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A good sherpa does ________

David LeventhalDavid Leventhal
in Racing Forum 🏎

I've heard folks use the terms Sherpa to describe their spouse or friend who comes with them to an IM to help them out.  I know what a Sherpa is but in relation to a full IM how would you finish the sentence:

A good Sherpa does / helps out / assists by doing ____________

Thanks!

Comments

  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    cheers loud and doesn't do anything to stress out the racer pre-race. After the race, sherpa helps gather gear. After all that, the racer has to do whatever the sherpa needs/wants.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    I asked my wife, who's done this a few times. The big stuff is on race day. Drive racer to the venue. Wait outside the fence to pick up pump or other stuff which doesn't go in morning clothes bag. Maybe drop off special needs bags for the racer. Volunteer as bike catcher so you can hang out in transition and maybe even catch your racer's bike when he comes in. Be prepared to pick up bike and bags after race; at the very least, take responsibility for carrying whatever needs to be carried away from venue - bike, bags, wet suit, etc - which racer will be too tired, confused, and/or sore to deal with. Most of all, be prepared to listen to mindless drivel about how the day went, and provide emotional support as indicated.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    ....gets up with me in the middle of the night and makes sure I take in the necessary pre-race nutrition. Is up early with me to go to the race venue, collect the stuff that doesn't stay in T1, and cheer for all of 2 mins of excitement, just being relieved to see that I didn't die in the swim. Waits all day for a few sightings of me that I am progressing to the end. Catches me after and gets my carcass back to the hotel room and gets me anything I want to eat. Really, I couldn't do this without my SHERPA!
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Two biggest items for me:
    1) Takes all (as much as possible) of the non-race-specific stressful stuff out of my life!
    2) Serves as intermediary between me (racer) and others (non-racers), leading up to the race itself.

    After you cross the finish line and change into non-racer mode, they are relieved of all duties and rewarded accordingly.
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