Watch out for "My First Triathlon" organizer

[kelownagirl]

I was just reading about this guy who is setting up triathlons all over Canada and now in the US. The organizer's name is Brent Kamenka and apparently he has been banned in some states.

This (http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=86032&posts=21&start=1) is where I read about it.

And there's more info here (http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=88676&posts=25).

Check out some of the links on the forum above and/or google his name to find out what to avoid.

[colby]

Wow, those stories are terrible! This guy is giving small/new races a bad name - I guess it pays to think local and know the people you're getting involved with. Generally good advice, but this guy is preying on people who don't really know HOW to get that information in the first place.

I can't believe he has held half and full Iron distance races. :eek: I hope all of those people made it safely and continue to enjoy the sport despite their experience.

It really sounds like he took a LOT of money and offered the absolute minimum everything. Ugh.

[jesvetmed]

KG: I did a "My First Triathlon" in Harrison Hot Springs, BC. What a gorgeous place to have a triathlon. What a huge unorganized thing!

My experience:

They changed the meeting place (the night before race meeting), and didn't tell anyone. The restaurant they had listed as the meeting place didn't have ANY idea what we were talking about!

He was about 2 hours late for the meeting. We all sat around waiting
When he got there, he had no packets... something about a truck that didn't make it on time... had all their stuff. Blah blah blah. We all had to pass around one map.

They didn't even start to take the bouy's out into the water until after the posted starting times.

They didn't divide up the first timers from the others (there are also "My Next Triathlon"ers there).

The swim route was along the shore, to keep all comfortable, but they didn't test how deep it was -- it was not possible to swim parts of it b/c it was too shallow. I kept hitting my knees, and hands on the ground rocks. Had to stand several times on the way out and walk vs. swim.

We never received the t-shirts we were supposed to get.

It took them over a week to post results.

I would definitely NOT recommend these events. I wish someone else would do a full triathlon in that Harrison area -- it is absolutely beautiful there!

Thanks for the heads up to everyone!
Jes