Today I had a chance to be a safety diver for a local sprint Triathlon (I’m not going say the name of the race). The event had maybe 200 participants. The swim was an out and back and I was positioned in the water about 3/4 of the way out with another diver about 1/4 of the way out. The race had four waves going off 3 to 4 minutes apart. So the first wave goes, second wave goes, and then the third. By the time the third wave went there were a bunch of of the first and second wave swimmers on there way back in. I noticed two or three swimmers cutting the course at a buoy that was about half way through the course. This made their swim maybe 250-300 meters. I’ve never seen this before mostly because I’ve always been a participant. The funny thing is that the ones I saw cutting the course looked to be pretty good swimmers. I could not see the race numbers and was more in the water to rescue weak swimmers and not turn in cheaters. The race director was advised but without the numbers you could only speculate as to who the offenders were. Not since “finman” has there been such cheating in triathlon.
they are only there to “meet new friends and have a good time” you elitest jerk.
Pretty easy to determine the cheaters. You know which wave, so the first “2 or 3” out of the water in that wave cheated. I say name the triathlon and let the ST sleuth-posse go on the prowl. We’ll have names and home addresses in minutes.
Interesting perspective you’d get as a volunteer diver. Would never have thought this sort of thing goes on during the swim. I’m also a diver but haven’t volunteered in this capacity for a tri.
Cheating is not new. I have been spectator/volunteer since 1984, even back then I saw cheating, swim, bke and run. Cutting race bouys was a favorite by an elite athlete in our area for many years. The person did it mostly at little, local sprints, perhaps becasue they could get away with it.
As a spectator I have witnessed and caught several athletes cutting the bike or the run. I am not shy and will call them on the spot, which usually brings them back with a “shrug” like they did it by accident.
Some people will do anyting if they think there is little chance of getting caught. The bigger races are usually cleaner of course cutting, simply because there are more witnesses. Joe did turn someone in at IMFL who cut the bike and the run. He did get DQd based on Joe’s testimony and verification of his split times.
you should email the white house and let them know… that sure sounds fishy to me!
I have been spectator/volunteer since 1884, even back then…
Whoa…! 1884?!? Thats a really long time. 
Cheating is not new. I have been spectator/volunteer since 1884, even back then I saw cheating, swim, bke and run. Cutting race bouys was a favorite by an elite athlete in our area for many years. The person did it mostly at little, local sprints, perhaps becasue they could get away with it.
As a spectator I have witnessed and caught several athletes cutting the bike or the run. I am not shy and will call them on the spot, which usually brings them back with a “shrug” like they did it by accident.
Some people will do anyting if they think there is little chance of getting caught. The bigger races are usually cleaner of course cutting, simply because there are more witnesses. Joe did turn someone in at IMFL who cut the bike and the run. He did get DQd based on Joe’s testimony and verification of his split times.
Goddamn you’re old
yeah, I am so old I can’t even type anymore and my vision is long gone…
Peter, that was you! I wish I’d have known.
Yup, I was in the 3rd wave and saw at least one course cutter on the swim. I couldn’t really worry myself about it and figured with a 400m swim, 19.8M bike, and 4.5M run, I’d probably not have to worry about them beating me.
I was more worried about wave jumpers, but you can usually spot that by impossible swim splits. It will be interesting to see some of those splits when they’re posted.
Thanks for volunteering. With the minor exception of the course cutting you noticed, it’s a great race for a good cause.
sue,
i was just kidding about the age and treachery thing a few weeks ago /* insert many smileys */
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Peter, that was you! I wish I’d have known.
Yup, I was in the 3rd wave and saw at least one course cutter on the swim. I couldn’t really worry myself about it and figured with a 400m swim, 19.8M bike, and 4.5M run, I’d probably not have to worry about them beating me.
I was more worried about wave jumpers, but you can usually spot that by impossible swim splits. It will be interesting to see some of those splits when they’re posted.
Thanks for volunteering. With the minor exception of the course cutting you noticed, it’s a great race for a good cause.
The swim was only 400 meters total and people bothered to cut the course?
I think they knew tetsuoni was in the race and wanted to a chance to get the post-race food before he ate it all.
Just to stir up the pot, it is pretty obvious now that this is the Northern Columbia Triathlon (although it might as well be a duathlon based on the relative length of the swim). It is not USAT sanctioned, so is it even “officially” against the rules to cut the course?
"I think they knew tetsuoni was in the race and wanted to a chance to get the post-race food before he ate it all. "
wow they must have bin scared to cheat like that.
Thom
I’ve seen lots of people jump waves at bigger tris. It’s always great to see the 23-year-old guy in the Old Wommen’s wave that’s six minutes ahead of his.
The swim was only 400 meters and they had a DIVER???
To me, that’s more surprising than cheating. But, the cheating still sucks.
mm
I like river swims or lake swims where it is a straight line to the finish.
Really no way to cheat.
I would also dare lto bet that it was some damn biker that hates and tattle tales when people draft on the bike. OOPS…Did I just write that down. I did not mean that at all. Just kidding dont all you cyclist get your absorbant pads all in a ruffle. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I think the relative shortness of the swim attracts some folks that just want to experience triathlon and as a result they don’t take the swim seriously. Again I’m usually doing the race not watching it but while watching this one I was surprised at how many racers had to get rescued. Some were getting pulled at about 50 meters from shore (on the way out).
In their defense, maybe they mistook an earlier buoy as the turn around buoy.
It’s a nice, little local race which attracts a lot of first timers. If a newbie suffering a panic attack turns back early, I’m not going to worry too much about it.
If they actually, intentionally cut the course, they’ll never get fast enough to worry about. They don’t have the character to do the work to get really fast.
If they had beer then they’d have a reason to cheat because I might just polish it all off as soon as I finish, but a man can only eat so many bananas (no innuendo intended, nor appreciated).
They had 2 divers plus boats, etc… NYS Troopers and the County Sheriffs really support the event. The bike course was very safe thanks to them.
Last year I was in the 1st wave as I was still 44 so I got to follow a lead trooper motorcycle. Now 45, I was in the 3rd wave so no escort.
FWIW, the original poster is a kick ass triathlete in addition to serving as an elite tactical officer for the troopers.