Interesting wave start...comfort wave

So if you go for that wave, does it then DQ you from placing in your AG or overall??

I know in non-wetsuit legal swims they will sometimes allow them if you want them but you are just not eligible for placings.

It is a great idea in some ways for those not comfortable with the swim, but bad in others because you have just compounded the problem by putting all the people not necessarily comfortable in the water in the first place in one big group.  May be a little sketchy!

There is nothing in the race packet which says you are DQ'd for starting in that wave.  They have the comfort wave for both the Sprint and HIM distance racers.  There are 198 sprint participants, with 52 in my wave, not counting elites, so it won't be too crowded no matter what.  Water temp will be a toasty just wetsuit legal 74 too.    Should be fun.

I understand the sketchy part though.  However, I bet the observers watch that wave a little more carefully. 

I'd have to say, in my first HIM (and first tri in 14 years) I probably would have gone for that wave if it was available.

I'm used to it now, and even though I'm still MOP/BOP in the water, it is not because I am not comfortable ..... it is because I am just slow in an OWS.

the first tri I did all the waves were self-seeded.  It worked surprisingly well - about 100 athletes per wave and it seemed to sort out very well.  I was MOP in the 3rd wave and there wasn't a lot of passing.

Second tri (last Sunday) was seeded by AG with 'elites' going first.  The wave behind mine (Athena/Clydesdales) ended up swimming past more than 50% of our wave.  Lots more passing in this race.

 I prefer the self-seeded.

x2 That's the main reason I planned on staying with the front group.  At my first tri I had to stop and breaststroke a couple of times, as I figured out ways to get around people.  In addition, I get to try and pace better, as last time I started so far in the back I was passing people on the bike portion thinking I was doing WAY better than I actually was.  At least starting in the front I'll know every person that passes me is just me losing another spot.  I'm not fast, but I still compete like I am.