Ok, so the more they email me, the more I get nervous about the water temp. Last year it was 69 which stung to get in, but it made for a nice swimming temp. By the end, though, my fingers and toes felt a little numb, but that could have been tired (??).
But this year, it could be up to 10 degrees colder?! What to do when the coolest water I can find here in Cincinnati is 80?
Based on the hullabaloo here, officiating of OW needs to be addressed by USMS for future open water National Championships in both bids submitted and OW rules.
It's addressed. (Give the rules people and the bid-evaluation people at least a little credit.) Rule 303.7 requires referees for all USMS-sanctioned OW events. For events designated as National Championships, Rule 305.7.3.B specifically requires a turn judge. Big Shoulders has been an OW National Championship more than once in the last ten years; there's no reason to doubt that the race director knows these rules.
Perhaps the more pertinent rule at this point, however, is Rule 305.7.7, "Protests":
Any protest arising from a competition shall be made to the meet director within 30 minutes after the release of results for an open water event or 14 days after the release of results for a postal event. If the protest is not resolved, the protester may appeal in writing within 10 days for final adjudication to the USMS Open Water and Long Distance chair, whose decision shall then be binding on all parties.
Based on the hullabaloo here, officiating of OW needs to be addressed by USMS for future open water National Championships in both bids submitted and OW rules.
It's addressed. (Give the rules people and the bid-evaluation people at least a little credit.) Rule 303.7 requires referees for all USMS-sanctioned OW events. For events designated as National Championships, Rule 305.7.3.B specifically requires a turn judge. Big Shoulders has been an OW National Championship more than once in the last ten years; there's no reason to doubt that the race director knows these rules.
Perhaps the more pertinent rule at this point, however, is Rule 305.7.7, "Protests":
Any protest arising from a competition shall be made to the meet director within 30 minutes after the release of results for an open water event or 14 days after the release of results for a postal event. If the protest is not resolved, the protester may appeal in writing within 10 days for final adjudication to the USMS Open Water and Long Distance chair, whose decision shall then be binding on all parties.
