Who is going to be the one verifying all of this? The race director who might have 800 or 1000 entrants? The USAT official who is usually a volunteer? Or will it be on the honor system? Everyone signs a waiver that they are fit and can handle the race. They take on their own liability and in most cases they are adults. If they find themselves in trouble during the swim, they need to flag down a boat. Maybe more boats are needed at each race. Perhaps so many boats per race participants.
I agree with Ken. We don't need more nannies. This is a USAT issue, not a USMS issue.
In my suggestion, I never intended for USMS to be involved in the qualification process. USAT could handle it just fine. They keep meticulous computerized records of triathlons (for the purposes of ranking) throughout the season and are strict about qualifying for USAT Nationals, Kona, etc. Taking more time to check may save lives and avoid a few lawsuits.
In my opinion, this is a USAT problem to handle and it is obviously a problem. If all adults knew how to take care of themselves and act logically, we wouldn't have a need for laws and regulations in society. This is a problem that needs to be regulated and it can be done by USAT. We are talking about a matter of life and death, not the color of somebody's bike helmet.
First, I think it is unlikely that USAT would implement certification programs. Triathlon is a business and becoming a big business. They are put on by Production companies for profit. Not all of them are for charity and even the ones that are, hire production companies for a fee to put the race on. More participants equals more dollars.
Second, who is most responsible for a participants well being, the race organiziers or the individual? I know this is not current trend in this country but I vote for the individual. Individual freedom includes the freedom to fail and or die in there persuit of happiness.
Third, what happens when someone goes belly up even though they were "certified" is there an investigation, were standards not high enough were the trainers incompetent?
Finally, as an organization (USMS) we should warn potential participants of the dangers, educate, provide clinics and training but not place restrictions on people.
Plus, I for one enjoy reading the Darwin awards....:) There carbon friendly.
One may avoid reality, but one cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.
(Ayn Rand)
I think USMS can help by encouraging coaches to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to triathletes. Many triathletes have the impression that masters swimming is professional swimming where only elites and former competitive swimmers are welcome. Most masters programs have quite a few triathletes in them, but I am hopeful that even the newbie can feel that it is a place where they belong.
I don't think a certification program is a good idea either because of the reasons you suggest. A qualification process would eliminate the problems associated with certification. So it may take a few more volunteers or USAT may have to charge a little more to cover the "cost" of checking a beginner's qualifications. Seems worth it to me.
People should appreciate and understand the dangers, but unfortunately, they don't. Since triathlon is becoming a big business and for profit, like it or not, society will expect there to be regulations in place with this big business so that the participants are "protected." With the publicity surrounding the high number of deaths in triathlons, this expectation will sooner or later be revealed in an enormous jury verdict unless USAT takes some kind of action now.
So, USAT can do something about it now or wait for the jury verdict which will then result in higher costs for insurance coverage. Guess who will end up paying for the increased insurance coverage? The triathlete. I'd rather USAT do something about it now so I won't end up having to pay $100 to enter a local sprint triathlon down the road.
But what about all the open water swims that require no certification? All they do is say "Do not attempt this if you cannot swim a mile comfortably in a pool in under 40 minutes."
The first time I swam the Tiburon Mile in the 63 degree SF Bay, nobody asked me for any certification or even proof that I could swim.
Are designated OW events different from triathlons?
That would be very dangerous. I often swim at a pool after my 16 mile bike commute. Sometimes, if my bike is not set up properly or if I'm dehydrated, my legs will cramp suddenly, without warning.
yes, but those charged with your supervision would be able to see you, as opposed to being in the middle of a scrum where, lets face it, you're on your own.
check out the SOS triathlon.
bike, run, swim, run, swim, run, swim, run.... easy to see all the swimmers
Having worked with a number of beginner triathletes that did not have a swim background, I'm not sure certification based on pool swims would be helpful. Many folks are fine in the pool, but panic in open water because they cannot see the bottom, the darkness freaks them out, the open water intimidates them, and they cannot rest on the wall.
Perhaps a solution is a qualifying process for triathlons with swims of more than 400 yards. Before a triathlete can compete in a triathlon with an open water swim of 500 or 600 yards, he/she must have completed a triathlon with an open water swim of 300 or 400 yards. For a triathlon with a 1/2 mile swim, said triathlete must have completed a triathlon with an open water swim of at least 600 yards. For an Olympic distance triathlon, said triathlete must have completed a triathlon with a 1/2 mile open water swim.
This makes sense. As the Harbor Springs organizers said, it isn't the distance, it's the cold and the dark and the fishes. Plus, for novice tri swimmers, the mass of hulking bodies ready to mow them down. I do see more OW training of tris this year, as well as something called Team in Training. Training for the entire tri experience seems a sound approach.
But what about all the open water swims that require no certification? All they do is say "Do not attempt this if you cannot swim a mile comfortably in a pool in under 40 minutes."
The first time I swam the Tiburon Mile in the 63 degree SF Bay, nobody asked me for any certification or even proof that I could swim.
Are designated OW events different from triathlons?
Good point. But I'd argue that a larger portion of OW swimmers already swim regularly, most with a USMS team, and that is what differentiates OW swimmers from triathletes - they actually train swimming!
This goes back to my point about hosting distance meets - they're a great barometer for anyone looking to do a longer-distance race.
if safety is the main concern, there are two easy solutions:
make the swim leg of triathlons reflect 1/3 third of the time of the race. this will discourage many non-swimmers from attempting them. in ow, people do a good job of self policing their abilities. where just about anyone will give a mile swim a try, the numbers drop considerably as the distance increases.
put the swim at the end of the race. how about: run/ bike/ swim? are people dying in mass run start events? by the time people get to the swim, the field will be spread out and it will be easier to watch the swimmers.
