Are you fast enough to qualify for elite? – Click here.
Click here for Spartan 2020 Season Pass. Open, Age Group, Elite.
When Spartan “released” the 2020 Season Pass details, one Pass was notably missing from the lineup. The Elite Season Pass came with the caveat that competitors would need to qualify to run in the Elite Wave in 2020. The details around that qualification process have been released.
TL;DR (too long, didn’t read AKA Cliff’s Notes):
- Elite Waves are gated for races after January 1, 2020
- Each application requires a one-time payment of a USD $30 fee
- Application will be opened on or before 10/31/19
- CRITERIA
- One or more top 3 finishes at Spartan events in the Elite and/or Age Group category within the previous 24 months
- One or more top 10 finishes within the Elite category at any regular season Spartan event within the previous 12 months
- One or more top 5 finishes within any Age Group category at any regular season Spartan event within the previous 12 months
- US$2000 or more of lifetime prize money earned to date in the Spartan Elite category. (International Prize money will be converted from local currency to USD based on current exchange rates)
Here is the official information is from the Spartan Zendesk site:
NEW for 2020: Elite Category Qualification Requirement
In the interests of continuing the growth of Spartan OCR as a truly competitive global sport, a competitor may no longer register for any Elite category heat (or purchase an Elite Season Pass) without first meeting qualifying criteria listed below. This rule applies to all Elite category heats globally starting on January 1st, 2020.
Any Elite competitor already registered for an event on or after Wednesday, January 1st 2020 must complete the qualification process or will be moved to the Age Group category. Competitors who are automatically moved may apply for qualification at a later date.
Elite Category Qualification Application Process
Any prospective Elite category competitor, whether a prior Spartan participant or not, may submit an application for Elite category qualification via spartan.com (submission details coming soon).
Each application requires a one-time payment of a US$30 fee, payable to Spartan HQ upon application submission. This fee covers program administration and processing and is non-refundable in the event of application rejection.
Successful applicants will be emailed a unique Elite Qualifying Code (EQC) which will be good for the remainder of the 2020 season. This code must be input each time the competitor registers for an Elite category heat, or chooses to purchase an Elite Season Pass.
Denied applicants will have 7 days to dispute their decision without having to repay the application fee. Any disputes after 7 days will require a new application and application fee.
Elite Category Qualification Criteria
To earn an Elite Qualification Code (EQC), a competitor must be 14 years of age or older as of Wednesday, January 1st, 2020 and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- One or more top 3 finishes at Spartan events in the Elite and/or Age Group category within the previous 24 months
- One or more top 10 finishes within the Elite category at any regular season Spartan event within the previous 12 months
- One or more top 5 finishes within any Age Group category at any regular season Spartan event within the previous 12 months
- US$2000 or more of lifetime prize money earned to date in the Spartan Elite category. (International Prize money will be converted from local currency to USD based on current exchange rates)
Elite Category Automatic Qualification
On December 1st, 2019, the top 30 male and female athletes from certain 2019 championship series and events will be automatically sent Elite Qualifying Codes (EQC) via email, which will be good for use throughout the 2020 season. These athletes do not need to separately apply for an ECQ.
The eligible events for automatic EQC qualification are:
- All 2019 National & Regional Series, final leaderboards
- All 2019 championships, final leaderboards
- The 2019 World Championship, 2019 Trifecta World Championship, and 2019 Ultra World Championship, final leaderboards.
In addition, all members of the Spartan Pro Roster and selected athletes at any HQ designated Spartan Combine event, will be issued an Elite Qualifying Code (EQC) and do not need to submit an application.
Downgrading from Elite Category
An Elite competitor with an EQC may freely choose to register for, and compete in, the Age Group or Open categories at any event globally.
Click here for Spartan 2020 Season Pass. Open, Age Group, Elite.
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Josh Chace
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So in the simplest of terms, if you’re not already in the elite croud and placing, you need to place in age group and move up from there. Is that what I am understanding?