Funny how much open water purists seem to disdain what you consider lesser events or athletes. Puddle swims, wetsuits wearers, triathletes: all pretenders. The chip on your shoulder just gets a little tiring after a while.
The martyr complex gets a little tiring after a while, too.
As Ken Classen says, there are different categories of OW events. Each category calls for different safety measures, and possibly different types of insurance. It has nothing to do with one category being better than the other.
For those of us who are interested in Ken's category #2 and #3 events, it is frustrating that USMS did not see fit to include our interests in their decision-making. This frustration is compounded by the fact that the "Open Water Task Force" did not include anyone who has any relevant experience at category #2 and #3 events.
Possibly category #3 events (channel swims) are better off disengaging from USMS altogether. They are different beasts. However, the de-sanctioning of Kingdom Swim in Vermont (a category 2 swim) is, in my view, truly a stain on the legacy of USMS.
Chris Stevenson, it is not surprising you thought the earlier comment by chaos was "a bit much" link], because, by your own admission, you see open water as "a workout, nothing more." You have a narrow perspective, just like the people responsible for these new policies.
Funny how much open water purists seem to disdain what you consider lesser events or athletes. Puddle swims, wetsuits wearers, triathletes: all pretenders. The chip on your shoulder just gets a little tiring after a while.
The martyr complex gets a little tiring after a while, too.
As Ken Classen says, there are different categories of OW events. Each category calls for different safety measures, and possibly different types of insurance. It has nothing to do with one category being better than the other.
For those of us who are interested in Ken's category #2 and #3 events, it is frustrating that USMS did not see fit to include our interests in their decision-making. This frustration is compounded by the fact that the "Open Water Task Force" did not include anyone who has any relevant experience at category #2 and #3 events.
Possibly category #3 events (channel swims) are better off disengaging from USMS altogether. They are different beasts. However, the de-sanctioning of Kingdom Swim in Vermont (a category 2 swim) is, in my view, truly a stain on the legacy of USMS.
Chris Stevenson, it is not surprising you thought the earlier comment by chaos was "a bit much" link], because, by your own admission, you see open water as "a workout, nothing more." You have a narrow perspective, just like the people responsible for these new policies.
