Online entries for the Colonies Zone SCY Championships opened today. The meet will be April 19-21, 2013 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.
Entry Form, Timeline and Team Roster are available at:
www.patriotmasters.org/ColoniesZone2013.htm
Events are open for everyone to register at the same time, just like CZ. That is fair. Period.
In that case, the entry for Ironman Kona, Ironman 70.3 championships in Las Vegas, Olympic Distance Nationals, sprint Distance Nationals, Half max championships, 5150 nationals in Des Moines, duathlon long course nationals, and duathlon short course nationals are ALL unfair ad before you did your first triathlon you were not welcome there and depending on your speed you might still not be.
I just got back from a meet today and it was the talk of the meet (it was a distance meet in Baltimore). I don't care for the comments saying that the team Z people are doing something wrong, they signed up just like everyone else. The people at the zone level need to make sure it doesn't happen again.
On the other hand to say we are elitest or something else is off base, championship meets should seek out the fastest people who want to race, once that's done then if it is logistically possible, then let everyone else in. That's how triathlons are run as well, you don't just let anybody roll up to the national championships and step on in. At triathlon regional levels, things are undersubscribed and in fact you usually can just enter, but certainly not always.
I post this as a swimmer AND triathlete because I am both.
I have to say I am disappointed in all the comments made by "masters swimmers" about triathletes. I was a swimmer before I was a triathlete and have just recently returned to swimming. I was welcomed into the triathlon community with only a background in swimming. It was never suggested I have to have a minimum bike or run time to participate in an event that would sell out. Events are open for everyone to register at the same time, just like CZ. That is fair. Period.
...
Maybe some swimmers were always elitist jerks and I just didn't know it.
There are elitist jerks in every sport, including both swimming and triathlon.
In general I too find triathletes to be very nice and welcoming and would never make disparaging remarks about their efforts at swimming.
But most triathlons have entry limits. I suspect if a major triathlon, perhaps one with a lot of Kona slots at stake, were filled by masters swimmers who were only interested in the swim, and with plans to bag out of the bike/run, most triathletes who were locked out of the race would not be very happy about it.
To those thinking about skipping the meet because they are closed out of the distance events on Friday: I hope you reconsider. This is such a well-run meet, taking place in a nice pool with a lot of fun people. There really just aren't that many meets around like this that are a good (but reasonable) size.
And if you attend with 3+ of your teammates there are plenty of relays for you to sink your teeth into; I know some people who go to zones as much for the relay opportunities as anything else.
Plus, there is supposedly an DC area alternative if you were shut out of the distance events.
Yes I knew something was in the works but didn't check the PV website; my bad.
www.clubassistant.com/.../meet_information.cfm
Looks like a sanction has been issued but the online registration isn't up yet; I'm sure it will be soon.
for all the stink raised in this thread, i'm surprised only 14 people jumped at this opportunity during the first 48 hours registration was open.You should invite the tri folks in case they want to do a cross-town, two-meet daily double:bolt:
for all the stink raised in this thread, i'm surprised only 14 people jumped at this opportunity during the first 48 hours registration was open.
Muppet, you forget that masters swimmers don't sign-up until the last few days. Don't worry, there are enough nutty folk that will want to swim either of those events.
without the prospect of counting toward team totals some people won't bother with it.
It's an interesting hypothesis but I think it is flawed to some extent. Imagine two groups of distance swimmers who were closed out of the 1000/1650 at zones:
1. They decided to opt out of the whole meet. Then this meet comes along. If they replace the zones distance events with Muppet's, and then swim in zones on Sat/Sun, they will be contributing more point to their team than if they didn't come at all.
2. They entered Sat/Sun anyway even though they were a little sad. Then this event opens up; if they are true-blue distance folk then they will probably jump at the chance to swim their beloved 1000/1650 and it won't affect their point totals on Sat/Sun.
Of course, this omits what I think is the largest group of distance (or any other) swimmer: the ones that don't even notice team scores.
Nevertheless I agree that there will be some distance swimmer's whose enthusiasm for zones has been dampened by recent events; I would hope the lure of good swimming in well-run meets at nice facilities will be enough to overcome that.
