Cypress Triathlete Mafer Pinder Qualifies for 2025 Kona IRONMAN After Just Three Years of Racing
When Maria Fernander “Mafer” Pinder signed up for her first triathlon in 2022, she didn’t know she was stepping into a life-changing journey. What began as a friendly challenge has evolved into an elite athletic pursuit—culminating in her qualification for the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, one of the most exclusive endurance events in the world.
“I didn’t have much training, didn’t really know what I was getting into, and even raced on a borrowed bike,” Pinder said of her first race. “During that first race, I seriously considered quitting halfway through, and when I finally crossed the finish line, I swore I’d never put myself through something so painful again. But as it turns out, the pain faded—and the passion stayed.”
Pinder has since compiled an impressive racing résumé: Top 10 age group finishes at four Ironman-branded races, including 2024 IRONMAN Arizona, 2023 IRONMAN California, 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Texas, and 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta; 1st place in her age group and 3rd overall female at the 2024 Sylvan Beach Olympic Triathlon; and 2nd overall female at the 2022 Bolivar Triathlon. She also joined her Shamettes Houston teammates to win 1st place at the 2025 Texas State Team Time Trial and placed 2nd in the 2025 Texas State Individual Time Trial.
Kona wasn’t on her radar when she started. “When I first got into triathlon, Kona always felt like a dream, a very distant one,” she said. That changed during IRONMAN Arizona 2024: “At the beginning of the run portion, I had this brief moment where I thought, ‘Maybe… maybe there’s a chance.’ It was just a flicker of hope and honestly, it disappeared almost as quickly as it came. Still, by the end of the race, that tiny flicker of hope grew into something real. Dreams really do come true."
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Her preparation for such grueling endurance events is equal parts physical and mental. She trains 15–20 hours per week, incorporating strength work, tempo runs, mobility sessions, open-water swims, and bike-run “brick” workouts designed to replicate race-day fatigue. Visualization and positive self-talk are part of her mental toolkit: she breaks races into smaller segments, reminding herself that discomfort is temporary and essential to progress.
Coaching and team support have also played a crucial role in her rapid development. After starting with DFS Racing, where she learned the fundamentals of cycling and racing culture, she transitioned to Shamettes Houston, Shama Cycles’ women’s racing team, where she sharpened her race execution and performance.
“Having a professional coach and being part of the Shamettes team with Shama Cycles has been a game changer,” Pinder said. “It’s more than just a team, it’s a sisterhood. We support and challenge each other, celebrate victories (big and small), and lift one another during the hard days."
Her proudest race-day memory? Crossing the finish line of her first full Ironman in 2022. Despite minimal training due to job loss and pandemic challenges, she fought through mental and physical exhaustion to finish—last in her category, but with a newfound sense of resilience that would define her future.
Maria Fernander “Mafer” Pinder, far right, with the Shamettes Houston team at the Pinder’s story begins far from Texas. She grew up in Anaco, Venezuela, where she was an active child who swam, played baseball and soccer, and often competed alongside boys, which drew bullying but also built her toughness. She later moved to Cypress to learn English and pursue new opportunities, finding a supportive community and ultimately, her passion for triathlon.
Today, she enjoys quiet moments with her five dogs, family dinners with her parents—her steadfast supporters at races—and daily check-ins with her sister back home in Venezuela. She draws inspiration from her family, teammates, and friends while aiming to inspire others to take on endurance sports, no matter their age or background.
Qualifying for Kona, she says, is both a reward and a responsibility.
“Qualifying isn’t just a finish line—it’s the beginning of a new chapter filled with excitement, dedication, and the opportunity to race alongside some of the best athletes in the world,” Pinder said. “I’m deeply grateful for the journey so far and can’t wait to embrace everything Kona has to offer."
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As she prepares for Kona’s challenging heat and terrain, Pinder also looks to the future, including mentoring new athletes and contributing to community fitness programs.
“It’s never too late to start, and endurance sports are more about mindset and consistency than anything else,” she said. “If my story can encourage even one woman to take that first step, that would mean a lot to me."
Pinder will compete in the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, representing not only Cypress but also the growing number of women proving that it’s never too late to chase a dream.
Follow her journey on Instagram at @maff_pinder.
Stay tuned with My Neighborhood News for more inspiring Cypress athlete features and local sports stories.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
