Lake Geneva Swim Changed!

he didn't happen to say anything about the half-iron swim, did he?

I guess that makes not having a wetsuit no big deal for this race then....I don't know if I would even wear one for 400 yds just because of the extra time to get it off in T1.  Ought to be a good race for those strong on the bike.

Just irrating that people bite off more than they can chew and penalize the rest of us that trained to compete at a specific Distance.  Maybe USTA will institute a swim test next year to get your card like the old swim tests when we were kids!! 

From what I read the only swim distance that was changed was the Sprint, all others remained the same.

Edited by badgerintx 2009-09-09 4:14 PM

Here is and excerpt from the email update that I received this morning


I am doing the oly.

Edited by mchally 2009-09-09 4:43 PM

Ok, I have just typed a full page of negative things about this and erased them twice...haha! I am over it now (just about) and am going to go enjoy my first triathlon (even if I can just walk the swim now or better yet decided to NOT swim at all). I'll just look at all of my hard training as a head start on next year's tri's!

Plus, if I keep spouting off it's just a matter of time before someone tells me to donkey up then and sign up for the Olympic...

Edited by d-nort 2009-09-09 4:58 PM

did anybody else NOT get that email update, or is it just me?

well here is all the info...



Congratulations! You are confirmed for participation in the 2009 Lake Geneva Triathlon Series to be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, in Reid Park in Fontana, Wisconsin, on the western shore of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We have made a few changes this year with your safety in mind, so please pay careful attention to signage and review the attached information. The Sprint swim has been shortened a pinch; the bike for the Olympic and Half Extreme has changed slightly so as to eliminate bad railroad tracks and inferior pavement on State Line Road. Also please note changes in Award Ceremony times as it will take a little longer to score due to the addition of a timing mat on the bike course. Otherwise, things are pretty much the same. Pray for nice weather. See you this weekend.

Parking
Parking is allowed in the municipal parking lots; parking regulations will be enforced. The Village of Fontana has some parking available near the park for a fee.

Lake Geneva Extreme Sports has designated several other areas for free parking. The parking lot map is available on line.

• St. Benedict’s Church lot on Highway 67 and Dewey Street. From St. Benedict’s to transition, walk north on Mill Street to Main Street and go right or east one block. Cross Highway 67 and walk east to transition.

• Fontana Elementary School lot located ¾ of a mile due west of the transition area (950 S. Main). From Fontana Elementary School, walk east on Main Street, Cross Highway 67 and continue east to transition.

Registration and Packet Pick Up
Registration will be at the Cobalt Boat Show Room adjacent to Gordy’s Boat House Restaurant on Friday from 5 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 5 a.m. until the start of the race.

Pre-Race Dinner
Our pre-race dinner begins at 5 p.m., Friday, September 11th, at Gordy’s Boat House Restaurant in Fontana and ends at 9:30 p.m. A pasta dinner is being served for $12 plus tax and gratuity.

Course Talks
Course talks will be held in Reid Park in the tent adjacent to the gazebo at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday and at 6 a.m. on Saturday in transition.

Maps and Race Results
All bike courses are shown on our web site, www.lakegenevasports.com. Race results will be available on the web as well shortly after the finish of the event.

Transition Area
The transition area opens at 5:00 a.m. and is CLOSED TO SPECTATORS. Spectators will enter the viewing area through the Northeast gate. Participants will enter the transition area through the North gate. Helmet numbers will be used for bike security, so make sure you pick them up at registration. The bike exit and re-entry is through the North gate. The run exit is also through the north gate.

ChampionChip
A ChampionChip will be provided to you for scoring purposes. IT IS TO BE WORN AROUND THE ANKLE. Relay participants pass the chip to each other in the transition area. Please remember your chip on race day and make certain that you return it at the end of the race. If you drop out of the race, it is mandatory that you go immediately to the gazebo in Reid Park to report this to our scoring team and turn in your chip.

Body Marking
Body marking will be done by the Security Team (yellow shirts) on Saturday only, race day morning, in the transition area.

Awards
Sprint and SuperSprint awards will be at 10:00 a.m.; Olympic awards will be at 11:30 a.m.; ½ Extreme awards will be at 2:30 p.m. All finishers will receive medals.

Medical Issues
Medical personnel will be present on all sections of both races. Use your head; if you are in trouble, please stop racing and wait for medical assistance. There will be a first aid tend in Reid Park next to the gazebo, which is the hub where most of the activity takes place.

Athlete Behavior
Please remember that you are a guest in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Please respect our residents and volunteers and your fellow triathletes.

Litter
Please do not litter our beautiful course. Use trash barrels provided on the run course and in the park.

Dogs
Please be advised that no dogs are allowed in the park.

SWIM: The ½ Extreme and Olympic swim courses are out and back going east into the sun. The Sprint and SuperSprint swim courses will be held in shallow water adjacent to the Fontana Beach. The course parallels the beach so that swimmers who are in distress can easily wade into shore. Of course, life guards and Water Safety Patrol personnel will be available to all swimmers. Expected temperature will be approximately 70 degrees on race day. Wetsuits are recommended. FOR SAFETY REASONS, THE SPRINT SWIM COURSE HAS BEEN SHORTENED TO .2 MILE, THE SAME AS THE SUPERSPRINT SWIM DISTANCE, ALONG THE BEACH IN 4 FEET OF WATER IF YOU SEE ANYONE DURING THE SWIM HAVING TROUBLE, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE LIFE GUARDS WHO WILL BE LOCATED RIGHT ON THE BEACH; AND, IF POSSIBLE, GIVE ASSISTANCE TO THE PERSON IN TROUBLE. IF, FOR ANY REASON, YOU DO NOT FEEL UP TO COMPLETING YOUR SWIM RACE DAY, PLEASE COMPLETE JUST THE BIKE AND RUN PORTIONS OF THE RACE.

There will be a mass start for the ½ Extreme swim. All other races will be 50 people per wave at 2 minute intervals.
• The 1.2 mile ½ Extreme swim begins at sunrise, 6:15 a.m. (turn-around buoy is the last ORANGE buoy)
• The .9 mile Olympic swim begins at 6:30 a.m. (turn-around buoys are a cluster of WHITE AND RED buoys)
• The .2 mile Sprint and SuperSprint swim begins at 7:00 a.m. and will consist of a course that parallels the beach.

BIKE: Helmets mandatory! Place your helmet number on the front of the helmet. Half extreme participants will also be given a LARGE COLORED RECANGULAR STICKER that must be placed on the front of the helmet as well. All bikes must be placed on the wire bike racks in the transition area or you will face disqualification. Do not lay your bike down. Course markings are purple or orange signs with arrows labeled “RACE.” Please follow all open course bike rules. No ipods, walkmen or other devices are allowed. Stay in the bike lanes as you exit the transition area through the North gate; bikes will return through the West gate. Port-o-lets will be at all aid stations. The ½ Extreme and Sprint bike courses use a large portion of the Olympic bike course. NO DRAFTING ALLOWED DURING THE BIKE PORTION OF THE TRIATHLONS.

• ½ Extreme: 56 mile one loop course along rural roads in western Walworth County. Aid stations providing Heed, water, and are at the 10, 33, and 45 mile marks of the bike course. Hammer Gel will be handed out at the 10 mile aid station. Use extra water bottle cages on your bike to keep you cool in extreme temperatures, which are expected. Please do not practice on Fontana Boulevard next to the transition area. ½ EXTREME AND OLYMPIC COURSES INCLUDE AN EXTRA LAP NEAR ZENDA THAT MUST BE COMPLETED. A TIMING MAT IS LOCATED ON MOHAWK ROAD THAT EVERYONE IN THE ½ EXTREME AND OLYMPIC RACES MUST CROSS OVER IN ORDERED TO BE TIMED PROPERLY. WATCH FOR SIGNS ON THE COURSE.
• Olympic: 25 mile course.
• Sprint: 18 mile course.
• SuperSprint: 18 mile course.
TAKE NOTE: THE BIKE COURSES HAVE CHANGED THIS YEAR (PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNS ON THE COURSE)

RUN: Runners exit through the North gate. All runners must use coned running lanes when provided. Do not run in the middle of the road! Participants will be disqualified for violating this rule!

• ½ Extreme: 13.1 mile course consisting of a 2 loop 6.5 + mile course in Fontana and Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Five aid stations per loop will be serving Heed, water, ice, and cheers. The ½ Extreme run course uses an extra city block for each loop. Watch for the signs on the run. CUT OFF TIME FOR THE ½ EXTREME RACE IS 2:30 p.m.

• Olympic: 6.2 mile loop course into Fontana and Williams Bay, Wisconsin. There will be five aid stations serving Heed and water.
• Sprint: 3.1 mile run to the top of Frank’s Killer Hill and back. There will be two aid stations serving Heed and water.
• SuperSprint: 1 mile run. (TURN-AROUND IS THE FIRST WATER STATION YOU COME TO.)


******************************

wow!!!  I think that is the biggest post I have made...at least as far as word count goes.

and now I notice the PM...   hehehe.   I went ahead and emailed it to ya as well.

Donkey up and do the Olympic!!!  (you were asking for it )

grrrr.

Considering the fact that Frank Dobbs got his USAT sanctioning pulled last year (as far as I know, he hasn't gotten it back...but I really don't pay too much attention his website), I highly doubt that would make any bit of difference.

I'd like to know how deep the half swim will be. I'm worried about another out-and-back-parallel-to-the-shore travesty a la Bigfoot Triathlon.

Nope. 

I've blown up a thread by posting HTML ...and once with an image.


Edited by mchally 2009-09-09 7:42 PM

wow, you're good!  I once saw MacGyver blow stuff up using a ground-up magnesium alloy bike frame, but blowing stuff up with HTML and an image - THAT's talent!

 

BIGFOOT wasn't an out and back right?  I think he just moved the buoys closer to shore to allow for walking if panic ensued.  Don't see how that could happen for the HIM or Oly given the distance.  Honestly if it did, I wouldn't be crushed.  Have you seen LG in the fog at 6am?  You cannot see a flippin' thing.  The only recourse is to follow feet and not sure you can even see those.  I know you like to do stupidcrazy things like swim in the dark, alone, and probably would enjoy the challenge, but not me....

I was pissed when I got this email as well. I would have done the Oly, but I'm just coming back from a foot injury and wanted a shorter run. A .2 mile swim is a joke. So, the only difference between the Sprint and the SuperSprint is the run now.

ooooh, I have access to a Magnesium bike frame, but I don't think I would be readily forgiven if I blew that up.


Edited by mchally 2009-09-10 11:30 AM

yeah, i think the only reason MacGyver got away with it is because, well, he's MacGyver.

Yeah Bigfoot was out-and-back, because there was only a single buoy line separating the outbound and inbound parts. The problem with this is that there is no margin of error for people going off course. On the way back I was swimming head-on toward outbound people who had gone off course. I went off course on the way out, as well, but luckily I was near the front so there was no one to crash into.

The problem with out-and-back is compounded when you go parallel to the shore and in shallow water, because having the waves break from the side increases the likelihood of going off course.

It says us HIMers are going east. On the map it looks like it could be a shallow, parallel-to-the-shore swim. It's hard to tell.

I just looked at one of the maps on the site, and if the star indicates the approximate starting area, it means that the HIM swim will be north of the southern shore by a sufficient distance to avoid a Bigfoot swim. So that's good news.

I am 99% sure the swim is straight east off the beach and not parallel to the shore (email said we head towards the sun).  I wanted to swim the course in July and contacted the RD.  He told me it was not possible because it was straight out into the boat traffic.  I hope the buoys are far enough apart for the out and back.  I zig zag a lot.  I also heard if the fog is as thick as it was today, it will delay the swim start until it clears.