200 Triathletes Rescued

OK, with the caveat I wasn't there.... but I've done this race, and I know people that were there this year. The conditions this year were much much better than prior years. Here's a pic of the year I did it sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/.../4155_1139807224963_1520884274_330775_1698026_n.jpg 2009 was worse, with tons of current and wind chop, and waves of about the same size. This year was much smaller and calmer. But this RD simply doesn't cancel swims in rough conditions. As for this year, I heard nothing about an inordinate number of "rescues," and believe me here in L.A. that news travels around very fast. I have to chalk this up to reportage and a very ambiguous definition of "assistance." If the RD is to be believed, that includes providing direction in the water. Not sure how they keep track of that, but still.... I know triathletes get a bad rap from swimmers (as well as cyclists... not so much runners) and in some cases that is true. But if you are a triathlete and are smart, you swim in the ocean out here. Every week. It's a heavily LA tri race for obvious reasons, and most all do ocean swims, and most all know what they are getting into. But I think this story is a bit msrepresentative... I'd like to know the standards for assistance etc. Also required help leaving the water. arm under another's arm? 200 rescues is a better headline than 2 sent to hospitals

OK, with the caveat I wasn't there.... but I've done this race, and I know people that were there this year. The conditions this year were much much better than prior years. Here's a pic of the year I did it sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/.../4155_1139807224963_1520884274_330775_1698026_n.jpg 2009 was worse, with tons of current and wind chop, and waves of about the same size. This year was much smaller and calmer. But this RD simply doesn't cancel swims in rough conditions. As for this year, I heard nothing about an inordinate number of "rescues," and believe me here in L.A. that news travels around very fast. I have to chalk this up to reportage and a very ambiguous definition of "assistance." If the RD is to be believed, that includes providing direction in the water. Not sure how they keep track of that, but still.... I know triathletes get a bad rap from swimmers (as well as cyclists... not so much runners) and in some cases that is true. But if you are a triathlete and are smart, you swim in the ocean out here. Every week. It's a heavily LA tri race for obvious reasons, and most all do ocean swims, and most all know what they are getting into. But I think this story is a bit msrepresentative... I'd like to know the standards for assistance etc. Also required help leaving the water. arm under another's arm? 200 rescues is a better headline than 2 sent to hospitals