Race entry/USAT fees

[Bluetree]

Out of curiousity, what are the approximate entry fees for the sprint tris in your area? I'm in Southern California and planning my season (and taking advantage of early registration discounts). I find that most sprint races are in the $60-80 range, with ocean swims. The notable exception is the LA Triathlon, where the sprint fee is $140.

Also, do you pay for a USAT license? The USAT annual fee starts at $39. However, only three of my events are USAT events, so I would pay less by purchasing three individual one-day licenses, than one the entire year.
Are there any perks worth the license? Since I don't plan on competing seriously and don't care to see my name at the bottom of the national ranks... is there any benefit to an annual membership?

[KSH]

Here in Dallas, TX... we pay around $50-$70 for sprint tri's. That can be a pool swim or lake swim.

If you aren't going to compete more than 3 times this year, you might as well pay the USAT "dues" when you sign up for your tri's.

Honestly, with a basic membership, you just get a cool tag to hang on your key ring and a kind of lame magazine every 2 months (? or more?). Not really worth the extra moo-laa if you ask me.

Maybe I don't know what all membership has to offer... but I think that's it.

[EBD]

In NC (North Carolina Triathlon Series), sprints usually run $45-50, olympics $60.

I paid for the USTA last year, but I think I calculated that it would be worth it - and I think it was cheaper last year. The magazine isn't that great, and I'm never going to be ranked so I don't care much about getting the rankings issue. So if I only do a couple of races this year, I probably won't renew my membership.

On a related note, I find it interesting that these races depend heavily on volunteers - but our registration fees go to a for-profit race manager (Set Up Events in this region). I guess the fees would be much higher if they paid the workers - but it seems funny to me sometimes to see these boy scout troops or church groups coming out so early to volunteer - I always wonder if they realize it isn't actually for *charity* as such. I mean, we aren't curing cancer or anything. (Obviously some races are charity fundraisers, but none I've run). I'm happy they are there, helping me out and making the races cheaper, of course.

[Bluetree]

Thanks, that's good to know.

I was on the USAT site looking at all the so-called benefits and was thinking, "That's it?" I didn't know if there was something important I was overlooking... I mean $200 and you get a gold-plated license plate frame?

I have six (possibly seven) races planned, and I'm surprised that more aren't USAT races...including the LA Tri!

[Tri Girl]

Our sprints run about $40-60 around here. No, you don't get a lot from your USAT membership per se, but the best part about the organization is the benefits you get at the race. USAT sanctioned events carry insurance (important if you're injured), and must provide officials to make sure that there is little rule breaking (which is good if you're placing as an age grouper and want a fair playing field- not that I'd know about placing). That's not to say that non-sanctioned races aren't good, but I usually won't race one if it's not USAT sanctioned. That's where most of the membership fees go to- I gladly pay them. Not a big deal to me- besides, this sport is so expensive anyway- a measly 39 bucks more hardly seems like a dent. But- that being said, if I was doing less than 4 races a year, I would just fork over the $10 per race for the one day pass and save some money.

[Offthegrid]

Danskin, the most expensive sprint I'm doing, costs $90. Others are $60 and up. I am getting the license, but only because I have quite a few tris I want to do.

[tygab]

Yeah, I got a license too.

For the insurance, and since I figure I'll probably be doing ~5 events this year which will all be USAT sanctioned.

If I don't enjoy them, I won't renew... but I doubt that will be the case.