As a proud supporter of our extensive #GBKONA coverage of the 2018 IRONMAN World Championship, we thought we would have a look at some of the athletes who will be sitting comfortably on an ISM saddle (www.ismseat.com), for the 112 miles of Kona course.
ISM Saddles and the IRONMAN World Championship
ISM saddles have been the popular choice for many IRONMAN athletes all over the world, including at Kona. To give that some context, last years Kona Bike Count by LAVA Magazine recodred 828 athletes using an ISM saddle, with the next competitor saddle coming in with a total of 359.
Here’s a look at some of the ISM-sponsored Pro athletes racing at the 2018 World Championship:
Sarah Crowley
With a third place finish last year, Sarah will be looking to contend for the podium again in 2018. This year Sarah took a victory at IRONMAN Hamburg (raced as a Duathlon due to water quality issues), and a third place at the IRONMAN European Championship, Frankfurt. Sarah will be racing in Kona on a Canyon Speedmax CF SLX.
Heather Jackson (www.heatherjacksonracing.com)
Heather will be looking to improve on her fourth place finish last year aboard her custom painted Argon18 and matching trisuit. Having dominated IRONMAN Lake Placid in 2018, Heather will be looking to return to the Kona podium as she achieved in 2016, when finishing third.
Mirinda Carfrae (www.mirindacarfrae.com)
A three-time winner of the race, Mirinda has spent most of 2018 traveling and racing IRONMAN 70.3 races having recently had a baby. With four second places and a win in Santa Rosa, Mirinda’s ISM saddle sits on top of the new Felt bike with disc brakes.
Meredith Kessler (www.meredithkessler.com)
Described by Editor, John Levison as “Winner of shed loads of IRONMAN’s” on her extensive racing C.V. – to which she would really like to add a strong result in Hawaii. Meredith is riding a custom-painted Ventum on Saturday, featuring a logo of the all the IRONMAN races she has won on it. Seriously impressive!
Rachel McBride (www.rachelmcbride.com)
Canadian Rachel is known as an uber-biker, having logged eight IRONMAN 70.3 fastest bike splits, and is currently a two-time IRONMAN bike course record holder. Rachel is racing on the much talked about and head turning Diamondback Andean.
Carrie Lester
Australian Professional triathlete Carrie Lester has twice finished in the top-10 at Kona and has nine Iron-distance titles to her name. She’ll be riding a Canyon on Saturday.
Susie Cheetham (www.susiecheetham.com)
After a strong second place to Lucy Charles at IRONMAN South Africa earlier this year, the popular British athlete will be looking to improve on her two previous sixth places at Kona (2015 and 2017). Susie will be riding the game changing Cervélo P5X.
Josh Amberger (www.josh-amberger.com)
Australia’s Josh Amberger should be the first athlete to put his backside on an ISM saddle this year. With a blistering fast swim his speciality, look out for him leaving T1 first on his disc brake equipped Felt bike.
Kona Bike Profile: @JoshAmberger Makes Quick Transition to Disc Brakes. #IMKona #IMKona2018 #ZippSpeed #triathlon https://t.co/1Ehp3D38Th pic.twitter.com/UairjIAIoV
— Zipp Speed Weaponry (@ZippSpeed) October 10, 2018
Andy Potts (www.andypottsracing.com)
Seventh last year and the first U.S. finisher, veteran Andy Potts will be looking to put in another strong performance in Hawaii, riding his Ceepo bike.
Matt Hanson (www.matthansontri.com)
A four-time IRONMAN Champion and three time IRONMAN 70.3 Champion, Matt will be the Queen K on his Quintana Roo.
Kevin Collington (www.kevincollington.com)
The U.S. athlete will be riding a Ventum, the Official Bike Course Sponsor of IRONMAN.
Callum Millward
Who wouldn’t want a Cupcake with Cal?! By his own admission, this year’s Kona was all about qualifying and being there for him. Hopefully that means a more enjoyable race for this very popular athlete and his Quintana Roo bike.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ISM VISIT WWW.ISMSEAT.COM