Water Temperature Recommendations By USA Triathlon

Steven Munatones 07/31/2019 open water swimming No Comment

Water Temperature Recommendations By USA Triathlon

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Back in 2014, race directors of triathlons sanctioned by USA Triathlon were required to submit a detailed swim course report after each sanctioned race via the event reporting tool through the USA Triathlon sanction database. Triathlon race directors submitted their reports online with the rest of post-race deliverables, due 15 business days after the event. The required information included:

Air temperature at start of race (use local weather resource or weather.com)
Humidity at start of race (use local weather resource or weather.com)
Water temperature day prior to race
Water temperature day of race prior to swim
Number of athletes that started the swim (add relay participants)
Number of athletes that voluntarily withdrew during the swim (include relay participants)
Number of athletes rescued during the swim (include relay participants)
Number of athletes that completed swim (include relay participants)
Swim DNF’s (include relay participants)
Number of athletes requiring medical attention (any transport from swim other than “I’m too tired“)
Number of athletes requiring medical transport (obtain information from incident reports)

The USA Triathlon has implemented a new set of recommendations for sanctioning race directors. Its Water Temperature Recommendations are listed above. This chart includes elements like wind and humidity when considering the cancellation of any swim. Race directors were encouraged to share the recommendations with their swim course team, supporting entities, and athletes. Copyright © 2008 – 2019 by World Open Water Swimming Association

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Steven Munatones

Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.

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