I help RD a growing grass roots triathlon. We value our athlete feedback and are seeking a solution to improve our swim exit. The layout of the lake we use currently only allows a boat ramp to be used for the swim exit.
We’ve found this to be slippery and also hard to clear off rocks. In the past we attempted to lay turf down over it but it always seems to come lose and rise to the top at some point.
RD’s what have you found to be a good solution? Athlete what have you experienced at other races.
If we scrub the concrete down will that be a reasonable solution - it has grooves already in it - however is slimy.
Are we better off renting/constructing a ramp?
Do you prefer ramp vs rigging up stairs to the boat dock?
when you say turf to you mean real grass or that fake grass like carpet? Because some type of rubber carpet like mat would be what I would like. Thanks for organizing a triathlon:)
Biggest issue is the part the part of the ramp/exit underwater…as you walk down it, it gets slick. Hadn’t thought about submerging a power washer and getting after it!
Ive done some races with boat launch exits. Theyve usually had volunteers in the water on both sides of the ramp helping swimmers as they stand up and take their first steps. This doesnt solve the slipperiness but it helps people standup (more) safely and get their land legs underneath them. Tell athletes at the athlete meeting that the launch is slippery and have the volunteers remind swimmers as they are exiting.
Also… don’t forget to clean the surface for zebra mussels and shells… I sliced my toe open exiting the water in a tri a few years ago… filled my cycling shoe with blood… then filled my running shoe with blood.
Those outdoor “green grass” carpets work well enough at the tri’s I’ve done. They usually get them wide enough that they can weigh them down with rocks without hurting anyone.
Keep using the green artificial turf, but use sandbags around the edges to hold it down. If you use rocks or concrete blocks, someone will bust a toe or cut a foot. Just dump the sand when finished.
We have a couple of handlers at the edge of them helping with swimmers balance but also keeping a foot on them so they stay down.
First, thanks for caring enough to ask the question and improve the race experience.
As an athlete, the above looks like a winner to me. Something there to protect my feet and some volunteers there for me to complain about swimming to (er, help me out of the water if it’s slippery).
Ive done some races with boat launch exits. Theyve usually had volunteers in the water on both sides of the ramp helping swimmers as they stand up and take their first steps.
Consider this another vote for volunteers to help swimmers stand up and walk. The one race I’ve done with a boat ramp exit has had 6-8 volunteers helping people out of the water. Usually 2 volunteers per swimmer. They’ve also scrubbed the ramp to help, but it’s minimally effective. One year they had some kind of plastic mats down that was mostly holes (I think something like this). Not sure how they kept it down. Possibly some concrete blocks on the corners?
Give the spectators a show. Make the athletes exit onto the dock and not the boat launch. Then, have jousting sticks available so that athletes can knock each other back into the water. Charge a spectator fee. Sell popcorn.
To scrub the boat ramp underwater, you can use a swimming pool extension pole (aka telescopic pole or “telepole”) with an algae brush attachment. It might even be worth spending the extra money to get the algae brush with metal bristles instead of the plastic bristles.
Thanks! Ideally I think we’d like to get to the point of having the rubber mats but they are spendy!
Sounds like the green turf carpet stuff may be the best bang for the buck if we can keep it secured down. I like the idea of having sand bags on the edges and maybe a couple at the lip of it.
Give the spectators a show. Make the athletes exit onto the dock and not the boat launch. Then, have jousting sticks available so that athletes can knock each other back into the water. Charge a spectator fee. Sell popcorn.
Now you’re talking… Reminds me of that insurance (?) commercial with the dodgeballs at a triathlon.
Give the spectators a show. Make the athletes exit onto the dock and not the boat launch. Then, have jousting sticks available so that athletes can knock each other back into the water. Charge a spectator fee. Sell popcorn.
you laugh but at IM/HIM NC Wilmington you climb a dock ladder to get out of the swim. granted volunteers are there and you really just climb a few steps.
