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.
Racing to keep up: Is social media making us train harder?
