Dear Pirate friends,
Before I go to the forums I thought I'd check out the reaction to this idea on here in possibly a more friendly and stella free environment.
I'm proposing to form a pirate "race team" or at least a team made up of pirates (or ex-pirates). The aims are two fold...
1) Help raise the profile of the pirates with the aim to leveraging the group to secure discounts etc that can be passed on to all pirates, not just those in the race team.
2) Use the group as resource for those looking to step up a level in your athletic performance. There's lots of resources out there, take Endurance Corner for example, if you've read their latest "how to qualify" series then you'd give up before starting. I can tell you there's a difference between being "elite" and just pretty good. We'd be firmly in the pretty good category.
Now this team is going to seem like a Fegan clique and let me be upfront, my original idea was just that, Fegan's mates who are also decent triathletes and just happen to be pirates. And this appealed to some and not to others, especially those loyal to racing in the black and yellow.
So this idea is in it's infancy (I thought of it yesterday) but already I've managed the following:
ALL pirates to get a solid discount on Extreme Endurance products.
ALL pirates to get a subscription to Triathlete Europe magazine at ONLY the cost of postage.
A pirate feature (and regular updates e.g. a big piece on the PSOF trip to Nice) online and in print with Triathlete magazine and a number of free race entries throughout UK and possibly Europe to write a race review for Triathlete (I'll caveat this, it's just race entry, there's no pirate helicopter or 5 star accommodation).
Hopefully more to come or I've peaked very very early.
So thoughts?
*puts on asbestos jacket* — feeling curious.
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Comments
This discussion is gathering on Facebook and is now being aired on here, feel free to join in either one
Thoughts ?
What a good idea Meldy
Feck right off !!!
I'll be in the support crew!! Sits back and waits ....
Okay, I'll stand up for some battering.
I think this is a good idea. The Pirates is becoming globally recognised - I spoke to a random Yank in Kona who organises European IM tours, and he knew all about us. This would be a two way street - the Team would benefit from some form of sponsorship/free or discounted stuff, but the idea would be to make sure there were discounts associated with any companies that sponsored us, that applied to ALL Pirates. The Team would benefit from the brand, recognisability and support of the Pirate massive.
They could be a pirate elite sorta like our version of the SAS
What as, ballast?
PSOF SAS
Sorted
Special Athlete Squad
Flyers, totally agree, its all about evolution.
This would be an extra dimension and can still be fun
I think it's a good idea, guessing it would be done on an invite basis, ie show some potential and get brought into the group.?
Ohh errr we are a " brand" I suppose we are getting that way come to think of it
Nah ... pink
Max if a brand is something that is instantly recognisable then yes !
FF sort of groomed?
I am warming to the idea altough my personnal Kona plan doesnt need speed just a dogged determinstion to outlive the opposition
Melds i think the danger is in a brand as in has a marketable value rather than identity
Pirate hit squad Max???!!!
Pirate PLC
I think we are both, we choose to be just the one ?
I am gonna target the 75 -80 age slots not to long to go ......must......stay ......healthy
Please don't reverse the colours as Engineer suggests. There are already some ideas for that.
Aside from that 100% support from me.
Its ok, he's a boy and noone listens to boys anyway!
So will this be for all triathlon distances? As that would increase the team size and make up and what about duathlons?
Wotsva duafferlun?
But for 'normal' Pirates to get any of these freebies, wouldn't there need to be formal membership, then rules, committees ...... etc etc.???
It's for rubbish swimmers like Cat and Meldy.
Will the corporate 'sponsors' not want something in return? Like their names on the 'sacred' kit?! Can't defile the 'colours' with sponsors logos surely?
And that way lies the dark side
Hopefully not ...