How Many Kona Slots Are in IRONMAN Chattanooga?

Ironman Chattanooga is an annual triathlon event that takes place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is a qualifying race for the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman World Championship is known as the most prestigious triathlon event in the world, and athletes from all over the globe work hard to earn a coveted slot.

One of the most commonly asked questions by athletes participating in Ironman Chattanooga is – “How many Kona slots are there?” Well, the answer to this question varies from year to year based on several factors. Let’s take a closer look at how many Kona slots are typically available in Ironman Chattanooga.

First, it’s important to understand what a Kona slot is and how it’s earned. A Kona slot is an invitation to compete in the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. To earn a Kona slot, an athlete must finish their age group division with one of the qualifying times.

Now let’s talk about how many slots are usually available for each age group division in Ironman Chattanooga. The number of slots allocated depends on two main factors – the number of participants and the race’s overall competitiveness.

In general, larger races with more participants tend to have more Kona slots available than smaller races. However, this isn’t always true because of competitiveness. If there are more highly qualified athletes competing in smaller races than larger ones, then there may be more slots available for that particular race.

So how many Kona slots were up for grabs during Ironman Chattanooga 2021? Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 related changes to the qualification process for 2021, there were no automatic qualifications or legacy spots awarded at any North American events. Instead, 75% of each age group’s total athletes who start will be rewarded with a slot based on collective finish time rankings across all North American events.

In conclusion, the number of Kona slots available in Ironman Chattanooga varies from year to year based on the number of participants and overall competitiveness. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the 2021 qualification process, it’s uncertain how many Kona slots will be available in future events. As always, athletes must work hard to earn a qualifying time and hope for the best when it comes to securing a coveted Kona slot.