Is there a world wide shortage of swim buoys? Have they become victim to the upsurge in petroleum prices? How else can I explain the fact that 3 swim buoys do not adequately mark an Oly distance course despite several recent attempts to do so. Being swimming challenged and a very active participant in the 50 to death AG, I need all the help I can get to follow the exact course and no more. I believe Tom D. has issued a similar sentiment.
Compounding the problem, one race (Bellingham ITU) started when the sun was exactly on the horizon - no vision of the 2nd buoy until you were within 50 yds. The other race (Wenatchee) had some serious underwater foliage issues and if you did not follow the exact course, you were fighting tentacles of plantlife.
What’s with swim caps the same colors as the buoys? IM CDA, only 2 swim cap colors, guess what, the women’s caps (yellow) were a perfect color match for the buoys. I cannot believe, wave start or mass start, that race directors cannot find swimcaps in colors other than orange or yellow.
Not that I will ever be mistaken for Michael Phelps, but my swim times in well marked, no swim cap color conflict, courses are considerably faster than the all too frequent alternative.
How about some USA Triathlon guidelines for these issues?
“If you don’t think too good, don’t think too much!”
Ted Williams