Synchronising the start of a triathlon with the timing chips
morebeans
Posts: 1
in General Chat
Hi
Does anybody know how a triathlon is started with reagrds to the timing system, most if not all events now have a championchip timing system of sorts, but we dont pass over a mat to set off the clock when we get in the pool or lake/river.
How is the timing system synched with the swimmers.
I understand that we pass over mats from that point on going in and out of transition and at the end.
Please help.
Does anybody know how a triathlon is started with reagrds to the timing system, most if not all events now have a championchip timing system of sorts, but we dont pass over a mat to set off the clock when we get in the pool or lake/river.
How is the timing system synched with the swimmers.
I understand that we pass over mats from that point on going in and out of transition and at the end.
Please help.
0
Comments
of course other events may do other things
Watches set the poolside official is responsible for starting the waves with the correct competitors at the correct time. Bib numbers are assigned to wave start times 2 mins apart and if you are in wave 14 starting at 09:04hrs that is your start time on the 'puter.
Now if you have a tummy emergency and notify the official they will slip you into a later wave where there is a space (they usually also have blank waves every so often as well). If you then start at 09:20hrs and cross the mat at 09:29:15 the 'puter will give you a time of 25:15 as it thinks you started at 09:04hrs, the race organisers however will manually adjust your start time so that you are given the correct time. Thereafter it is all chip.
Depending on the organiser/event there may also be manual split timers but it is very important to listen out for your 'beep' as you cross any mat, if you don't hear it notify an official e.g. by shouting 'number 123 no beep' particularly on the finish as happened to me once, didn't hear the finish beep, brought it to the attention of the finish line marshall who noted my time manually (a couple of seconds and cost 2 places - whaaaaa )