Kayakers needed bad - Conway Triathlon 9/11 & 9/12

[Chester]

The Conway Triathlon is on Saturday/Sunday Sept 11 and 12th (yes, that's the Vous weekend). Part of the Tri Saturday is a 1 mile open water swim on Beaverfork Lake. I've been asked if any kayakers would assist as safety boaters during the race, in case any participants get into trouble. They are looking for 4-6 boaters on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Kayaks along the course could be very useful and responsive if trouble develops. Race start time on Saturday is 7:00 am and they would like any volunteer kayakers there by 6:30 am sharp. There will be two waves of swimmers separated by 5 minutes in the open water swim division, so a lot of folks will be in the water at one time.
On Sunday, there is another swim starting at 8:00am, volunteers asked to be there by 7:30am sharp. Help with this one may be more crucial. It's a 500 yard swim, but it may be more challenging to the athletes participating. :shock:
A free lunch and T-Shirt is available for all volunteers. Let me know if you can help out, give me your T-shirt size, and I'll get more details to you later. Thanks... Chester Four72-nine 5 six three

[Chester]

Bump with new info

[Dave Thomas]

Maybe if you opened your request up to include canoes you might get more responses. Canoes actually make good rescue boats.

[ARzach]

Maybe if you opened your request up to include canoes you might get more responses. Canoes actually make good rescue boats.

You must be kidding... How exactly is an open canoe a better rescue boat than a kayak?

[LOREN]

"....When in the upside down position a canoe can form an airpocket that can support 2 grown adults for 3 hours. When the person being rescued rolls the canoe over both people should try to position themselves in the space between the thwarts and bottom of canoe while hugging..."

Quoted from ----Open Boating for Dummies

[GN YAKN]

Arzac, I don't think he said one was better than the other. I think he was just saying there is another option!

[Chester]

Dave, et al, Race official requested kayaks.
I tried to get them to offer free beer, but they worried the response would be overwhelming (just kidding...there's no alcohol allowed at the park).

[Eric Esche]

I have personally rescued several swimmers and kayakers in rivers and lakes with an open canoe. Funny as how they never seemed to care that it was a canoe instead of a kayak, just that I was there.

And a canoe can carry a larger first aid kit, extra PFD's, ropes, and a larger cooler, waterproofed radios, than a kayak can.

And pick up more trash and carry it out.

And if, for some reason, you need to stand up and look down into the water to see your victim, you can do that easier in a canoe than a kayak as well, but tandem canoe crews are really better.

But if all they want is kayaks, let them get more kayakers. No skin off of my nose.

Eric Esche

Just my observations, and I've been a kayaker more than I have been a canoeist for the last 42 years.

Actually, due to speed, volume, and stability issues, I'd be looking for sea kayakers to keep pace with the racers. Good sea kayaker can do 5.5 MPH for a couple of hours, is wider/more stable, and has more volume than most other kayaks. But a canoe with a tandem team or a canoe with a double paddle would have no problems. Done it for some triathalons on in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, not that I was ever foolish enough with my knees to enter a triathalon. I do not do bikes, even though I own one.

Ask some rescue professionals what they think.

[Steve S]

As a USA Triathlon official and an open boater, I have some thoughts on the discussion. As a rule, triathlon promoters have several power boats in the area of the swim with each boat carrying one or more rescue swimmers. At the recent DeGray Lake Triathlon, there were 8 power boats for 200 competitors.

But if a competitor in the middle of a large group of swimmers has a problem, a power boat can't go in to assist. At that point a kayak or canoe can move between the swimmers without disrupting the competition. They can provide flotation for the swimmer in difficulty until it is safe for the power boat to move closer.

With it's high sides, the paddler in an open canoe has a more limited view while weaving between swimmers. For this reason, a kayak has a marginal advantage in such a situation.

But if I were promoting a triathlon (or open water swim), I wouldn't particularly care if my volunteers were in kayaks or canoes. My goal would simply be to provide an environment where emergencies could be quickly and effectively dealt with.

[timber]

i have a kayak....so if needed ,what time will i need to be there, and how long will i be needed?

[Renee H]

Chester - you may not be getting many responses because that is the same weekend as the ACC Rendezvous!

[Chester]

Renee, mentioned that in my first sentence of post "(yes, that's the Vous weekend)." Actually have several volunteers, just need to finalized the exact days available.

Tim, thanks, call me and we'll go over some details, T-shirt size, etc.. Basically, Sat there from 6:30a sharp till about 8:30a; Sunday from 7:30 sharp till about 8:30am (shorter swim). We'll take your help either or both days, and need to schedule with others that can help one day only.

Wes has different kayaks available for those boaters who may want/need a more appropriate boat.

Again, anyone who can help, call me at number posted, or PM me.

[bmartin]

I'lll be there Sunday. Have a couple SOT rec kayaks some may argue are the best type of boats for this event in anyone needs a loaner.

I'lll probably go wakeboarding at the lake immediately following the event and any kayakers are welcome to jump in the wakeboat with me.

[fryingsquirrel]

I'lll be there Sunday. Have a couple SOT rec kayaks some may argue are the best type of boats for this event in anyone needs a loaner.

I'm thinking about it, I have been looking forward to 'Vous, but doing this close to home sounds awful tempting. Lemme sleep on it.

[fryingsquirrel]

Chester, sign me up. If bmartin will lemme borrow a rec boat for the event, I'll be happy to help out. I've decided that this is going to be a lot easier on my checkbook than going to Rendezvous. Anyways, PM me with some details.