Saw this today, very sad situation:
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/sf-triathlon-paralyzed-competitor-dangerous-20365189.php
I watched the video and it seemed to flow at a similar rate as when I raced there several years ago. Maybe they should have a water-level platform attached to the ferry instead of that jump.
Thatās awful. Hopefully he can recover and is temporary.
They used to do a race in Kemah, TX (near Galveston) that mimicked the Escape for Alcatraz race and I believe was a qualifier race for Alcatraz back when that was a thing. It was put on by Aaron Palaianās old race production company. @arpalaian
It was called Gateway to the Bay the first couple of years and then renamed to the Kemah Tri. It was an Oly distance race and they used the paddlewheel boat (The Colonel) that is normally docked at Moody Gardens in Galveston. Those who have done the Texas 70.3 know exactly what boat Iām talking about.
Anyway, the Colonel took you out about a mile offshore, you jumped in, and swam back to shore. Pretty much just like the Escape race. They had two jump off spots, one near the front and one near the back. The race folks were very careful to be sure that one person jumped to the right of the dock, next person to the left, then right, left, etc. Nobody was sent off until the last person that jumped from your side was clear.
Sounds like they werenāt super responsible in that regard last week in SF.
The fast people were diving off head first when I did Alcatraz. I doubt they have ever controlled the start much. They seem to want to empty the boat ASAP. Probably partly due to cost and partly to ensure everyone finishes the swim during the slack tide.
Hope he has a full and quick recovery.
Itās always been a bit chaotic. You kinda just hope that the person jumping in after you has the good sense to aim for clean water, since they donāt want to land on someone either.
The best setup Iāve seen for the jump starts at Alcatraz is 2-5 people at a time side-by-side every 10sec. That way each group can clear the zone before the next group jumps.
Looking at an old YT video of the EFA start (2012), you can see what a free-for-all it was. In the video several people hit swimmers already in the water, fortunately not squarely.
Who is now the race Director of it? And who owns it? Back when I was volunteering every year, in the Terry Davis years, the couple of times I was on the boat. We definitely made sure people were jumping left straight and right and clearing before the next group jumped. Hopefully Mr. Perez makes a full recovery.
I feel like that year I did it (and got to meet clm and Katy!) we were told to make sure the person in front of you cleared before you jumped.
I can see that some people have a pause in the water after they jump in-- the cold sort of stops you and itās easier said than done to start swimming immediately.
Hope the injured athlete does ok.
@Titanflexr that looks really bad as somone could jump in just as another person bobs back up after being momentarily invisible, which I suspect would be the cause of the accident in the article
It is too bad that someone got injured. I did the race this year, and certainly the start is a bit chaotic. However, there was a volunteer/official right at the gate at the edge of the boat sort of directing us. On left, then one right, and so on.
Of course I donāt know anything about the facts of this incident. This is an IMG owned event and they hire Bill Burke for race Logistics and execution. My experience is that Bill is the absolute very best in the business, cares deeply about athletes, and will likely carefully analyze this situation.
Personally, I absolutely loved the race. I thought it was awesome in all respects. It is challenging, and they repeat in a lot of their materials that it is for experienced athletes. There are also pre-race videos and instructions on the jump to start the swim, as well as all other aspects of the event. I was taking notes and trying to learn all I can because I thought they had the best flow of pre-race information and instructional communication of any race I have done.
Again, I hate it for the injured athlete. I sure hope this works out okay.
What an absolute cluster fuck. The people who are so panicked they are jumping on top of others should not be doing these events. Baseline skill and situation awareness too low.
You may be surprised at how totally inept and lacking in practical common sense a huge portion of the population is. I now look at people and judge them by how long I think they would last in the Zombie Apocalypse. 
This is why itās incumbent on the race to put a system in place to ensure everyoneās safety. Many of the Alcatraz races Iāve done (tris and swims), you cross the timing mat and jump in, creating a sense of urgency since the clock has started. Five seconds is just not enough time to jump in, surface, sight, and swim out of the zone before the next person jumps. I typically jump as far out as I can (and slightly to the side) to get away from the landing zone, but that also increases the risk of contacting someone who is swimming away.
Itās fucked up what happened here. Anything to do with swimming and water is a complete recipe for disaster for many participants. We donāt know the specifics of what specifically happened but itās also not enough to just say oh the race organisers should have a system.
Hopefully this guy makes a good recovery and hopefully there is a change where people with low competence are not forced into situations making a good decision or poor decision
The non elite should not be doing mass start swims
https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/triathlete-horrific-moment-paralyzed-sf-race-20372426.php
The athlete interview about the accident.
Never done this race, were folks allowed to dive head first in the age groups? From the sound of his description he went in head first, seems like most went feet first??
Man I hope he gets some feeling back, often times you do get some healing here unless it was a complete breakā¦Talk about having your life turned upside down while on a fun vacation, this sucksā¦
Pretty sure he ājumpedā aka feet first.
That would be a really weird accident if he jumped feet first. Iām not even sure I can imagine how it happened. I can see if you are already in the water and someone jumps onto your head, but doesnt sound like that is what he described happeningā¦Strangeā¦
His quote from the article "When it was his turn, Perez said he was getting yelled at to jump into the water even though he saw another swimmer in there. He waited for a moment to let the space clear, took a deep breath and then jumped into San Francisco Bay. That was the last moment before everything changed.
āAs I could feel my head just about to hit the surface in the water, I just felt a huge boom on the back of my head,ā Perez said. āIt just felt like the enormous weight just hit me, and Iām just like, āWhat the hell was that?ā And immediately I knew, excuse my language, but, āIām fāking paralyzed.āā
I think you are confused by the āhead just about to hit the surfaceā. I took it to mean that he jumped, went under the water and as he was coming back up to the surface, he was hit.
Time for more morning coffee?
Ya, when I read when my head hit the water, I took it as in his dive and not coming up from his jump. That of course makes more sense, just wasnt clearā¦
Wow.