Sounds like some Cal Poly volunteers flaked out because they can’t booze it up…
Dear Triathlete
I just wanted to share with you a situation at this years Wildflower
Triathlons and ask for you assistance. Tri-California and the Monterey
County Parks Department have implemented a new policy with our volunteer
groups from Cal Poly. This policy has to do with alcohol, drinking
responsibly and not allowing any tolerance for under age drinking in
the park. This policy includes not allowing volunteers to bring alcohol
into the park in their vehicles, identifying those of legal drinking age
(21) with wrist bands, and increasing the enforcement in the area to make
sure that the state laws relating to drinking are complied to. This includes
not allowing those under age to drink.  A recent underage drinking fatality
outside the park in May 2004 unrelated to the Wildflower Triathlons and
media reports associated with alcohol poisoning have required us to
re-evaluate our practices.
To keep things brief, we are asking that if you have family members, friends
or even yourself that are coming to the event that could help as volunteers.
We have enough volunteers to complete the event, but we could use more so
that we are not at bare minimums. If a person is interested in volunteering
they can report to the information booth or the registration tent when they
arrive and sign up for a volunteer assignment. We are all at the lake now
so please do not e-mail or call. We can use volunteers for 2 hours, 4 hours,
or for all day. Each volunteer gets a t-shirt, and there is really no better
way to see the race than from the prospective of a volunteer.Â
The reasons that we are asking for general volunteers is the adoption of a
new policy comes resistance and we have experienced a great deal of resistance
from many of the people that came mainly for the social aspects of the event.
We have less than one half of the number of registered volunteers as we had
last year. Many Cal Poly clubs are boycotting the event this year because
of the policy.
On the positive note, we have added more free food, more non alcoholic drink,
more games and more music to area. Our volunteers will be better that the
volunteers in the past and I believe that this is the right decision.
I don’t blame the Cal Poly students. They have supported this event for years and this is how they are treated? I’d boycott it too.
And was the little dig at the end absolutely necessary…“our (new) volunteers will be better than the volunteers in the past” what a shitty thing to say about everyone who has ever supported this race. The RD needs to make some apologies.
As an RD, I understand the need for safety, but I think the Email is poorly worded and shows significant disrespect for the great history of student volunteers.
As an athlete, I must admit that drinking, nakedness, and general revelry are an integral component of WF. It’s a significant “differentiator” from just another triathlon in my middle-aged book. I fear that WF is enroute to becoming another “bland and expensive” race.
As a former college student/volunteer at many races, I can understand why students don’t want to travel 1.5 hours from school, spend a weekend camping (possibly in the rain/cold), and working their butts off simply to help a bunch of athletes run around the course. They did it for the PARTY (a party which just happened to coincide with some volunteer work).
In short, this policy will significantly impact WF, but that’s the affect of our legal environment…I’m sure the WF Management Team didn’t want to have the location banned by the Parks Dept. or get sued.
I fear that WF is enroute to becoming another “bland and expensive” race.
I thought the purple horde already ensured that. No nekkid aid station? Maybe TD will replace those gals with some good old fashioned bible thumpers praying for the athletes souls as they run by.
I don’t think it has anything to do with legal liability and everything to do with the RD’s religion and morals.
If he wants a race weekend with no alcohol, no partying, no naked chicks, thats his prerogative as RD, its his event and he can organize it how he wants. All day prayer meetings, church services, and baptisms in Lake San Antonio every day at noon. I just won’t be there and I don’t know many people who will.
I’m bringing a 6-pack with me this weekend to give to a Cal Poly student as a thank you.
yep - it’s all a downhill slide for WF. I can’t believe that he’s pulled this, especially because there’s only a couple of days left. Good idea on bringing a six pack, but the only problem, a case of Natty Ice would be better received!
I don’t think there is anything wrong with Terry expressing his personal beliefs through his race. However, I do agree that it will affect who volunteers and who/how many race.
Conversely, there may be a whole horde of athletes who have avoided the event because it didn’t meet their “preferences” (perhaps there are people who were uncomfortable with the nakedness, drugs, alcohol, and general laissez-faire attitude toward the law). They may choose to attend in droves using WF as a “family camping” weekend.
While the “old guard” may not like TD’s decision, I think it did take courage for him to make it. In addition, he may fill a void for the “family triathlete.”
But it is supposed to be the “Woodstock of triathlon”? Glad I am not going this year. My whole tri club is boycotting this year as well and doing a training weekend in Auburn for the big race up there.
We could have 2 Wildflower weekends…one for the Christians and one for the beer drinking party people and see which is the most successful.
I’m not a gambling man but I know which one I’d bet on.
(and I don’t see the connect between Christian values and family values, or for that matter the disconnect between people who like to have a bit of fun and family values)
Sounds like some Cal Poly volunteers flaked out because they can’t booze it up…
Can you blame them?
Because the RD doesn’t like drinking however he still needs me as a non paid volunteer (although I doubt the RD is unpaid) to make his race work but I have to put up with his beliefs! So instead of leaving the drinking decision to me he is taking it for me. Why should I as a volunteer put up with this?
I don’t blame the Cal Poly students. They have supported this event for years and this is how they are treated? I’d boycott it too.
And was the little dig at the end absolutely necessary…“our (new) volunteers will be better than the volunteers in the past” what a shitty thing to say about everyone who has ever supported this race. The RD needs to make some apologies.
I’m no fan of Trical, but I really don’t think they’d say that, I think that’s a typo and it was meant to say or originally said “will be treated better”, it’s in conjunction with having more food, drink and entertainment for them.
Without more detail on whether this is being driven by the Parks dept, I’m further hesitant to condem the rules put forth. It doesn’t really seem like much new to me - hasn’t there been a rule for a long time about the students bringing in booze? Their cars have been getting searched for years. The underage drinking, in this litigious climate, is a no brainer - the Parks dept would be sued up the ying yang if a minor killed someone on a park road and it could be shown that they didn’t enforce anything. It seems like the only thing really new is the wristbands and the promise of enforcement by the rangers. If the underage volunteer base is so put off by the requirement that they obey the law while raising money for their organizations, they’ve got some growing up to do.
I agree the event is on a major downslide, for a number of reasons including the cost, the religious exuberance, etc. and alienating the volunteer base that helped make the race as good as it was is bad news, but it was probably inevitable - even though the incident cited was outside the park and apparently not during the event, it is (was) only a matter of time until something really bad happened…(read “Deep Survival” as recommended by Demerly for clarification)
Sounds like the parks dept. was calling the shots. how do you know the RD is CHristian and his beliefs are forcing this decision?
I am not trying to argue-just trying to understand the situation. Never been to the event. I didn’t know it was billed as the triathlon woodstock.
The RD has never made his religious beliefs a secret and the race donates money to various religious organizations.
It looks like I few people who did not have any restraint (going overboard with booze and other activities) will ruin the experience for everybody. This becomes commonplace in our society. There are always people who do not respect simple rules and disregard common curtesy and moderation. Then they are utterly surprised, shocked and insulted if their behaviour triggers an adverse response. This could have been handled much better by putting the brakes on earlier, by both by the race director and the student administration. Now they are apparently at a point where there is no other solution. Too bad… and therefor both are to blame: RD and student council.
I only note Campus Crusade among their list. Are there more?
**Beneficiaries:** Tri-California Events is proud to donate profits from the Jamba Juice Wildflower Triathlons to benefit many organizations including the **"Official Charity of Wildflower, the Challenged Athlete Foundation"**, Cal Poly Student Clubs and Organizations, Cal Poly Running Thunder Spirit Club, San Luis Obispo - Campus Crusade for Christ, Team In Training, Monterey County Parks and Recreation, local Police Explorers programs and many more.
Last years Wildflower was my first half IM. Let’s just say it was a challenging event. As I was struggling through the run, I recall approaching an aid station and thinking, “am I delirious, or is that dude (and that woman) naked?” It was some much needed comic relief. It will be a shame if the race loses some of it’s unique character.
“You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever.”
Sounds like the parks dept. was calling the shots. how do you know the RD is CHristian and his beliefs are forcing this decision?<<
Agreed. I saw Terry last night.
It’s been a “let live” situation with Cal Poly, but even a couple of years ago they were totally out of hand (see http://www.xtri.com/article.asp?id=629).
I’d venture to guess that if it were a bunch of say, Ph.D. students, all over the LEGAL drinking age, then it wouldn’t be an issue. But with 18 year olds getting shit-faced and sleeping in their own puke, well, the county is going to do what they feel they have to do.
I am sorry. I do tris since I thought this group of folks had better things on their mind that booze and drugs. I fully support the RD’s position, since I have been a RD also. I want a safe place to race. I want SLEEP the night before. AND NO, I am not a church person. Just want a good event for me and my family.