Chip time vs. Gun Time - Place (Read 1518 times)

Which did they use at the Trials?

I talked to the timing crew at the Trials on Saturday, and they were debuting the iPico bib chip. As a timing guy myself, I'm always interested in what other people are using, and how they're using it. It turns out they had put 3 chips on every athlete: a (regular) iPico chip on each shoe, and the new bib chip on the bib.

I understand why they did it, but it still seems kind of crazy to me.

1. Bib chip is new technology, so they don't want to depend on it in case it fails.

2. If the bib chip fails, they wanted the regular iPico chip as a backup, since it is more thoroughly tested.

3. For close finishes, one chip on the shoe is no good. What if your leading foot has no chip? Finish order could get screwed up. Thus, a chip on each shoe.

They also had a high speed camera system at the finish, so chip times were never going to be official anyway.

Backups are good, but a better chip timing system (also with a backup) is better.

I think Trent meant that he doesn't understand the concept of winning an AG award.

 Ha!