Ep#79 Building a Better Athlete: Tom Rodgers on Overcoming Injuries

Yeah, I think it's a really big step in the right direction.

I hated the time-based system, obviously, and I was all for getting a points-based system.

I think there is still some things that make it hard for some athletes, but that's always going to be the case.

I think getting five races in can be hard for some athletes, especially if they work full-time and have to travel a lot.

It's going to be hard for them.

And then I think also coming back from an injury, it's really hard to get back into the Elite 15.

That's the one thing I loved about the last chance qualifier is that anyone can show up and it's the best three athletes on the day get a shot at the world champs.

And I really wish they kept that in because it would have been great for athletes like myself who were injured or... full-time workers who just can't travel everywhere and compete and get points, I think it would just make it a bit easier for them to get into that Elite 15.

Yeah, I always loved the LCQ, to be honest.

I probably am in agreement that I wish they'd bring that back.

I guess I know we're getting far, probably too much into the High Rocks logistics here, but what do you think of the whole Div 1 prospect this year? I mean, looking at yourself, you know, when you're coming back from this injury now, is that a potential pathway for yourself?

Yeah, I think so.

It's awesome to see that Herox are like really investing in up and coming athletes and it really gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills, I guess.

And I mean, yeah, the Elite 15, it's like there's only 15 athletes in it.

So it's very hard for up and coming athletes to break in.

So I think it's really beneficial for anyone who wants to give it a good crack.

And hopefully one day I'll be back back in there and um yeah we'll see

yeah and I think as well it just means more elite racing for someone like myself who's just a fan of the sport uh I think it's just more elite racing to watch means more you know opportunities for sponsors and opportunities for eyeballs and all of that that comes with it so I agree I think um As I've heard Matt Locke say that this year is a bit of a, not a tester year, but kind of a rollover year to see how it works with the Div 1.

But I think you're right.

I think it just gives more opportunities for these athletes.

I mean, we always saw it with world champs that, you know, yourself, who you qualified from the LCQ, you ended up coming sixth in that world championships.

Who else is it? Paleo, I think the year before was a roll down spot.

He came fourth last year.

My brother, James, then was he a roll down for maybe the 2023 World Championships and he finished eighth.

So it just shows that, you know, those who are qualifying towards the end or let alone roll down spots are still very highly competitive, aren't they? It does not mean that they're the least fittest within that 15 athletes that we have on the day.