I know this meeting took place a while back but I just saw it in the news today - http://triathlon.competitor.com/2014/06/news/itu-ironman_100842
It may seem insignificant and benign, but this is important and significant news! The sport of triathlon is too small to be going in several different directions. We ALL need to be onside, looking in the same direction. In numbers and in unison we have strength!
WOW, that is fantastic. I have been asking for this, even talking to Jimmy in the past, for years. I hope they leave any egos and the door and realize having one
set of rules, like with wetsuits, etc., is the best for the sport!!!
Would love to see an article from Dan on this. THIS IS BIG!!
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Next thing you know, we will all be required to have buckets in transition.
Kidding aside, good to hear.
Too bad that USAT didn’t attend.
While it’s great that the industry is taking actions to standardize the sport, the rift between USAT and WTC still exists. They work in unison, but don’t share the same rules. Working in swim, I see several glaring rules that don’t align and cause major confusion amongst competitors. If WTC and ITU align, the rules will be even more difficult for competitors to understand.
I hope that this meeting leads to larger scale meetings to standardize the sport rules. In my mind this includes USAT.
One step forward here at least.
**EDIT: I stand corrected. I overlooked all of the info… Great news all around then!
jake
Too bad that USAT didn’t attend.
jake
They did
The article said Barry was there representing USAT.
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The meeting, hosted by Ironman CEO Andrew Messick, included Gergely Markus (ITU Sport Director), Enrique Quesada (ITU Sport Results, Director), Joyce Donaldson (ITU Technical Committee Member), Barry Siff (President, USAT), Beth Atnip (Ironman Director of Global Technical Operations), Jimmy Riccitello (Ironman Technical Director), Steve MeckFessel (Ironman Managing Director of Global Operations) and Paula Newby-Fraser (Ironman International Relations).
Looks like USAT was there!
This is great news, I can’t see any need for so many conflicting sets of rules.
The meeting, hosted by Ironman CEO Andrew Messick, included Gergely Markus (ITU Sport Director), Enrique Quesada (ITU Sport Results, Director), Joyce Donaldson (ITU Technical Committee Member), Barry Siff (President, USAT), Beth Atnip (Ironman Director of Global Technical Operations), Jimmy Riccitello (Ironman Technical Director), Steve MeckFessel (Ironman Managing Director of Global Operations) and Paula Newby-Fraser (Ironman International Relations).
Looks like USAT was there!
This is great news, I can’t see any need for so many conflicting sets of rules.
Yep, it seems all organizations are there. I sure would love to know how we can give them all support and make it happen ASAP!!!
Dan, how about an article. This is the biggest thing to happen in our sport in a long time, IMO.
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It appears the only group without a voice or representation at this meeting was a spokesperson on behalf of the pros.
Seems with the folks there, some I assume are ex pro’s, there inputs would be represented.
Dan, what is behind this to finally have them meet? Do you think they will be successful?
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No doubt Jimmy Riccitello and PNF are all well equipped in deciding on future matters concerning the betterment of the sport, but this seems an appropriate use of the Ironman brand pro ambassadors (Rapp, Crowie, etc)? Same goes for USAT. They also have pro spokespersons. Why not use them and give them a seat at the table?
Too bad that USAT didn’t attend.
While it’s great that the industry is taking actions to standardize the sport, the rift between USAT and WTC still exists. They work in unison, but don’t share the same rules. Working in swim, I see several glaring rules that don’t align and cause major confusion amongst competitors. If WTC and ITU align, the rules will be even more difficult for competitors to understand.
I hope that this meeting leads to larger scale meetings to standardize the sport rules. In my mind this includes USAT.
One step forward here at least.
jake
How would a harmonization of rules create more difficulty in understanding the rules?
Man, I really hope they raise the wetsuit legal temp to 80 degrees so I can witness the Slowtwitch forums collectively explode.
It appears the only group without a voice or representation at this meeting was a spokesperson on behalf of the pros.
them, and the national federations of every other country on earth
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Man, something positive it trying to be done, and some just continue to look at the glass half empty and why this or that will not work.
Do some folks in our sport ever assume the positive, assume these folks are looking out for everyone?
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just asking questions i don’t know the answers to in case Barry, Jimmy or Jordan (all regular posters here) have further details they can share. my outlook on the future of this sport is always half-full as i would hope my past record shows.
It appears the only group without a voice or representation at this meeting was a spokesperson on behalf of the pros.
them, and the national federations of every other country on earth
The national federations of every other country likely just adhere to ITU rules?
My comments were not directed at you. I know I am going to give them all the support I can since just getting these groups together to talk is pretty amazing.
This is why it would be great for Dan or someone at ST to do an in depth article on how this happened, and chances for success. As I said, IMO, this could
be the biggest thing that has happened in our sport in a long time, and for the positive.
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Should be a short meeting.
ITU: "The WTC is stuck in the 90’s. Your former pro athlete employees don’t understand modern triathlon, or don’t care. Just use our rule book and be done with it. "
WTC: “But… $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$”
ITU: sigh
Kind of what I was thinking too
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