Kemah Triathlon. Official Thread (Page 5)

Take A bottle of water on the boat. Last year they made the decision last minute not to have water and most everyone was cout empty handed ( even pros).

27 spots left until we hit 1,700. Almost completely sold out.

That's going to be one big a$$ transition area.

Of course, those of us resourceful folks figured out there was a bar on the second floor of the boat and drank all the water we wanted.

Edited by GMAN 19030 2012-04-13 2:32 PM

By mid week you'll all get a link to download out digital guide which should answer your questions. All info that will be in that guide can be found now on www.KemahTri.com. Please check it out. As for the boat start.... 

Since we sold out somewhat early we were able to do it a bit differently this year and hopefully more efficiently. You were all sorted according to gender and age. Then we assigned numbers 1-900. 800-900 are actually empty numbers for the packet resell so we don't have to reassign the unclaimed packets and we just issue new numbers. So don't be fooled when you see the range on the boat go as high as 900 there will most likely be more like 700-735, the no-shows taken into account. 

Pros/Elites Males (40 in their wave) will start first in gold caps at 6:45am. 1 min later the Pro/Elite Women (20 in their wave) will start. Then 3 min later at 6:50am the time trial age groupers (everyone else) starts. All males are in red caps and all females are in bright pink. As of now we're planning on utilizing all 3 decks. Deck one will have numbers 1-300, deck 2 will have numbers 301-600, and deck 3 will have numbers 601-900. There are two doors that allow those on the lower main deck to exit to the bow. We will allow exiting through BOTH doors this year to speed the process. The timing mats will be at each doorway. As you cross the mat your time will start. At that point you will be off the boat in anywhere from 5-10 seconds. Don't worry we'll move the boat closer by 15 meters to accommodate the time loss. haha. As of now, one exit will allow 3-4 to jump at once and one will allow 1-2 at once. There will be next to NO HESITATION. You get the edge and jump. Alcatraz style. Each of the other 2 decks will feed through the winding stairways to the lower deck until they get to the first deck and then the bow. 

Last year was slow. Took 40 min to unload 500 people. This year we will unload up to 735 in under 10 min. Last year a couple things that slowed us down was that we used a different type of timing chip that the boat metal interfered with. Because of this we had to put to plastic palettes down so that the mats didn't touch the metal. They moved a bit so people had to go slow and be careful on them. This year the chip we are using, Chronotrack, has no problem with metal and so athletes will be able to just go and jump go and jump. Another thing that will help is the two exits and the fact that if you hesitate you get pulled from the line. No hold ups. 

On the way out we will ask anyone that is nervous and knows they will hesitate to move themselves to the back of the 3rd deck before we start so that they hesitate at the end instead of in the middle. Should help a lot. Hopefully the entire boat doesn't shift to the 3rd deck or you all may be in the bay waters quicker than you think. This year we will have some last minute bathrooms on the way to the boat. There are some on the boat as well. We will also allow water bottles to be brought on the boat and have means to fill them on the boardwalk dock just before you get on.

Last year the boat drifted from the start point making the swim 150meters or more long. That was because the US Coast Guard made the captain shut his engines off just as we were starting. He couldn't drop anchor so the boat drifted. The ones at the back of the line were screwed the most. This year we'll just drop anchor early no matter what to keep in position. Yellow buoys (8ft tall) every 150 meters. There should be at least 1-2 sea kayak every 100 meters (20-25 in all on the oly course) and we'll have 2 jet skis out there along with the Kemah Fire Department and US Coast Guard Boats watching for any boaters. Should have a fly over by the US Coast Guard and Memorial Hermann choppers. Everything but the kitchen sink. 

Sprint swim starts near the exit docks at 7:25am so about 35 min after the oly starts. Both swims should then end around the same time, 8:10am which is the swim cutoff. On the sprint the buoys are every 100 meters or so (maybe a bit more) and are our 5.5ft orange ones. The last 75 meters of the swim the oly and sprint come together so be ready for those fun times. The exit is sand with a small step up to get on the steel cruise ship ramp Kemah installed. It's split in 2 this year with one side being the exit and the other being the entrance for the sprint athletes. We just bought a HUGE red inflatable for the swim exit. Should REALLY help with siting too. 

WATER TEMP IS 75.8. SHOULD BE WETSUIT LEGAL! 

YOU ARE WELCOME! 

2 Weeks people!!!!!

Congratulations on the sell out!

I wish I was racing now that I am feeling comfortable with my I'm training

Edited by TriPatrick 2012-04-14 8:02 PM

Really getting excited and anxious.  Thanks for the info onurleft.  

Packet resell at 5:30pm at the expo in Kemah on the 28th.

??????When I try to download/print out the race guide it says I have to be logged in to Facebook.  Is that the only way to download/print it out? I know I'm behind the times but I don't have, nor do I really want right now, a Facebook account.

?????Not sure what you mean. Has nothing to do with it. Hundreds have downloaded it. FB is not related. If you're not going through the site to download please do. www.KemahTri.com

I noticed on the schedule of events that there is now swim practice listed the day before the race. Will we have a chance to swim on Saturday the 28th? Thanks

No bag check this year.We tried ranges once. Never again. Specific numbered spot for each athlete always in every raceYou can use your own strapThe chip can be read under suit. Could be read if you swallowed it. Lol.

Regular PDF posted. Gathered enough info and stats on downloads. Also water temp 76.2.... WETSUITS most likely.

Just quit, who needs a job? You could do the clinic this Sunday so you at least get a taste.