I thought that was the method already used.

What you heard, though, is correct:
http://www.usatriathlon.org/fs_newsPC.asp?File=04-11-2005_0.txt

I re-read the original post, and the new USAT rule, and it is indeed a change.
In the past, you raced in the division of your current age, but your annual USAT rating was based on your age on December 31.

I guess one question is whether some or all non-USAT sanctioned events will go along with the new rule.

thehitman

70.3 is actually governed by a different group "Global Tri Group"...not USAT.

Good question...their website sucks! The jist I get is that they are trying to align themselves with ITU, so that would lead me to believe that they use age as of Dec. 31.

Ugh I don't want to race 20-24 next year when I'm not 20 yet :eek:

I moved up an ag last season and all I have to say is hold on girls just another 20 years and the womens' groups are waaaaay smaller :D I'm hoping that if I keep going, I'll be able to win my ag (of course I'll be the only one :p!

Ant

*sigh* But it's a long time to hold on until the women's groups are smaller! I like my little group!!

Great. If I am understanding this correctly, if the race adheres to USAT rules, then that would include the age group determination. That puts me into the 40 & above Clydesdale this season. Just when I thought I had a year left before being in the Masters division. No big deal here - it won't change the fact that I race for fun - regardless of my age division.

Hey Hitman watch who you call geezer. Just so happends my birthday is December 06 (just in case you want to send me a card or a gift or both) and will be aged up in 2006 to the 55-59 age group. If I go really small races in obscure locations I could perhaps place in the age group. There is hope!

HitMan - Don't you just love it when you place 3rd in your 50+ group but would have won the 20-24 prize.

I'm importing them as we communicate. Cant get them past the FDA, and besides I have no one to rep them in the US. Would you like a new sponsor? Did you see the base jump on the bike. It definitely looked like a Clyde's.

Blitz

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL TOPIC:

Wow!
It looks like some people are really upset about this rule change.

Cooltri.com may be shutting down because of the age group rule change?

"Good Bye? I am extremely upset by the new USAT age group rule and have decided to suspend my work on the 2006 calendar. If I decided to produce the calendar it will most likely only contain non-USAT sanctioned races. I don't want to make a rash decision but there is a very good chance that the calendar and cooltri will be gone in a month or two. Karen"
http://cooltri.com/

The site also contains Lew Kidder's open letter to USAT discussing and questioning the change. http://cooltri.com/usat.pdf

Let's hope Karen and tricool.com keep up with their great site.

thehitman

Thank you mutt! I like the saying The older I get the better I was.

I think part of it is that for those of us in the "baby" age groups, moving suddenly into a more competative one means years in more competative ones before we reach the geezer ones. And since it's such late notice, it might change what races people do in the next year, and that can be hard if already planning.

No word yet on what Mdot says...

Gieser???!!!???!!!

Ja so was!

From results I've seen, up to 24 is pretty much the same (indep of the younger cut off) but over 25 gets much harder -- esp at IM...

I'm not too concerned, as I didn't have much of a Kona chance anyways... but one of my friends was prob going to make it this year, and her birthday won't even be til after Kona next year (ie she'd be 24 even for that race) and is waiting to see if she'll have to race and try to qualify in 25-19.

So by "geezer" you mean over 60 right ;)

Yeah, put away that keg of brandy, Blitz!!!
On second thought, have a shot for me.

And what's the deal with your age group? 40 - 43? What's that???

Anyway, happy birthday! :)

thehitman

Everyone will move up sooner in the USAT events now. For me that means on Jan 1, 2006 I move into the 45-49 AG. I'll be the pup in the AG. The difference is if you were born earlier in the year, say Feb., you'd be competing against someone like sljv who is born on Dec. 31 since you both were grouped together. This may or may not give sljv an advantage.

Wanna get picky? Here is a quote from Lew Kidder's article on another site "Just construct a hypothetical as a check. Consider athlete "A", born at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 1961 and athlete "B", born at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 1962. An age difference of just two minutes . . . but under your new rule, "A" will race the entire 2006 season in 45-49 while "B" is stuck in 40-44. In fact, if "A" happened to be born in Honolulu and "B" in New York City - thus making "B" some four hours and 58 minutes the senior of "A" - the new rule becomes even more absurd."

In this example the advantage goes to athlete "A" as he is the youngster in the AG while "B" is the oldest in a younger AG. Could happen and maybe does happen, but you're going to squabble over 1 year? In a recent event I took 4th in my AG but would have placed top 3 in every other AG except 30-34. People can argue this point into the ground but it simplifies the AG system for USAT and they're ranking system.

USAT governing board has made quite a few changes this year and with change, you will naturally upset some people. Whether or not these changes are good for the sport will be argued for a while. Until we see what direction the current board is taking us, we should voice our opinons (as members of USAT) to our regional and national board members. Healthy rational discussions is what is needed to formulate a plan and/or a change in direction.

My friend did contact MDot and they will not be using this rule -- she will be racing in her actual age group, and hopefully qualifying for Kona in it :)