Pier start

Don't dive on top of anyone, and once you dive in, move clear of the pier.  Other than that, it's maybe 2 seconds of your whole race that's any different; I can't see any reason to worry.

Really thinking about goggles coming off.

diving.. like head first ??  and a time trial start where you get to jump in as you start ..   Or a diving pier that everyone jumps off the swims to a set point to start the race??

Unless you are used to diving in with your goggles on  from an elevated service (like blocks) I'd go feet first and place a hand over your goggles to make sure they stay. . [actually I usually do a cannonball in these cases]     Mostly since your goggles have a greater chance of ending up around your neck if you are not used to diving off a higher platform or pier. you will end up stopping to put them back on anyway...

oh yea... I'm for clear water, don't jump on anyone

Tighten them up a little, tuck your head tightly between your arms.  Practice a couple times

Time trial start.

Good advice.

I think tjfry's avatar says it all. 

I'm doing the same race... we're supposed to dive off the pier? Awesome!

I'm pretty good at holding onto my goggles in a dive, but I wonder if they'll let me practice off the blocks at the pool today... I do work there.

But yeah, I'd say if you aren't confident diving just hop in. It would suck to lose your goggles in the first few seconds of the race.

Also, good luck, maybe I'll see ya out there!

Edited by Wraith28k 2009-08-13 1:38 PM

Yeah, it's definitely a dive off the pier. If I jump instead of dive I might as well have a duckie ring float around my waist and hold my nose too!!

Good point! Man, I have a pool in my backyard and really never thought about PRACTICING!! Man I feel like a moron!

Sounds like you should definately do Cannonball or a black flip to start.   I'm totally serious.. have some fun with it.  

Is there someone near you right now? Have them smack you in the head.

No joke!

Practiced today and all above advice was great!

Tightening the goggles was the major key.

Thanks everyone!

I like wearing my goggles under my swim cap-impossible for them to come off, and very easy to fix if they were to get jarred during the dive and fill with water.

I did one where you had to jump off the end a boat dock into deep water.  They wouldn't allow you to go any other way than feet first.  Thought that was weird, and couldn't figure out why, but my goggles stayed on just fine.

Ha Ha! Picture is worth a thousand words right! That was a pier start and a 2 loop course, so that pic is actually a running dive into lap 2.

I put goggles under my cap and when I dive in I squeeze the sides of my head (aka goggle straps) with my arms/biceps. Rarely run into a problem. If it was a group start I would say get in front and really get a fast start, or get a couple people back and wait a split second before you dive. With a time trial start you should be a-ok.

Good Luck.

TJ