Swimming next to a cable in calm conditions might be a good first baby step to more challenging events.
Totally agree. The problem is, many of these more challenging events will cease to exist unless they can find alternative insurance. USMS, given its size, would have had great negotiating power if keeping these events had been a priority. By all appearances, it was not a priority. If USMS had a genuine commitment to open water swimming, then I'd think they would be interested in keeping the swimmers who want to graduate beyond cable swims "in the fold."
But unlike you I do think USMS has made a good faith effort in a bad situation to continue OW swimming in the organization in the short term. And I believe I am in a position to evaluate that effort, given that my LMSC chair was on the Task Force and my wife is on the OW committee.
An alternative interpretation is that your position makes you blind to the shortcomings in the effort. If USMS really plans to make a good faith effort at improving their approach to open water, they would do well to view my comments here as reasoned criticism, not "pouting," and will realize that I'm far from alone in my views.
Swimming next to a cable in calm conditions might be a good first baby step to more challenging events.
Totally agree. The problem is, many of these more challenging events will cease to exist unless they can find alternative insurance. USMS, given its size, would have had great negotiating power if keeping these events had been a priority. By all appearances, it was not a priority. If USMS had a genuine commitment to open water swimming, then I'd think they would be interested in keeping the swimmers who want to graduate beyond cable swims "in the fold."
But unlike you I do think USMS has made a good faith effort in a bad situation to continue OW swimming in the organization in the short term. And I believe I am in a position to evaluate that effort, given that my LMSC chair was on the Task Force and my wife is on the OW committee.
An alternative interpretation is that your position makes you blind to the shortcomings in the effort. If USMS really plans to make a good faith effort at improving their approach to open water, they would do well to view my comments here as reasoned criticism, not "pouting," and will realize that I'm far from alone in my views.
