Smokin Gambles who ripped up Boulder 70.3 in a course record and will be a big favourite for Vegas 70.3, also good luck to my old mate Tim Van Berkel who is defending his Ironman Challenge Copenhagen next weekend in a star studded field.

Personally my form is good and I can’t wait to get to Yeppoon and race, I have had a great 5 week block after Challenge Cairns focussing on specific strength work and I have never felt fitter. I will update again soon after Yeppoon with a race report, anyway time to go and get some colour on these legs before I leave..

Matty