cars on road during triathlon

Actually they did a bad job. People were supposed to be let though that had to go to the airport, otherwise why even leave the airport open. My husband had to leave that day on federal business and he had a heck of a time getting out. He has several police officer assigned to their offices as "task officers" he had to call them to get the officers as the check points to do their jobs correctly.

I personnally hate the tiratholon. Dread it every year. Really happy they should all be gone today. Woohoo!

I seriously doubt what happens on the triatholan is even legal. How can you possible detain a whole island? Keep them trapped in or our of their homes.

But thats stx, the needs of the few always out way the many.

ah but Betty,the money that is spent here by the athletes and friends is very much needed,lol i was able to pay my utilities today thanks to jump up and saturday day,but yes i agree sunday is a pain in the butt and i don't leave my house until the last biker has gone through lavallee and thats right around 9 am,it's the jogging part of it that drags out because they won't let the cars through until the last straggler makes it to the finish,i was stuck at the bucc last year until late afternoon

I agree with Betty...the jump up wasn't as good as the others...so it's not like the athletes blew up the economy. But come on...Sunday morning was a mess...I can do with out it...I don't like the island take-over either.

I don't mind the take over of the island. And i dont usually go out sunday anyway but we need alittle more clarity on where and when the roads are totally closed.

I live out east and i saw a few of the bikers wave a car over. the car came around the curve by the fire station rather fast. bikers had to swerve. a bit later the police chased the car. There could have been a bad accident. I think we can sacrifice one day don' t you? Its a good day for family bonding. or sleeping in. Knows its a totally difference circumstance but we have a curfew after storms so lets give up a 1/2 day to the runners.

i noticed the jump up was not as crowded as usual. Probably due to the economy. Hope the stores and resturants did well. Anyone know???

So there was @ 750 atheletes plus friends and relatives and so on. I bet they each spent about $1k each so there's about $ 750K plus.

I personally think the world exposure is a positive thing for STX. I knew Sat would be limited travel so I planned around it. No problem, mon.

We had 20+ condos booked for the triatlon.

On Oahu when wiamea bay is breaking the traffic just stops same with the other big contests.

We forgot Gallows Bay would be closed, so my husband headed off that way as soon as he get get out of our road. When he got into C'sted, he was detoured up by the Moravian cemetery, and traffic was going both ways.....Well, when he got to the other end, it became apparent the traffic he was meeting was the same traffic that was ahead of him, all turning around and coming back. When he got to the turn around point, there was a police officer instructing motorists to turn around and go back the way they came. He politely asked the officer "Wouldn't it have been a better idea to tell us this at the other end?" To which she answered, "I'm really sorry sir, but the person in charge is a little retarded!"

A little retarded??? wow seems like they could have been more "intouch" with each other. They should just say.....look folks all road all over the island will be closed from such and such a time and thats it. i bet as long as the roads are closed the crime rate is down too.

If we hit a biker or runners no more ironman.

your right bombi, they have to all spend money, food, drinks, cars etc. i wonder how much the island generates from this??? would be nice to see some numbers.

If the triathlon were on STT mightn't folks from STX feel that STT gets all of the tourism? 😀

Without a doubt, we would be pitching a fit!

Ok I'll rescind...Maybe it's not so much the island take-over as it is the...what's closed, what's not situation as DixieChick said more clarification...It's just a mess...

and yes dntw8up...I would probably be one of the ones complaining if they moved it over there...

Actually the road closures are clearly indicated in the Avis ( 2-3 editions broke it down).
Some cars were allowed on the road, but they had a pass (8.5" x 11") taped to their windshields. These folks that had passes worked hard in order for the athletes to compete! My husband was one of them.......he helped pass out water & was one of the Hams that radioed in any troubles. One competitor lost the sole of their shoe & he helped them by taping their foot to the petal and she went on to finish 4Th place! Another was badly dehydrated whom he was able to help too.
For many this is an inconvenience, but it really does bring great exposure to this island! They bring family, friends and much needed money to the island.
And as dntw8up stated, if this was in STT, we'd all be complaining STX is the red headed step child yet again!

It's a great day to have a helicopter!

I'm sorry but being trapped in or out of my house for 8 hours or more because some people want exercise is crazy.

Whats more crazy is the week before when they are riding/jogging all these roads on the east end that are full of blind curves at all hours of the day and evening. Most of them use no common sense when doing. The bike riders ride two abreast and do not seem to pay attention to the cars coming. Just a matter of time before one of them goes splat.

It definitely brings money in, especially for that weekend.

I can't think of any big event that stt has that we would want. We have carnival as well, ag fair, st pattys, etc... The only cool thing they have is a really rocking 4th of July but its on st john. Other then that its just crowded.

I didn't move here for big crowded events like this race. If I wanted to feel trapped I would move over to stt.

Without a doubt, it needs to be much better run, and it doesn't need to take over mostly the east end. After 11pm its was just C'sted and the east that was locked down. And parts of that were shut down until 4pm. It is ridiculous.

Ha On long Island the same thing happens for the LOng Island Marathon. If you live anywhere near the Wantaugh Parkway .. plan to stay at home. At least it is only one day a year
Grin and bear it
Deidre

I don't think it's such a big deal. It's less than 12 hours once a year and they do bring a lot of money to the island (just ask the hotels, villas, restaurants) and some very positive press (which we could use more of).
The road closures are always released in advance and it's well published. We always plan ahead and decide what we'll do that day and try to make sure we have whatever we need (something from the grocery store or hardware store).
The airport stays open because there are people in many areas of the island that are not affected by road closures and there are dozens of flights in every day that bring food, mail, newspapers, packages and more and they still come and deliver their goods.
It is always the same day (1st Sunday in May) every year. If it's that big of problem for you then go on vacation or buy a helicopter!

You don't have to be held captive for that day..............you can go off island. 😉

I agree that the bikers can be bothersome when they act as if they own the roads, but generally if you toot your horn, they move.

We also live in a vacation destination.......with that said, I rather be dealing with the "exercisers" rather than the damn drunks driving on the wrong side & winging a beer bottle out the window.

Well, Betty since you hate STT so much, we'll just try to bear up & figure our loss is STX's gain. *-)

i love having them here, the diversity is great, the action is great, the people are great. we make sure we dont need to go out that day. no problem for us. we do have to be mindful of the bikers, runners. i know that bike riders have to go with the flow of the traffic, not opposite, no big deal there either, never in that big of a hurry that i need to rush around them, i will wait patiently till i can get to where it is safe to pass and then do so. no biggy. we live in town so we go down and watch and cheer. its always great to see the winner finish as it is to see the straglers.

I had no doubt that most on this board would not agree with me on this topic. I'm shock that anyone even agrees slightly about anything I said about it. But I know I am far from being the only one that does hate it. Especially from others that live east. The good news is that it is just one week a year.

I do think they need to get a better handle on organizing it. Most of the food does not come in by airplane but by boat.

Sorry trade but I do hate stt. Sorry it bugs ya. But like you say stt is saved from having me.

It doesn't bug me at all. I just find it really rude & unnecessary to slam another's home. I don't recall any STT'ers on this board ever trashing STX the way you often do. I always wonder why.

One day of the year and they complain. Always when something is good for STX, they don't want it. What do they really want?

I LOVE THE TRIATHLON!!!! How awesome that these incredibly elite athletes come to our island year after year. It was so well-organized, I don't think any of the competitors ran into those kinks that the rest of us accept as an inevitable part of living in the USVI. Well, I did see one guy whose luggage didn't make it here with him, and the race-organizer's wife lent him her bike! The volunteers and spectators had a good time, and it was so inspiring seeing these athletes and what they are capable of.

I have a great idea for those of you who get trapped at home and bored on triathlon day. You could either A) hang out at your house and enjoy the peace of having nowhere to go, like others have suggested, or B) volunteer to help at the race! It was so energizing just helping hand out race numbers on Saturday, I am sure that handing out water or Gatorade on the race day would be even more fun. It really is a huge event, and if you don't have anything better to do, I recommend going to watch or help out. It beats resenting the race!

Thanks so much to all the volunteers and staff and people who brought the happiness to STX this weekend. I loved seeing all the Ironmen and women. They were friendly and fun and I think they had a blast.

Don't forget that "once a year" patch job on the east end roads! Sure, they mat not last long, but it's like a "cruise vacation" for our cars....ha ha..get it? ...Sorry, I'll keep my day job.:D

i also love how there is no body fat on those fine athletes.