want some feedback on experience with kayakers... both assigned and general swim support.
I have been hit by kayaks and kayakers approximately a half-dozen times... 3 times they were either not my assigned kayaker or they were simply general swim support.
I appreciate ALL volunteers but I think many races fail to communicate what is the role and responsibility of kayakers.
It is not my intent to bash kayakers with this thread but to solicit opinions on the role / responsibility of the kayaker to the swimmer.
I have never run into a support kayaker either assigned or general support. That's in 11 years and roughly 44 races. I DID run into a kayaker who was just out for a paddle on the bay and happened to be there the same time we were.
I came close once, but it turns out I was swimming way off course and the kayaker had intentionally moved to keep me from swimming out to sea.
Is it possible you don't sight very often and so you swim more crooked than the average swimmer? Either that or bad luck I reckon.
My 2nd kayaker (we were assigned one for the first half and another for the 2nd half)at 25k nationals last year was underprepared for what it would all be about, and that was somewhat exasperating. But it wasn't her fault, she just volunteered to help out and I think had only a vague notion of what she would be asked to do. I was glad to have her there.
Also, I think Phil White the race organizer for the Kingdom Swim has an excellent page for volunteer kayaker so they can see what will be going on.
www.kingdomswim.org/kayakers.php
I have never run into a support kayaker either assigned or general support. That's in 11 years and roughly 44 races. I DID run into a kayaker who was just out for a paddle on the bay and happened to be there the same time we were.
I came close once, but it turns out I was swimming way off course and the kayaker had intentionally moved to keep me from swimming out to sea.
Is it possible you don't sight very often and so you swim more crooked than the average swimmer? Either that or bad luck I reckon.
My 2nd kayaker (we were assigned one for the first half and another for the 2nd half)at 25k nationals last year was underprepared for what it would all be about, and that was somewhat exasperating. But it wasn't her fault, she just volunteered to help out and I think had only a vague notion of what she would be asked to do. I was glad to have her there.
Also, I think Phil White the race organizer for the Kingdom Swim has an excellent page for volunteer kayaker so they can see what will be going on.
www.kingdomswim.org/kayakers.php
