safety boaters for Xterra Triathlon

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:14 am

It is time to ask for boaters to help with swim safety in the Xterra triathlons. The two races will be this Sunday, June 20, with the first race starting at 8:00 a.m. Boaters typically set shuttle and paddle down from Reedy Creek (ideal for all you early a.m. boaters! ) Anyone who is interested in helping, please PM me and I will send you the specifics for safety boating and the schedule.

The swim course is in the James River between Belle Isle and Brown's Island and will have over 1,000 competitors participating! There will be MANY "newbies" and novice athletes that will feel shaky about swimming in a river that has current. It would be great to see many Coastals on the river that morning to help guide them. River level should be normal low, so we can also use people IN the water where it is shallow or standing on a shallow boulder directing traffic. Without this safety, a lot of athletes would drop out in the middle of the swim and quit. Last year, we had about 14 boaters and that presence was an awesome sight for Xterra Director, Dave "Big Kahuna" Nicholas and all the racers. I would like to repeat that success this year.

PM me or call me at (804) 405-3767, if you want to help.

Neal Fleenor

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Wed Jun 16, 2010 8:27 pm

We have 6 boaters who will be on the water for the swim. If any of you early morning boaters are paddling Sunday morning, let me know if you can hang out for the two swims. They're scheduled to start at 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. If you have Father's Day plans (and I do) but have the morning available, we will be done no later than 9:30.

It's a tough weekend to get boaters to come out due to the SWR class and Sunday being Father's Day. I welcome any boaters who want to help. Let me know and I'll send you the details.

Thanks,

Neal Fleenor
804-560-4225

Paddleboy · Post by **Paddleboy** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:03 am

Hey Neal I got an email from Xterra saying they are going to move up the start time to 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. due to the heat.

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:29 pm

Thanks for passing that along, Karl. I just got the official word a little while ago myself. Temps. are predicted to hit 100 F. You going to be okay getting there so early?

Thom Stanton and I are now planning to be on the water setting the swim course by 5:15 a.m. See you there and have a great race!

To boaters who want to help:

Please note the new start times. We now have set the boater safety meeting at the Tredegar boat ramp at 6:45 a.m. Please let me know if you can help out this time and I will send you the details about Sunday.

Thanks,

Neal Fleenor

Mango · Post by **Mango** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:16 am

Is there a time set for safety boaters to meet at 14th Street?

If not, how about we plan to leave 14th St at 5:45am, shuttle to Reedy,
and be at the saftey meeting by 6:45.

See ya there, and we can "unbiasedly" cheer Karl on!

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 2:56 pm

Hi, Wade. I sent you a PM with the safety boater info.

I'm not available today so anyone planning on helping out and have not contacted me before today, be at the Tredegar boat ramp for the safety boater meeting at 6:45. a.m. Thom Stanton and I will be in the river setting the turn buoys and course markers by 5:15 a.m. and will meet you at the boat ramp for the meeting.

Thank you,

Neal Fleenor

safety boaters for Xterra Triathlon

safety boaters for Xterra Triathlon

Shuttle for Safety Boaters?