Following a 2024 campaign which featured no podium finishes and two DNFs in seven middle and full-distance races, Joe Skipper thinks he might very well be back after a terrific 2025 debut at IRONMAN New Zealand.
The 36-year-old went toe-to-toe-to-toe with the Kiwi pair of Mike Phillips and Jack Moody to claim second place in Taupō on Saturday – his first podium finish since winning IRONMAN Lake Placid in 2023.
It was a welcome boost for Joe, and it means he already has one massive goal ticked off for 2025 – qualifying for September’s IRONMAN World Championship in Nice.
Skipper shines on the bike
It was a solid all-round display from Skipper on his 2025 bow. He exited the water in 12th place (51:19) before producing the fastest bike split of the event (4:10:29) to bring himself into contention.
A strong run (2:40:53) then catapulted Joe into the podium placings, recording a finish time of 7:45:47 to chase home three-time event winner Phillips with Moody claiming the final spot in the podium.
Following the race, Skipper briefly reviewed his race performance on in a post on his Instagram account.
“People keep asking if I’m back, and I haven’t really had an answer. But now, yeah, I’m thinking I’m back!
“2nd place and my best executed race in over a year. 2025 is already looking good! 51:19 swim, 4:10 bike,
2:40 run. I know what to work on.”
IMWC Nice the big goal for Joe
A top four placing was good enough to earn Skipper qualification for the 2025 IRONMAN World Championships in Nice in September.
The Triathlon Mockery Podcast co-host had explained back in November that his aim for the upcoming season was to make the start line in the South of France, a place where he has unfinished business following a 30th-place disappointment in 2023.
“I’ve had a long think about what I have to do to get top five, top three or potentially win it – I don’t think that’s out of reach if I trained for it and hit the targets in my head I think need to do,” he said.
As for what’s next for Skipper, he previously hinted at taking part in IRONMAN South Africa at the end of March.
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