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Home :: Events / Victoria :: Panorama Classic Tri/Du Post-Race Summary 2007 Panorama Classic Tri/Du Post-Race SummaryI want to start out by saying that I am just the facilitator of your event. These are some of the things I saw and would like to work on for 2008. The race went as smoothly as we expected since we knew there could've been confusion for people to "understand" the course. The day started out a bit nervously when the two lead cyclists, who hit the corner at Forrest Park and East Saanich Rd., were going so fast that I had to shake my head and say to myself "oh here we go!" However, as with any new course it seemed that the cyclists learned the course quite quickly. The pool seemed to be run perfectly. I thought Jessica Kirkwood and the volunteers did a great job! Thank you! One problem we will need to address is that there was too much traffic on East Saanich Rd. The cars were backed up too far and "delayed" too much. I also thought the crossing at Forrest Park and East Saanich was too busy so we will be looking at that, but the spectators seemed to love it. I need an overpass for spectators to get in and out without them having to pass through 4 lanes of traffic and 2 of them going 60 miles per hour! The volunteers did a great job to keep the course clear for the participants. I know some people got frustrated with the "hurry" across the street attitude but spectators, family and friends just don't realize how fast the bikes go. Forrest Park Dr. and the parking lot were definitely the place to be on Sunday for spectators! I will get music and a sound system to that area next year. From all the accounts of the course I heard the course was fun and challenging; so I was glad to hear that. I did a lot of eavesdropping on Sunday to hear your comments and views. To be honest the bike and run courses were inspired by my cross-country running influence. Not many people know that cross-country running is usually on a 2km loop system in most of the world! I also noticed the transition was too slippery once it got wet. That will need to be addressed next year. Another thing I noticed was that we need to juice up the atmosphere in the transition. We need a feed from the outside announcer and music. The other idea mentioned was to have the transition in a long line behind the rec centre where the bikes went into the rink. Have one or two long lines of bikes all the way down the back? Swimmers would leave through another set of doors and run outside and then into the lanes of transition. Then the bikes would go out the opposite end of the transition? I could see that being pretty cool too, however, the whole reason we moved the transition inside was because we got poured on the year before! Outside, I want to set up a riser with an announcer and a radio personality just right of the finish line and just left of the bike hairpin. I will need a few sound systems around the area all with the same feed. That could be pretty cool! The awards will also need to be done in stages. Maybe do 3 awards ceremonies during the whole race; however, we want everyone to stay until the end so we will have to do a huge draw prize or something to keep people around? I also want to see the event use more technology. With the world of big screen TV's and lap counters, etc... we need to take advantage of this. I want people to get instant notification of what time the last lap was in and how many laps to go. I want the jumbo-tron for the spectators! Basically, I want the whole area to be filled with spectators! Spectators lead to sponsors. So far what I've put down will cost a ton of money. We need financial sponsors to make this all happen! The idea with the overpass is neat because it would need to be set up early and sponsors would like their logo on East Saanich for a week. The biggest issue that arose was that the there was no medical on site. There was a miscommunication between me and the medical director and that will never happen again. I am so happy that most of our volunteers are our customers and a part of our run club and they all seem to be nurses and doctors so they were able to fill in. Thank-you Edna Payne and Rob Smith for diving head first into that role on such sudden notice. Next year we will have a crew set up at the finish line and a bike crew on the course. So I am asking for help! This is your race and it is too much work for my staff and me. The Panorama Triathlon and Duathlon can become known as the participant's race! You tell me what you want and I'll try and do it; however, I need help! If this is something that interests you, please contact me at the store or by email. Thank you for your efforts on Sunday. I hope you enjoyed the event. — Dave Milne |
2007 Results: |