What has been your experience with open water swimming events *outside* the US? I'd like to hear it all; good, bad, and ugly, to gain perspective on these events. Some questions I have are:
Where was the event held?
What were the political conditions like in the host country?
What were the economic conditions like in the host country?
Was the event well-run
Was the event safe
Did you feel you got a good return on your investment of time and money?
Would you do this event again?
What are the best memories of this event?
What were the water conditions like?
What extras did the organizer provide that added value to the event?
What were the distances of the swims?
Was getting to and from the event a hassle?
How easy/difficult was it to get to the host country?
I'd like to hear what you all have experienced on this front. Granted, it may not be a long thread but it should be informative at least.
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
Wow, Doug, those are some questions. Roatan, which is an island 40 miles north of Honduras and about 120 miles south of Belize, hosts an international event. It used to be every year and many Olympians came here to rack up points for qualification prior to the Olympics. But ours is not just a swim event, it is a triathlon, so I'm not sure it serves your topic's purpose.
Roatan now is hosting this triathlon every other year instead of every year. The ITC only allows 200 or less entrants into this event. It is an extremely difficult course, ask Sheila Taormina, for she did extremely well but noticed the biking portion was unusualy difficult; we've got hills at unreasonable degrees.
But all in all, the swim portion, which people can do just that portion of, is a great, great swim; crystalline blue waters, 80 degrees, current goes with you until the end (I like that toughness on the last leg); white sand, very well run event, doctors available, food/drink, condos on the beach; it makes for a very wonderful day and event.
The swim events are 750, 1500 and 3K.
Donna
Wow, Doug, those are some questions. Roatan, which is an island 40 miles north of Honduras and about 120 miles south of Belize, hosts an international event. It used to be every year and many Olympians came here to rack up points for qualification prior to the Olympics. But ours is not just a swim event, it is a triathlon, so I'm not sure it serves your topic's purpose.
Roatan now is hosting this triathlon every other year instead of every year. The ITC only allows 200 or less entrants into this event. It is an extremely difficult course, ask Sheila Taormina, for she did extremely well but noticed the biking portion was unusualy difficult; we've got hills at unreasonable degrees.
But all in all, the swim portion, which people can do just that portion of, is a great, great swim; crystalline blue waters, 80 degrees, current goes with you until the end (I like that toughness on the last leg); white sand, very well run event, doctors available, food/drink, condos on the beach; it makes for a very wonderful day and event.
The swim events are 750, 1500 and 3K.
Donna
