Safety Boaters for Xterra Needed

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:42 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 12, with the first race starting at 7:30 a.m. Boaters typically set shuttle and paddle down from Reedy Creek (ideal for all you early a.m. boaters!). Or you can leave your vehicle at the takeout and walk up to Brown's Island. We will meet by 7:00 a.m. at the Tredegar Ironworks boatramp. Anyone who is interested in helping, please PM me and I will send you the specifics for safety boating and the schedule. Be sure to give your email so I can include you in the group email list for this race.

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 boaters on the river that morning to help guide them. River level should be normal/moderate flows and that may make river currents pretty strong for the unexperienced swimmers. 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. We had about 14 boaters last year. That big presence was an awesome sight for Xterra Director, Dave "Big Kahuna" Nicholas and all the racers. Please take the time this Sunday to help on the water and give a HUGE boater presence.

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

Neal Fleenor

MichaelME · Post by **MichaelME** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:42 am

Kneal,
As always, happy to support if I'm in town.

-- -- . MME

Paddleboy · Post by **Paddleboy** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:24 am

I’m racing again this year and am looking forward to seeing my kayak friends on an early Sunday morning.

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:32 am

As always, Michael, I hope you are in town.

Coastal Karl is racing again this year. Any other Coasties doing it? All y'all other boaters, come out Sunday morning and support our own and all the out-of-towners.

jamess94 · Post by **jamess94** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:18 pm

ill be there to help out

pearsaab · Post by **pearsaab** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 6:19 am

the goat and i will be there...anyone going out of reedy and doing the lower run...amy

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:20 am

*bump*

Right now, I have 5 safety boaters. Since we are covering the width of the James River from Brown's Island to Belle Isle, I would like to see if we can have a total of 15 boaters. If you are intown, come on out and bring anyone who would like to stand in the river to indicate shallow areas and rocks that are close to the surface.

Turbo_D · Post by **Turbo_D** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:37 am

I am working on it.....I should be able to, but give me a little while before I commit!

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 6:33 am

Keith, PM me if you find you can make it and I'll send the info. to you. We still need about 8 more boaters to match what we had on the river the past 2 years. I looked over the swim course 2 days ago and there are a lot of shallow rocks and boulders in that river.

The route is as rock-free as we can make a 1200 meter swim in that area and we need to mark as many of those rocks as we can. Boaters help tremendously with that part.

See you on the river,

Neal

pearsaab · Post by **pearsaab** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 2:25 pm

neal hopefully you heard from dee...i am spreading word to the flatwater group so hopefully we can get more volunteers...fingers and toes crossed!!!

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:41 pm

There has been a good response and I am making a final appeal for boaters to come out and help on the water. It is most impressive to see a long line of boaters giving support to the swimmers. That really boosts many of the competitors' confidence for the swim. The Xterra people really love seeing that level of support Richmond gives to the racers. Remember to get your own shuttle set.

Thom Stanton and I will be at Tredegar by 5:15 a.m. to get the buoys in the water. If anyone has the gumption to show up then to help paddle the buoys out, that would be of tremendous help to the two of us.

See you Sunday, a.m.

MichaelME · Post by **MichaelME** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:59 am

Seems likes this would be a wonderful opportunity for the Club to officially support (banners, representatives,etc) this event. local organizations working together with national exposure!

Neal F. · Post by **Neal F.** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:55 pm

That is a super idea, Mike. This is the 13th year Thom Stanton and I have volunteered to coordinate the swim course and bring together the safety boaters. In these years, I've never made an official inquiry of the Coastals' club to support the event, but the bulk of the boaters are Coasties. Some of the racers are club members.

So, how are you feeling about showing up and helping Sunday?

Nutter · Post by **Nutter** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 3:29 pm

i will be there if I can score a ride

pearsaab · Post by **pearsaab** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:52 pm

hey david, where do you live...marv and i may be able to pick you up...amy
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