IRONMAN 70.3 WEYMOUTH SECURES ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING SLOTS. IRONMAN are delighted to confirm that IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth has been chosen as one of only two events in Europe to receive 25 additional qualifying slots for the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, South Africa. Each qualifying Ironman or Ironman 70.3 event will have at a minimum one men’s and one women’s professional slot. For the global 2019 Ironman professional calendar, the number of Ironman World Championship slots is expected to be approximately 100, similar to the current total allocation. Ironman Ironman Will Award 70.3 World Championship Slots At Virtual Races Athletes will be able to earn a spot to 70.3 Worlds in New Zealand over a best three of four virtual race omnium—which they're calling the Championship Series. May 28, 2020 Kelly O'Mara.

This year (2012), more than 100,000 triathletes will compete in 37 Ironman events across the globe, many of them hoping to earn one of an estimated 2,150 coveted Ironman Kona Triathlon World Championship Slots. Qualify for Kona (or win the lottery) and you earn the right to race with the best triathletes in the world. We've conducted extensive research to assemble what is perhaps the only comprehensive listing of estimated Kona qualifying slots on the web.

Want to go to Kona? Here's where you want to start. Be aware that WTC, owner of Ironman, often adds new events with additional slots (e.g., Cairns, Sweden), and occasionally subtracts slots from existing races, sometimes without notice.

Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Slots Tournaments

[Also see our comprehensive analysis of Kona Qualifying Slots and Times by Ironman Race and Age Group]

(Also see how races offering slots have changed over time: Kona Qualifying Events 2005 vs 2012)

Ironman 70.3 World Championship Qualifying Slots

Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Slots Tracker

Lottery: 250 Slots. About 250 slots are distributed by 5 lotteries:

• 5 for physically challenged
• 24 for residents of the Big Island, Hawaii
• 20 for Hawaii state residents, not including Big Island

Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Slots

If you are selected in the lottery, you must validate that entry by completing a WTC-owned Ironman or Ironman 70.3 event within an established timeframe. We have not come across information regarding a 2012 lottery process as of mid-August.

Pro Division: 85 Slots. Beginning in 2011, pros earn Kona slots via a pro ranking system. Approximately 85 slots are expected to be awarded to pros this year. Additionally, pros who have won the Ironman World Championship within the previous 5 years are automatically granted entry.

Ironman Executive Challenge (XC): 25 Slots. Select business executives (roughly 12 to 16 per race) compete with age groupers in one of several Ironman or Ironman 70.3 races for the chance of winning Kona slots specifically reserved for the executives. In the 2011 season, Ironman XC included Ironman events in Arizona, Coeur d'Alene, Florida, Germany, and Louisville (typically 3 or 4 slots per race), and Ironman 70.3 events in California, Mallorca, New Orleans and Switzerland (1 slot per Ironman 70.3 event).
Other than trying your luck – against very long odds -- at the lottery (we estimate 7,500 enter the lottery), if you want to go to Kona, you need to qualify. An overview of the qualifying slot distribution process in 2011:

Ironman 70.3 Qualifying Slots Races

Ironman 70.3 Qualification Times

• The 1500+ race slots are allocated among 27 Ironman qualifying races and 6 Ironman 70.3 events (was 5, but 30 Ironman China slots were awarded to Ironman 70.3 Philippines), as shown above, race by race
• The slots each race gets (e.g., Wisconsin = 65 slots) are allocated among age-group divisions
• Each age group in a race gets one slot; the rest are allocated based on number of participants per age group (e.g., if 20% of athletes are M30-34, that AG gets 20% of the remaining slots)
• The slots in each race’s age-group division are reserved for the top finishers (e.g., the top 6 finishers in M45-49 are entitled to take a slot)
• It may happen that some athletes will choose to not accept a slot they earned for some reason; any slots not accepted ‘roll down’ to the next finisher(s) who also have the option to accept or pass on the slot.
• The ‘Roll Down’ process continues until all slots are taken

See official race rules for details and timing. It's very important to know who, where, when and how much, if you've qualified or have a shot at a rolldown.