Probably a dumb question.
Any idea if there will be wetsuit peelers at Nationals next week?
Thanks
None last year, haven’t heard of any changes since then.
Enjoy that ramp.
Enjoy that ramp.
What’s the deal with the ramp? (Didn’t do the race last year)
Understand pretty slippery re: ramp
My T1 time is now measured in hours
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No wetsuit peelers last year. That ramp was a little slippery but not too bad. They lined the ramp with volunteers to help us get up the ramp.
Enjoy that ramp.
What’s the deal with the ramp? (Didn’t do the race last year)
The ramp last year was too short, therefore very steep. They had people on either railing helping people haul themselves up the ramp.
This year, USAT appears to be hyping the company that made the ramp for 2014, so I suspect you might have a better setup this year. In fact,
USA Triathlon would like to thank Cordeck Building Solutions for providing the swim exit structure for the Age Group National Championships weekend. Athletes can expect a new exit structure for 2014.
Short but steep. They have people pulling you out but if you are swimming with a large group get ahead before you come out or you’ll get caught up in a log jam. Waves are much larger this year with everyone trying for Chicago.
guessing that if you go to AG NC then you should be able to get your wetsuit off without help.
A little off topic, but is the swim a wade start or dive start?
I watched and listened to the Pre-race Webinar yesterday. They explicitly made mention of the fact that the ramp this year has changed and is not as steep as last year.
- Pull the wetsuit down to your waste while running to your bike
- At bike pull the wetsuit to knee or lower
- Step down on wetsuit with one foot to bringing the wetsuit lower
- Bring the other foot out to remove that leg from the wetsuit
You may need to grab it with your hands. Whatever. It shouldn’t add any time. - Reach down and pull wetsuit off of other leg. It helps to again step on the suit with the opposite foot.
Does anyone know Jaime Cleveland? He should post a youtube video doing this, he is the best I have seen.
WAY faster than stopping for a wetsuit stripper. If you practice it, you can do it in 3 seconds. A wetsuit strip is probably going to take 15 when you factor stopping. Plus, if when you get good at it, you take relying on someone else out of your equation. And it is free speed!
A little off topic, but is the swim a wade start or dive start?
Last year was a wade start. They marched us onto a temporary floating dock and from there it was our business how to enter water. I jumped in feet first. Everyone had to be in the water for the start. Can’t remember if they asked us to hold onto the dock, or just stay behind some buoys or what. I’ve had several races since then with that same type start and they all blur together.
A little off topic, but is the swim a wade start or dive start?
Each wave walks out onto a long dock that is perpendicular to the direction of the swim. When the previous wave goes off, you get into the water. You have the option to swim around a bit before your wave starts. If you have a high ranking, you might hear your name called as they list some of the faster people in your AG :-). When time to start, everyone goes back to the dock and hangs on in the water until the gun. Nowhere to put your feet that I could find for a fast push-off.
No peelers but a nice long run to T1 to get it down to waist level. 
And yeah, the ramp last year was a little wonky. I remember watching them put it together on Friday and thinking “uh oh” but I didn’t hear of any real problems. You just had to let the volunteers literally lift you and then pull yourself up with the railing.
You are gonna love Nationals if you haven’t been before. Last year was my first and my fiancé and I just had such an awesome time. Milwaukee is a fantastic place!!!
Patti
Looking at the swim map on the USAT web site, the exit for the swim is in a different location than last year.
You do not come back under the bridge on the swim. Hopefully that change was made to improve the swim exit.
Interesting - I’ll have to go back and take a look at that. Makes a lot of sense to have the full width of the tunnel for swimming. Some of those blocks were a little close for comfort last year as I was trying to catch up. They sounded the gun while our wave was walking down the ramp to the water last year!
I’d call it a deep water start. You are treading water or holding on to the dock when your wave goes off. You can’t touch the bottom.
Got in on a fluke, and I’m taking advantage. Hopefully my 2:15-2:30 time isn’t so slow that they close up shop before I finish.
Got in on a fluke, and I’m taking advantage. Hopefully my 2:15-2:30 time isn’t so slow that they close up shop before I we finish.
fixt 