January 15, 2006
Live from the USAT Congress
The 2006 USAT Congress just wrapped up in Colorado Springs and by all accounts it was a tremendous success. This was the first time in the history of USAT that race directors, regional presidents, regional officials coordinators, the USAT Board of Directors, USAT staff, and coaches were all brought together at the same time. All groups had their own meetings and agendas, but collectively met for the opening presentations and then also last night at a big gala dinner. I want to commend the USAT staff for the great job they did with the congress. We lucked out weather wise and it was actually warmer in Colorado Springs on Saturday than it was back in Clermont. A snow storm is scheduled to roll in Monday morning just as I am escaping to head back to Clermont.
I was here to take part in the USAT Race Director's Conference. It felt sort of strange flying into Colorado Springs knowing that I would no longer have to be directly involved in the politics of the sport. For the past seven years I have been traveling to the Springs at least twice a year for the USAT Board meetings. My term expired last summer so I can now talk more freely about the politics of the sport.
As an aging long term race director I think I have attended every conference since 1985. Only a handful of race directors from that era are still directing races. Most were smart and got a real job so they could survive. Even though the conference agenda was not real exciting to me, I looked forward to the opportunity to catch-up with long term race director friends to discuss the state of the sport. There was also an abundance of first time race directors eager to soak up all knowledge they could from other race directors.
The scariest part of the conference is always the sessions involving risk and insurance. There is a tremendous amount of risk involved in the sport of triathlon and these sessions are always a wake-up call for what race directors need to do to protect themselves. In the case study session we even reviewed a case where an athlete sued a race director to get into a race that had already filled to capacity. I should be so fortunate because none of our races fill to capacity.
Our keynote speakers included Olympic medalist Carol Lewis, who was an absolute hoot, and the guy who draws the cartoon FRAZ. If you noticed, Sunday's FRAZ strip had a triathlon theme. Carol plans to do her first triathlon ever this summer and that will certainly generate some positive media exposure for the sport. Perhaps she can talk her brother Carl into participating as well.
During the course of this week I'll give you my take on the conference and the state of the sport.
Posted by Fred at 07:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | More in: USA Triathlon
November 13, 2005
USA Triathlon Announces New Race Series
"Six new race series will satisfy everyone from youth to duathletes to long distance triathletes." That was the headline on the USAT website last week. I knew this was coming down the pike after chatting with USAT's Skip Gilbert earlier this summer. The press release continued with the following:
The Grand Prix Series will include the following formats:
USAT Youth Grand Prix Series
Ages: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15 (non-drafting)
Approximate distances: (7-8 and 9-10): 100m swim, 5k bike, 1k run
(11-12 and 13-15): 200m swim, 10k bike, 2k run
USAT Sprint Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
USAT Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 1.5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run
USAT Long Distance Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 3k swim, 80k bike, 20k run to 4k swim, 120k bike, 30k run
USAT Duathlon Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 10k run, 40k bike, 5k run
USAT Long Distance Duathlon Grand Prix Series
Approximate distances: 16-plus kilometers of total running and 50-plus kilometers of total biking
My first thought was why so many Grand Prix Series? Why not just roll out one and make it awesome and then follow-up with the others later? I've learned the hard way what over-extending your abilities can do to the end result.
I then started looking for page two, but it was nowhere to be found! That didn't make sense to me. Why make such a bold announcement without at least identifying some of the races, especially the championship races? I think the plan is to just take the regional championships and turn those races into the Grand Prix Series. If that is the case, I wish they would have told the race directors that before the regions selected their championships. In many regions the regional championships don't really mean much, and Florida has always been one of those regions. Had event directors known those events would be part of a new series, more event directors may have applied.
I know the USAT Board met last weekend, maybe some news will trickle out soon.
Posted by Fred at 09:53 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack | More in: Triathlon, USA Triathlon
March 21, 2005
My final USAT Board Meeting.....
As board meetings go, this past weekend's meeting was fairly mellow. During the six+ years I have been on the board, there have been some wild times. Verbal assaults, slander, pushing matches, jumping across the table and grabbing another board member by the shirt, threats to one's life, and much more. In order to protect the integrity of the board, I will not go into all the juicy details. At least for now that is. Although this was my last face to face meeting with the board, I'm still on the board until the new board is seated on July 1.
There is a common link to most of the wild actions I mentioned. They all involve the same board member.
Looks like someone could use some anger management training.
More later....
Posted by Fred at 06:58 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack | More in: USA Triathlon
March 19, 2005
The official word from USAT
Our Board meeting just wrapped up so now it's time for all of us to go out and celebrate! Here is the official media release on the USOC vote - USAT Media Release.
If I am sober enough when I get back in tonight I'll recap the meeting. If not, I'll do it in the morning before I head out to the airport.
Posted by Fred at 07:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | More in: News, Triathlon, USA Triathlon
March 16, 2005
Let the games begin.....
A battle of Olympic proportions, or shall I say Olympic priorities, is about to be waged in Colorado Springs this weekend. This weekend is the date for the Spring USAT Board meeting. It will be a monster meeting with all the regional presidents and various commission chairs in attendance. After six consecutive years on the USAT Board, this will be my final USAT Board meeting. While my original term was set to expire at the end of last year, election issues, and the bylaw changes spearheaded by Lew Kidder and Dan Empfield, two guys with way, way too much free time on their hands, resulted in a six month extended sentence, I mean term extension.
If you keep up with the triathlon news, you are aware of a push for USAT to secede from the USOC family. It is being driven by board member Jack Weiss. Jack's approach to issues is often too direct and not always diplomatic. He says what is on his mind, and it comes out unfiltered. That is not always a good trait to have.
His issue with the USOC has made the headlines in major papers in California and Colorado. The USOC has not been silent about all of this and it has reminded us publicly that USAT is small potatoes in the world of sports and they can squash us if they like. This should set the stage for a lively board meeting and weekend.
Upon arrival in Colorado on Thursday, I have a lunch meeting with Kathy Fortin, a former employee of mine now residing in Denver. She knows me well and booked our meeting at a local brew pub. Thank goodness Thursday is St. Patrick's Day, I now have a reason to celebrate.
Check back this weekend for my daily Board reports.
Posted by Fred at 12:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | More in: Triathlon, USA Triathlon
