I’ve sat back and watched all these children in the sand box fuss and fight. But I have not seen one candidate address why we have to have a federation/organization to begin with.
If you are a slow age-grouper who doesn’t travel you receive no benefits from USTA execept paying $30 so children can fight over power and money. Yes, i know what the benefits are; but the point is that what do you get? Some say you have safer races. I’ve done both USTA and NON USTA and the safety is left up to the individual not USTA or the race director. Some say you get more races. Maybe so but you have to sign up a year in advance and hope you get in. Some say insurance. If you are employed you usually have good insurance. Some say to have rules. One race in FLA every year is known for its drafting on the bike and evident again this spring. Some say USTA got triathlon into the Olympics. Wow, thats exciting watching everyone draft on the bike. Almost as good as watching the butchered coverage of the Hawaii Ironman from NBC.
The whole point is that some of us just want to do our triathlons without having a one day or annual membership shoved down our throats. If I am not mistaken we had triathlons before there was a USTA.
Recommend you go to Slowtwitch.com and read the USAT election compendium of articles written by Dan Empfield. Even though he is a candidate, I think he gives a fairly balanced answer to your exact question and what needs to be changed.
to walk away from a situation that you are unhappy with and yet remain in the situation seems to be a bad decision. As a slow age grouper (that can not yet claim the nickname Ironman) I understand your dissatisfaction. But, I decided to take action and gathered the required 30 names and signatures and got my name on the ballot (from the Eastern Region).
It is too late for you to join the election as a candidate, but not too late to make your voice heard. Please reconsider. Become active. Write letters, send e-mails and make phone calls. Get your friends, training partners and club/team mates involved. Because, if I get elected you are exactly the members that I hope to represent and use for feedback, input, ideas and support.
I think it is easy to see with just a quick glance at the posts here that everyone shares in your frustration. It has become silly and my girlfriend asked me what it was all about and I just said it isn’t worth the explanation. Whether or not you like USAT or want a governing body isn’t really the point anymore since we do have USAT and many races are held under that sanction. At this point, you are better served by putting your anger aside and voting in the way you feel is best. Of course, it will not get rid of your USAT fee or get you any great benefit as a age group athlete but since it is here to stay you might as well make your voice heard. If everyone who is frustrated walks away without making their voice heard then it will continue down the path it is on.
Well… I didn’t vote in the USAT election because my wife threw away the ballot(s) before I could vote. I’m traveling and I called last night to find out if I received it, and she said “Oh yeah. I didn’t think you’d want it, so I threw it out.”
Doh!!!
Sorry, Dan. Although I have a couple of issues with your petition, I would have voted “yes.”