Today at Menona Terrace I was able to spend some time chatting with Gordon Weldon, Operations Director of the USAT. First off, Gordon is a very nice man who is with out doubt honestly concerned about Tri, but also being sure that folks who are members feel that they get their monies worth - but also trying to get insight on what it is that our ever changing expectations are. Gordon (as he told me) works more with the Member Services aspect of things as opposed to the RD Services side of things. He mentioned to me some changes that the USAT is making (he did not say I could, thus I am not going to post what they are). They are looking at how to better handle the quality of events and how to be sure that if the USAT label is on an event - people can expect a certain level of quality from that event (and not be shocked when a “Half” is 62.6mi. and what not).
Gordon proves to me that even if USAT has not lived up to expectations in the past, they have taken note and are working to change things in the future. Myself, I look forward to speaking with Gordon again and even going to the class to become a USAT Official…then instead of just bitching about drafting and other issues at races…I can help in working to resolve some of the issues.
So, Kudos to USAT and I cant wait to see how the changes pan out.
Gordon proves to me that even if USAT has not lived up to expectations in the past, they have taken note and are working to change things in the future. Myself, I look forward to speaking with Gordon again and even going to the class to become a USAT Official…then instead of just bitching about drafting and other issues at races…I can help in working to resolve some of the issues.
So, Kudos to USAT and I cant wait to see how the changes pan out.
I knew I saw a pig fly by my window!
I’m taking the Officials class if they get one together in conjunction with SOMA.
Good to hear that at least some complaints are not falling on deaf ears.
I am on the opinion that they are going to have to rely on community feedback to ensure that a race met USAT standards. It would be far too expensive to send out a USAT staff member to every race in the US. I think they should consider surveying/sampling every event. Web surveys are cheap. This could be used at least as a part of an overall formula to determine whether an event hangs onto its USAT designation.
Wow… Record10Carbon is going to become a card-carrying annual member of USAT!
If they do what I was told, no question. They have a huge job with 3000+ races and I always “got” that…it is just the fact that I have done SO many races that were just not safe (what also helped in speaking with him was Tracy also telling him about races she has been at that I was in).
talk is cheap. they’ve been saying that crap for years about the rankings.
not being able to put on a well managed and self titled ‘superbowl of triathlons’ less than a month ago says enough.
I agree. Was also given dates however…so time will tell.
Now, some of what we spoke about I CAN tell on the forum as it was out of my mouth…
have a policy, or additional policy (for a fee) so that the participant has 100% medical coverage - BEFORE the limits of a person policy. Thus, if you are injured at an event, with out question of personal or event liability the medical coverage would cover 100% of costs. Currently, if you have your own policy - only once you hit your limit does USAT insurance cover you. Given the instance you have an 80/20 plan with a $5,000 yearly deductable - you are out $1,000.00 before USAT even thinks about paying out. Companies like Aflak would be wonderful at a race…would I pay $5.00 additional at a race for insurance, and a policy that would cover my other costs if I am unable to work? Sure as heck I would. give officials the ability to pull the sanction at any time, right up to race day. If a USAT official finds a condition that creates a potential danger to participants the RD either fixes it - or the sanction (and thus insurance) is pulled. Items such as a rail road crossing on the bike course and the RD not having full knowledge of the schedule of the crossing would be such an instance. Others would be intersection marking (or lack there of), life guard count, and other issues that could create a potential hazard to the life of participants. I really think that it would take ONE race getting canceled on race day for every other RD to know that they are not playing. A STANDARDS based system so that all RD’s knew that if they are going to have a USAT logo, they MUST live up to a minimum standard for their event. They must provide a minimum timing system, a minimum number of aid stations, minimum number of porto potties, and on and on and on. I have done far to many terribly ran races that were stamped with USAT to think that there is any template to follow. (Fact of the matter is, as an RD I know for a fact that the USAT has not provided a template) I told him that maybe they should ask Dan if they can print and distribute the “How to be a Race Director” guide as well.
give officials the ability to pull the sanction at any time, right up to race day. If a USAT official finds a condition that creates a potential danger to participants the RD either fixes it - or the sanction (and thus insurance) is pulled. Items such as a rail road crossing on the bike course and the RD not having full knowledge of the schedule of the crossing would be such an instance. Others would be intersection marking (or lack there of), life guard count, and other issues that could create a potential hazard to the life of participants. I really think that it would take ONE race getting canceled on race day for every other RD to know that they are not playing.
Odd. What I attempted to post: To accomplish this they will actually have to send officials to the races they sanction. In a response to a message I sent to USAT last week about safety concerns at an event I did, they said in a perfect world they would attend every event on race day to make sure everything is running smoothly, but in reality they sanction too many races for this to be feasible. This is what needs to be fixed in my opinion.
In a response to a message I sent to USAT last week about safety concerns at an event I did,
That at the end of the day is the crux of my bitch with the USAT. There is no question that this is regional in nature. If you are in SoCal, or even mid Ohio the RD’s have set a very high standard that folks expect. The folks who put on TTT, NAS, Sommer Sports and others have done a very good job of putting on great EVENTS, not just a race but an event. USAT has not needed to worry about these events, or really regions for that matter as the companies just did a good job (and would have with out the USAT). In areas like Illinois and Wisconsin it has been a joke.
I was at one race (half) where the RD no shit at the swim start had a megaphone and started the race…and ran to the swim start in his wetsuit as he was also a participant! How the hell does an RD race his own race??? This is another instance where if I was the USAT I would pull the sanction as the primary decision maker and the place the buck stops was out on the course racing…
Central Il, “Great Illini”…it was just funny as shit to watch. I think about that every year at Rockman…“how could I be RD and still race”…(no, I would never consider doing that)
give officials the ability to pull the sanction at any time, right up to race day. If a USAT official finds a condition that creates a potential danger to participants the RD either fixes it - or the sanction (and thus insurance) is pulled. Items such as a rail road crossing on the bike course and the RD not having full knowledge of the schedule of the crossing would be such an instance. Others would be intersection marking (or lack there of), life guard count, and other issues that could create a potential hazard to the life of participants. I really think that it would take ONE race getting canceled on race day for every other RD to know that they are not playing.
If a railroad crossing is active, and has properly functioning lights/signals/barriers, I don’t feel it’s a requirement that a RD knows the schedule. It’s the athletes’ responsibility to follow rules of the road in the absence of volunteers or police. Would it be desirable to have a volunteer there? Yes. Would it be desirable to not have any active trains? Yes. But is it required? No, even the Tour de France occasionally gets held up by a train.
IMO, allowing officials to pull a sanction is playing with fire. An official can relay concerns up the line, but pulling the sanction should be a corporate decision. You don’t want one official to be responsible for playing with the livelihood of the RD. If the official does see safety issues, it should just get reported to the main office. IMO, officials (should) know and are responsible for rules enforcement; everything else, including safety, is on the RD’s shoulders (although anyone can be a critic).
One additional thing to consider: officials aren’t required at all events. For events that you have been to and seen safety issues, how many did or didn’t have officials? For races without officials, it’s up to the athletes to report issues to someone that can act on them (USAT).
I have seen first hand folks in a race…race a train to a crossing. This was NOT a lights crossing but a rural S. Wi. rail crossing over a rural highway. If you “beat” the train you have a five minute lead on the rest of the folks. It is a very good thing that no one was hit by the train…add to that the fact that there were about 50+ folks who were spaced out who were suddenly a peloton.
Plus, this crossing would be very easy to not even cross if other roads were used.
As for liability, certainly - that is 100% on the RD…but the USAT is the one with the insurance policy and they are the “Seal if Aproval”
The folks who put on TTT, NAS, Sommer Sports and others have done a very good job of putting on great EVENTS
On the other:
*How the hell does an RD race his own race??? *
Shannon from HFP Racing is RD for TTT and raced it (very successfully) several times. Conundrum? The answer is very obvious: Shannon has a team and an organization in place that makes this possible.
