One thing I haven't seen discussed ...
At the finish, if one has to run to the finish line on a beach/shore from the water, what is the etiquette on passing?
i.e., person finishes swimming in front of me, but takes FOREVER getting out of the water to the finish line on the beach (walking slowly). Is it completely rude of me to run by him/her?
-Would this differ between fun and more competitive races?
-If the person was a different age group/sex, would that affect your approach?
Thanks!
(I'm new so if this is already discussed somewhere, please direct me.)
Anything goes before the finish line except walking on someone's back if they have a hard time getting to their feet.
:agree: Help them up, then dash for the finish line.
Some chutes are set up for no passing due to recording the order of finish, so you just file in. Need to know where the race ends, and finish there. Smile for the camera!
At the SwimFest open water clinic they taught us do what it takes.
If is a race afterall. Rob weren't you there too? when they taught us how to rollover somebody, push their hand away, turn by the buoys. etc.
Last year, i ran up the beach at a charity open water swim, most people did, even newbies.
Did they teach you how to respond when YOU were the one being run over, kicked in the face, had swimsuit grabbed off body, etc.?
Answer appears to be yes:they taught us how to rollover somebody, push their hand away
These are both safe, sportsmanlike defensive moves when another swimmer is cluelessly (or deliberately) swimming over you or crowding you from the side by hitting you repeatedly on the head with his or her recovering arm. You don't stop to yell; you certainly don't kick or punch the person on purpose; you don't grab the person's suit. If you can't just give way, you push the offender away to maintain your personal space; and if that doesn't work but the person has space on his or her other side you just roll over, back to back, and carry on.
As for finishing, I think the etiquette is situational. I agree with chaos that it's bad manners to run past someone who clearly outswam you. OTOH, if two or more swimmers are shoulder to shoulder coming up to a beach finish, part of the contest is to figure out just when to stand up and run, and may the best strategist win. Also, in a race with wave starts, you have to go all the way to the line lest some sandbagger who started in later wave end up with a faster clock time.
I hate running, and I'm a terrible runner. But for some reason, I LOVE that run to the finish. I don't care if I die, I just want to run there as fast as I can. I treat it like the race of my life. Even if there's no one to pass, I want to shave those seconds off my time.
I wouldn't pass in the chute. I also might not pass if it's a really short distance. And physical contact is definitely uncalled for.
i have been passed after an in-water finish at an arizona race with instructions from organizers to maintain your order of finish.
we both finished in the 60th percentile or so, e.g. he was 346th and i was 347th.
it is a race and there is no etiquette.
I will state this... you need to race in, but i do like chaos' post very much.
Did they teach you how to respond when YOU were the one being run over, kicked in the face, had swimsuit grabbed off body, etc.?
Steve Munatones taught the clinic. He is considered the top in open water. and yes, what I described is actually what to do if someone kicks, punches bites pushes etc. Triathalons are worse. I have heard of black eyes
At the SwimFest open water clinic they taught us do what it takes.
If is a race afterall. Rob weren't you there too? when they taught us how to rollover somebody, push their hand away, turn by the buoys. etc.
Last year, i ran up the beach at a charity open water swim, most people did, even newbies.
Did they teach you how to respond when YOU were the one being run over, kicked in the face, had swimsuit grabbed off body, etc.?
