USAT AAC

Tim,
Thanks for bringing this up. Last year the Athletes Advisory Council
recommended to the board that elite and age group nationals be at
the same event, if possible.
We will definitely bring this up again at the July board meeting.
Thanks,
Alison

--- In e-litebeat@yahoogroups.com, "Tim Sandfort" <swimtri@h...>
wrote:
> Alison,
>
> I'm not sure if this is in direct answer to your email about elite
race
> rotation, but it should still be discussed.
>
> I have a hard time understanding why Elite nationals isn't run
concurrent
> with AG nationals. There are a few reasons USAT should explore
this option
> at the risk of putting all its eggs in one basket when it comes to
race
> venues and appearances of being partial to one region over another:
>
> 1. There is a severe and decisive split within USAT right now
between pros
> and amateurs. Amateurs feel spurned by the pros. They think we
are
> elitist, rude, and all we care about is money. By hosting pro
nationals
> away from the amateurs we only fuel the accusations of
standoffishness,
> though they are undeserved.
>
> To go with that, it would be excellent PR to have a meet and
greet,
> autographs, etc. to remind the amateurs that we are not trying to
eschew
> them. Our schedules and demands are just different, and that's
all.
>
> 2. ITU pro Worlds was previously held concurrent with amateur
worlds.
> While this isn't the case this year, USAT should follow suit if
the ITU
> returns to a consolidated world championships.
>
> 3. Sponsor exposure. Many pros have corporate sponsors who are
on-site at
> the amateur nationals expo. While some athletes would desire not
to
> participate in an expo before their race, there are those of us
who would do
> so.
>
> 4. More PR. If the pro race were to be held the day BEFORE
amateur
> nationals, it gives us the opportunity to attend clinics, do more
sponsor
> exposure, or volunteer. I know that this flies in the face of
building hype
> around the "big event," but it might help USAT's internal
relations if we
> recognize that the "big event" for the weekend might be the one
with a field
> of 2,000, not 150. We just go faster.
>
> 5. It's more fun. While there are races associated with the pro
nationals
> events, they aren't of the caliber of amateur nationals. I can
only speak
> for myself here, but I have lots of friends who are amateurs and
it is
> always more fun to see them than people I don't know. Nationals
gives a lot
> of people from around the country the chance to reconnect and
maintain
> friendships while getting in a top-quality event.
>
> I realize that there are huge logistical obstacles involved with
this idea.
> Separate courses would definitely increase the likelihood that
something
> could go awry. But at this point in time, I think it would speak
well of
> the professional athletes, and benefit them, to set concurrent and
unified
> nationals. If need be, rotate the region over 3 years, but keep
the races
> together to represent unification of the sport.
>
> Just my $.02. Feel free to post these comments to the message
board too if
> you want and see what feedback you get. I'm not smart enough to
figure out
> all that stuff.
>
> Tim
>
> -----
> Pro Triathlete / USAT Level I Coach
> www.missouri.edu/~tasfh3
>
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posted by andy  # 7:11 AM