Just got a call (6:31am) USAT Sprint Nationals is now a run-bike-run. Lifeguards likely called it due to big surf that So Cal is experiencing right now. Sounds like it’s gonna be a 3/4 mile sand run, bike, 5k run.
Ian
Lame! The waves dropped a lot overnight. This morning is 1/2 the size of yesterday morning. Liability issues, I’m sure!
Yeah, that surfer that died earlier in the week has everyone on edge here. I heard that there were a lot of AG athletes asking about extra life guards, etc. for the event. Probably the best call to nix the swim.
Ian, I’m sure with all the news about the big surf and the guy getting killed at the Wedge…they had to make that call.
BTW: I was at CDM yesterday and looking across to the Wedge…impressive.
Utterly ridiculous. If someone is not competent in a surf-swim, then don’t sign up for a race with a surf-swim. Unless the swim was at The Wedge, I think this is quite sad. I’m still waiting for the day they cancel the run because it is hot and humid.
Triathlon has become a sport of the masses and the masses don’t deal well with extreme water conditions. Or even moderately difficult ones. If you want to prove what a swim stud you are then sign up for swim-only races where they won’t cancel the swim.
The great irony in this situation, for me, is that I was signed up but have been sick for the past four or five weeks. For the first time in eight years of tri I did not go to a race for which I had already paid. And then it turns out to be a duathlon, where I would have excelled. I am always hoping they will cancel the swim at one of the big races I attend because I am very interested to see how I would stack up against a very large field of “duathletes for a day”. And today was the day and I’m at home. 
Chad
Waiting for Monty to post…
Just to add. This is not just a big swell. It was VERY big! Here in Huntington Beach the surf was big, water warm, light winds and there was only a hand full of people surfing on my run the other day. If it keeps the surfer’s out of the water you know it’s big.
Just to add. This is not just a big swell. It was VERY big! Here in Huntington Beach the surf was big, water warm, light winds and there was only a hand full of people surfing on my run the other day. If it keeps the surfer’s out of the water you know it’s big.
In fairness though, HB is about the worst spot you could surf on a big south in my opinion. Massive drift, tons of duckdiving to get out. Catch one left and you’re a mile up the beach. Down here in south OC, Trestles, Doheny, even Poche, a rarely-surfed local beach here in San Clemente have had some of the most-crowded days I’ve ever seen. Yesterday, Doheny, which is somewhat protected from the bigger stuff, had at least 80 guys out at 8am. Trestles has been beyond packed, but those spots all handle large swell very well with the rocky bottom. Beachbreaks have been typically walled on this swell. I heard they were giving jet ski assist to competitors in the US Open at HB Pier because the competitors were getting swept down the beach after just one wave, making for some pretty unexciting spectating.
In fairness though, HB is about the worst spot you could surf on a big south in my opinion. Massive drift, tons of duckdiving to get out. Catch one left and you’re a mile up the beach. Down here in south OC, Trestles, Doheny, even Poche, a rarely-surfed local beach here in San Clemente have had some of the most-crowded days I’ve ever seen. Yesterday, Doheny, which is somewhat protected from the bigger stuff, had at least 80 guys out at 8am. Trestles has been beyond packed, but those spots all handle large swell very well with the rocky bottom. Beachbreaks have been typically walled on this swell. I heard they were giving jet ski assist to competitors in the US Open at HB Pier because the competitors were getting swept down the beach after just one wave, making for some pretty unexciting spectating.
I agree 100%. I Just making a point it was not a typical big day.
BTW: the bodyboarders were getting the best waves.
Just to add. This is not just a big swell. It was VERY big! Here in Huntington Beach the surf was big, water warm, light winds and there was only a hand full of people surfing on my run the other day. If it keeps the surfer’s out of the water you know it’s big.
That is fine. Let the people who are comfortable with the conditions compete in the race they signed up for. Let the others do a triathlon. If you don’t have a 6’ to 9’ hunk of surfboard with you, it is not hard to make it out–even at a beachbreak–in those conditions. Bodyboarders and bodysurfers make it out much easier.
There is always a good chance there will be a VERY big swell once you get into the 2nd half of the summer. You get a big south coming through, and Orange County lights up. It is not like this is a once in 10 years event. HUGE surf happens all of the time.
That is fine. Let the people who are comfortable with the conditions compete in the race they signed up for. Let the others do a triathlon. If you don’t have a 6’ to 9’ hunk of surfboard with you, it is not hard to make it out–even at a beachbreak–in those conditions. Bodyboarders and bodysurfers make it out much easier.
There is always a good chance there will be a VERY big swell once you get into the 2nd half of the summer. You get a big south coming through, and Orange County lights up. It is not like this is a once in 10 years event. HUGE surf happens all of the time.
I swim train in the ocean 2-3x a week, 2.5mi a session, March-Dec. So I know how to get out/in through the surf. I don’t just ride a surfboard. And it is ONE of the biggest swells of the last 10 years. If you don’t beleive me go to http://www.surfline.com/home/index.cfm or http://usopenofsurfing.com/site6.aspx and check it out. You can catch Slater ripping at the contest:)
I agree you should not sign up for an ocean race if you can’t handle it. But if you check the race web-site they make it sound like the swim is kinda easy and South Reef Point is…most of the time. I’m just saying, this race has a lots of kids, beginners, and inexperienced ocean swimmers. I don’t think they could take the chance.
BTW: I love a rough ocean swim for a race and I would of been racing today if I did not have Vineman Full next weekend…For selfish reasons I would not of been happy they call off the swim. 
Just to add. This is not just a big swell. It was VERY big! Here in Huntington Beach the surf was big, water warm, light winds and there was only a hand full of people surfing on my run the other day. If it keeps the surfer’s out of the water you know it’s big.
That is fine. Let the people who are comfortable with the conditions compete in the race they signed up for. Let the others do a triathlon. If you don’t have a 6’ to 9’ hunk of surfboard with you, it is not hard to make it out–even at a beachbreak–in those conditions. Bodyboarders and bodysurfers make it out much easier.
There is always a good chance there will be a VERY big swell once you get into the 2nd half of the summer. You get a big south coming through, and Orange County lights up. It is not like this is a once in 10 years event. HUGE surf happens all of the time.
Triathletes are such light weights and the promoters are gutless. They both would have ditched the swim on a fun day in the surf like this one in July
The swell here in the Santa Monica Bay area has come down considerably today compared to what we saw yesterday and Friday. I swim at Manhattan Beach this morning and the sets were meaty but only 2-3 waves with plenty of lull between.
I understand an RDs call - safety should always be first. I was there this morning to see what the race site in Newport had to offer so I can’t speak to that cancellation.
Ian
Doubt it was this big down there at Reef-Point. After all it is protected from the South swells.
But there could be a problem with the swim exit at high surf, due to the rocks. Not too much room for error, maybe a 100ft?
In that case they could have re-routed the swim, but that would have required the swim to go further out and leave the protection of the bay.
Know this race and have done it while down there on vacation and it had about 6-foot swells that year.
Good old times when it was on you to decide if you wanted to swim or not.
But in light of the guy who got killed at the wedge yesterday doing something REALLY stupid the organizers felt pressured to cater to the lowest denominator.
Just finished a 90-minute bodyboarding sesh here in San Clemente. Waves were 1/2 the size of yesterday. Maybe 6 foot faces on the biggest sets and dropping.
I heard they canceled the swim because of the strong rips…not the size of the waves. Given the number of newbies that compete in sprints, they made the right call. It’s just unfortunate. Bill Leach puts on great races and is an experienced life guard. I don’t blame him for being ultra-safe to protect his race participants. That said, I didn’t sign up this year due to a conflict and I would have been bummed if I entered and the swim was canceled.
That’s exactly what it was. The rips were ugly. The surf would have been hard enough, but the rips looked pure evil.
Steve, did you race?