A longstanding Technical Official in South Australia, David Schutz continues to emphasise one clear message to athletes ahead of the 31st Sid James Victor Harbor: know the course.
He believes one of the strongest things an athlete can do before race day is study the maps and understand exactly where they’re going. In the heat of the moment, he says, it’s easy to lose track of your surroundings, which is why having the course ingrained in your mind is so important—whether you’re on the bike, on the run or moving through transition.
While TOs are always available on race morning to help guide athletes, point out exits and explain the course flow, David is firm that the responsibility ultimately lies with each participant.
With new layouts introduced for this year at Sid James Victor Harbor, such as the redesigned bike course with four loops on the standard distance, familiarity becomes even more crucial.
When athletes can, he encourages them to ride or walk parts of the course the day before, so the direction and layout become second nature.
For David, officiating is about far more than enforcing rules. It’s about being part of the event environment. Having raced himself, he understands the physical and mental effort athletes pour into race day. Observing others push through those moments reminds him of that shared experience and motivates him to keep events safe, fair and enjoyable.
Behind the scenes, Technical Delegates like David play a key role in decisions around heat, weather and course changes. But on race day, he hopes that simple preparation and understanding of the basics will help everything run smoothly.
He acknowledges that “first‑timers aren’t going to read 30 pages of technical regulations” so TOs focus on a handful of essential rules that matter most. The biggest: follow normal road rules on the bike—keep left and pass right.
Transition safety is another key area he highlights.
Before an athlete even touches their bike, their helmet must be on and done up. TOs will always intervene if this rule isn’t followed.
To avoid mistakes, David encourages athletes to set up their transition area logically so the sequence becomes automatic under pressure. Helmet on first, then shoes, sunglasses and nutrition. Ensure everything needed on the bike is already attached or stored before moving it, and then calmly walk or run the bike out of transition following the course flow.
Comfort and preparation are also important. If the weather warms up, he recommends taking a few extra seconds in transition to apply more sunscreen or reset gear properly. Those small moments can make a big difference later on the bike or run. As David puts it, “losing five or ten seconds in transition to make yourself more comfortable is well worth it.”
With years of experience officiating events across South Australia, David’s advice is grounded in practicality and a genuine care for athlete safety.
Whether it’s your first triathlon or one of many, his message remains steady: know the course, follow the basics and set yourself up for a safe and enjoyable race day.
Sign up for Sid James Victor Harbor here.
