What’s the cost of a daylong babysitter vs VIP?
Being familiar with LP IM and the VIP tents/areas.
There is at least two.
One is at swim start in the swim house, but closes up when the swim ends.
Then the larger one at the finish line.
Which i would think would be unmanned for most the morning. So if dropped the child off there. There is no food and no bathrooms in the tent, but would have to walk up to the school. that is very scary.
I think in this day and age , using your wording, it classifies as a moron move, but 50 years ago where I live, kids just hung out all day for all kinds of things totally unattended and everyone figured things out. That’s not letting this guy off the hook in 2025, however, do we know the entire story. Was there another adult who was supposed to be with said kid but dissappeared (probably a stretch, but worth knowing the entire story). It could be as simple as the adult who was supposed to be there dissappeared, some people saw an unattended kid and the kid was unable to explain what was going on, and next thin you know the dad is in handcuffs at T2
Do we think the kid was more traumatized by his time in VIP or by seeing his dad get cuffed? I’m going to guess the latter.
4 Likes
IM LP provide a GARBAGE VIP service. They would not survive for one minute in the customer service industry!!! They should be the ones IN CUFFS for breach of warranty
2 Likes
I guess you could say he took that “It takes a village to raise a child” a little too far.
9 Likes
but in fairness he was told that anything is possible.
11 Likes
Obviously crazy to leave a child unattended for so long surrounded by strangers. I looked this guy up on the tracker and he swam a 1:47 but entered the water right up front at 6:30. I could only find a few people (sub 1hr swimmers) who entered before him. Just one other example of horrible judgement…
3 Likes
Agree. Stopping him from racing, pulling his gear and having the police escort him to have a personal discussion would’ve worked. Now the kid saw his dad was arrested and that sucks. That said i would never leave my 10 year old alone at a race even though she makes her older brother coffee and breakfast every morning, lol.
So what are the rules? Can somebody leave their 16 year old? What about an 75 year old dad? Can he be there in a wheel chair cheering?
3 Likes
But that’s up to the Police, not Ironman.
In NY if my quick google search is accurate. There is no specific age for what classifies as a “child” being allowed to be left alone, so that would likely apply to anyone 17 and younger (age 18 you are considered an “adult”), technically by the letter of the law in NY. Factors considered: age of child, maturity of child, and specific circumstances of the case.
Right, and how many 14, 15, 16 year olds are walking around the mall, or down the street, or at 16 driving to work, obviously alone. Yes, 16 is way older but can a 16 be left alone in VIP? Even though they could go drive across the country alone?
Rules or laws are separate things. The law for what’s considered a child in NY is 17 and younger. Ironman’s rule is all children in the VIP area must be accompanied by an adult. A 16 year old would also break Ironman’s rule, but as Brooks noted the law considers other factors. Ironman might balk at a 16 year old being left alone since it’s against their rule/policy but the law would likely be unconcerned about a 16 year old at the race site.
A 75 year old is not a minor, so what’s your point? If your point is that a 75 year old with health concerns being left unattended is an issue, I’d agree. So would Ironman and the law. Just as Ironman VIP isn’t a day care, it’s also not an assisted living facility. The law can step in if the wellness of the adult is in jeopardy. Would the athlete get arrested for that? Highly unlikely. But there are different laws for minors.
1 Like
I wonder if being alone in the VIP area would draw more attention to the actual “unattended” child issue than if you just had your 16 year old hang out outside the VIP, even though then said “child” is more out in the open/public.
Per their rule, no. I’d say Ironman wouldn’t really notice a 16 year old left alone like they would a 9 year old. Now if the 16 year old is acting like a disruptive jackass they’d notice.
My point is there are no set rules and I think arresting the guy was overreacting. If ironman didn’t like it, fine. Stop the guy, DQ him and create some rules.
3 Likes
Huh? There were set rules… and laws. He broke Ironman’s rule/policy and he broke the law. I quoted Ironman’s policy above. Feel free to Google it yourself.
1 Like
These are IM’s VIP rules:
What Comes with a Child Pass?
Child Passes are specially priced for our VIPs aged 6 to 12. Any child under 6 years of age is free when accompanied by an adult with a VIP Pass. Anyone 13 or older must purchase an adult VIP Pass. All children in VIP must be accompanied by an adult at all times on race day.
So talking about the 16 year old in the VIP alone, it seems like IM wouldn’t have an issue themselves with it.
1 Like
I missed that. Thanks. So I’ll just stick to my opinion on the arrest. Maybe they should add, if you break these rules, you will be arrested, lol.
The IM competition rules already have a provision that athletes must follow local laws of the jurisdiction you’re racing in.
No need to add clutter elsewhere…
Dude could have just as easily opened Care.com and spent the same money on VIP getting a babysitter for the day. Or posted in the LP Facebook group and gotten one.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
2 Likes