Still No Prize Money at Black Canyon

Last year I wrote:

I’m not usually someone who cares about the prize money argument for elite runners, but since this has come up with UTMB again as part of this week’s meeting with the PTRA I thought I would look at one of the US largest (in total racers signed up) and most prominent races (hotly contested Golden Ticket race): The Black Canyon Ultras presented by HOKA and directed by Aravaipa Running.

I mostly don’t care about this argument, but last weekend during the Black Canyon events the most visited page on Electric Cable Car was the aforementioned post I wrote last year. People, lots of people, seem to care and wonder. What I wonder though is why the American trail media doesn’t ask that question of this event. Black Canyon is clearly professionally organized, attracts lots of elites, is one of the top trail events in the world, and one of the largest, is part of the World Trail Majors, is not supported by a nonprofit (like Western States or Hardrock), and has plenty of brand sponsor support. All the pieces are there, so it would seem.