COMPETITION RULES

Paradise Triathlon

A. General Rules

1. Registrations are not transferable and are non-refundable. All athletes must participate using their own identities.

2. All participants must be 16 years of age or older to compete in the individual sprint event, however, for a single leg of the team sprint participants can be as young as 12.

3. Good sportsmanlike conduct is expected of all participants. Athletes will be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.  Treat other athletes, race officials, volunteers and spectators with respect and courtesy.  Abusive language will not be tolerated.

4. The use of any type of headset or earphones on any part of the course is prohibited.

5. Unauthorized outside aid/support or escorts are grounds for disqualification.

6. Pacing by a non-competitor during any portion of the race is forbidden. 

7. Only athletes and officials will be allowed in certain designated areas (i.e. transition area, finish line area). Participants are not permitted to have assistance during transitions or at any other point during the race,  with the exception of participants requiring assistance with adaptive equipment or special needs.

8. The Technical Officials and medical personnel have ultimate and final authority to remove a participant from the race if (a) they have violated any of the rules of the race or (b) the individual is judged to be incapable of finishing the race safely.

9. Participants who drop out of the race must notify the nearest course marshal/official. Those who drop out for medical reasons should also check with the medical personnel. Official race vehicles will be marked as such, and are equipped with cellular telephones.

10. Failure to comply with any or all the rules may result in immediate disqualification, or other penalties as assessed by the Technical Officials.

11. Clydesdale and Athena Categories:

• A Clydesdale is any male that would weigh in at 220lbs  or greater on race day.

• An Athena is any female that would weigh in at 165lbs or greater on race day.

• Please note that these categories are completely optional and we will not actually be conducting weigh-in's - we will be using the honor system.

• Awards will be given to the top 3 Clydesdale finishers and the top 3 Athena finishers. 

• You'll find the registration to any of these categories on the bottom of the registration form.

B. Violations & how to avoid them

1. ILLEGAL POSITION (BLOCKING) - Always ride on the right side of your lane to avoid blocking another cyclist.

2. DRAFTING - Keep three bike lengths (~7 meters) between your bike’s front wheel and the rear wheel of the cyclist in front of you to avoid drafting.

3. ILLEGAL PASS - Always pass on the left of the cyclist in front of you and notify by saying "on your left", never on the right to avoid an illegal pass.

4. DRAFTING - Complete your pass within 20 seconds to avoid a DRAFTING call.

5. DRAFTING (OVERTAKEN) - If passed, drop back three bike lengths before attempting to re-pass to avoid an overtaken or drafting call.

6. HELMET CHINSTRAP - the chinstrap of your helmet must be securely fastened before entering transition  and whenever you are in contact with bike.  Helmets must remain on your head until your bike is racked in transition

7. RACE NUMBER - you must display your race number during the race on your front on the run portion.

8. LITTERING - Do not throw away anything outside of the official aid stations.

9. UNAUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT- Absolutely no cell phones, MP3 players, iPods or other audio listening devices and no headphones.

10. OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE— Do not accept any assistance from anyone other than a race official, and do not have non-racers ride or run alongside you.

11. UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT - Please remember to treat other athletes, volunteers and referees and race officials with courtesy, respect and consideration.

 C. Race Timing

The race will be timed by the ANE timing team. Your responsibilities as a competitor include:

1. When you pick up your timing chip at Athlete Check-In on race morning ensure that your correct name shows up on the computer screen.

2. You must wear your timing chip at all times while you are racing.  Fasten it to either ankle with the Velcro strap provided before the swim start and leave it on until after you finish the run.  You may apply Vaseline around your ankle.  It will not affect the chip.  Volunteers will help you remove the strap and chip at the finish line.

3. If you do not start the race, you are still responsible for returning the chip to race management.  Chips and straps should be returned to the Finish Line or handed to any race official.

4. If you drop out or are pulled from the race at any time, turn your chip and strap in to a race official.  It is essential that we know where you are on the course at all times for your safety.

5. Your race chip is a loaner.  By picking up your race number and chip, you are agreeing that you will return the chip to race management, or you will be billed for its replacement.

D. Body Marking

In your race kits, you will be provided:

1.     two adhesive race numbers (one for each arm), 

2.     one swim cap with your race number, 

3.     one race number for your helmet, 

4.     one race number for your bike, and

5.     one race bib number with safety pins for the run. 

Race numbers must always be visible during the race.

Race numbers must be placed as follows:

●      Body: one adhesive race number must be placed on each upper arm. If you are wearing a long-sleeved tri-suit, place your race numbers on your forearms. These race numbers must be placed the night before the race for best adhesion.

●      Swim: number will be on cap (to be completed at race kit pickup) 

●      Bike: one number must be placed on the front of your helmet, and one number must be placed on your seat post. 

●      Run: the race bib number must be worn on your chest during run portion (using provided safety pins to attach to race kit) or attached to a race number belt (not provided). You are NOT required to wear your race bib number during the bike portion of the race.

E. Athlete Check-In

06:30am - Athlete check-in opens at the Bike Out/In area of transition. 

You must present your roadworthy bike, helmet (worn on your head when entering transition), and race bib number at check-in to participate. Athletes must also have their body marking completed (adhesive race numbers applied) before they will be allowed into transition.

Once you have been checked-in, proceed to set up your equipment at your preferred spot in the transition area. Your transition spot is on a first-come first-served basis; we do not designate transition spots for any participants (except paratriathletes). 

Other important Times to Note: 

07:30am            Transition area closes, and participants permitted to head to swim start for warm-up

07:30am            In-water warm-up opens

07:45am            Welcome message and pre-race briefing 

8:00am             Sprint Distance Race Start / Relay Race Start 

8:05am             Try-A-Tri Distance Race Start 

10:15am            Bike Course Closes 

11:00am            Run Course Closes 

F. Transition Area

See image at bottom of the page. 

F.i. Pre-Race Set-Up

1.     Only athletes are permitted in the transition area. 

2.     Bikes should be racked on alternated sides of support bar. Each bike rack will fit 7-8 bikes.

3.     Transition gear, except bike helmet, should be placed on the ground immediately next to your bike (each athlete is allotted 0.75m of space).

4.     Your bike helmet must be placed on your bike. 

5.     Athlete’s must not interfere with another athlete’s equipment in the transition area. Please be courteous to your fellow participants; do not move another participants equipment or take up too much space. If there is an issue, please see a volunteer or race official. 

6.     Marking positions in the transition area is forbidden. Marks, towels, and objects used for marking purposes will be removed and the athletes will not be notified.

7.     Only items required to complete the race are allowed in the transition area (e.g., wetsuit, bike/helmet/bike shoes, running shoes, etc). All other items/bags must be placed in the secure “Bag Area” located outside of the transition zone near the Bike In/Out area.

8.     Prior to exiting for the swim start, timing chips must be picked up in transition near the Swim In/Run Out area.

F.ii. During The Race

1.     Athletes must not impede the progress of other athletes in the transition area.

2.     All athletes must have their helmet on and securely fastened from the time they remove their bike from the rack at the start of the bike leg until after they have racked their bike at the finish of the bike leg.

3.     Athletes MUST walk their bike from transition area to the mount line. 

4.     Athletes MUST mount their bicycles after the mount line by having one complete foot contact with the ground after the mount line.

5.     Athletes MUST dismount their bicycles before the dismount line by having one complete foot contact with the ground before the dismount line.

6.     After finishing the race, there will be no re-entry into transition until the last cyclist finishes.  

Nudity or indecent exposure is not permitted at any time.

G. Swim Course

 G.i. Swim Course Description

1. Course length - 750 m for Sprint; 300 m for Try-aTri

2. The 1 lap swim is a triangular course, swimming clockwise. The swim is an in-water start marked by bouys.  The swim caps (provided in race package) must be worn throughout the entire swim course to ensure safety of all athletes during this time.  After a warm-up swim, all swimmers will be asked to exit the water and line up at course entry zone to be counted by the volunteers/lifeguards  prior to re-entry for the race. 

3. You may need footwear to run from the swim exit to the bike transition as you will have to run 360 meters on a groomed trail, however there will be mats on the trail.

4. Swim security for athletes will be maintained at the highest level from morning entry to race transition until the return from the swim.

5. Any athletes electing not to race must notify a race official immediately.

6. Above all, the safety of each swimmer is our prime concern.  A full sweep of the course will be made directly behind the last swimmer exiting the water.

Swim cut-off: 8:40 am

 G.ii. Swim Rules

1. No snorkels, fins, paddles, pull buoys, flotation devices are allowed. Technical Officials will announce water and air temperature, which will determine whether the race is a wetsuit legal or illegal.  

2. Swimmers shall swim 1 loop of the 750 meter triangular clockwise course; Try-a-Tri swimmers will swim 300 m in a triangular clockwise course.

3. Swimmers should seed themselves on the deep water start line according to their own speed.

4. No escorts are allowed in the water; however assistance given by a lifeguard for temporary support will not result in disqualification provided the competitor’s forward progress is not assisted. Swimmers may stop at a kayak if necessary. In an emergency, a competitor should raise an arm overhead and call for assistance.

5. Swim caps provided by the race organizers must be worn by all competitors.

6. The swim portion of the event finishes when an athlete runs between the two markers set up on the beach water line.  All athletes must exit the water between these markers.

7. The swim portion of the race will be cancelled if the water  and air temperature combination  does not meet ITU guidelines at race time. The race will then become a duathlon.

H. Bike Course

H.i. Course Description:

Mount bike at mount/dismount location exiting the Paradise Park.

Ride down Sarah Davis Way exiting turning right onto McNamara Drive. 

Follow McNamara Drive straight through the 3 way intersection so you are on Bremigens Blvd. At the end of Bremigens perform a U-Turn.

As you enter the 3 way intersection again turn Right onto Kenmount road. Follow Kenmount as far as North Atlantic Offshore building  where you will perform a U-Turn (around pylon) and head back to the intersection.

Once you reach the 3 way intersection again you will turn Right back on to McNamara Drive. Follow McNamara down toward the transition area.

To keep speeds down entering the transition, you will ride past the transition area as far as the Paradise Town Hall Parking lot. As you enter the parking lot you will keep to the right, making a couter clockwise loop around the island and exiting back onto McNamara Drive making a right. 

At this point you can continue straight to perform your 2nd and 3rd loops or turn Right to enter Sarah Davis Way to the transition area and complete your bike ride.

Please note that there will be "bib check marshals" along the route to ensure completion of the bike route loops. 

Sprint distance : 3 loops  (19.8 km)

Try-a-Tri Super Sprint distance: 1 loop (7km)

Bike Cutoff is 10:15am

 H.ii. Bike Rules

 H.ii.i. General Biking Rules

1. TAKE CAUTION AND STAY ON THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. 

2. Athletes must ride single file on the far right side of the road except when passing another rider.  Side-by-side riding is not allowed.

3. Absolutely no drafting off of another bike or any vehicle. A bike will be considered drafting when the bike is within 3 bike lengths or 2 bike widths of another bike, or 10 lengths of a vehicle, for 15 seconds or longer.  

4. Riders must keep 7 meters (~3 bike lengths) distance between bikes except when passing.

5. An overtaken rider must fall back 7 meters (~3 bike lengths) before attempting to regain the lead from a front- running bike.

6. Overtaking riders may pass on the left for up to 20 seconds, but must move back to the right side of the road after passing. Please try to issue a verbal “On your left” warning to riders you are about to pass.

7. All competitors are solely responsible for the actual repair and maintenance of their bicycles and equipment. Repairs are allowed to bicycles during the course of the race. 

8. Cyclists must heed the rules of the road according to the Newfoundland Motor Vehicle Act. Marshals may be available to assist cyclists through “stop” signs, although the cyclist should be prepared to stop at these intersections.

9. HEADSETS OR HEADPHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED DURING ANY PORTION OF THE EVENT.

10. Bicycles may be walked, carried or run, but an athlete must finish with his/her bicycle in his/her possession. The cycle portion finishes when an athlete places his/her bicycle on the bike rack in the transition area before commencing the run.

11. CAN/CSA, ANSI, ASTM or SNELL-certified helmet is mandatory.  Helmets must be properly fastened at all times while on the bike, or in contact with the bike (eg., walking bike into transition).

12. Bikes must be walked in/out of the transition area.

13. All bicycles must have a water bottle cage or a place to store a water bottle.

14. A bare torso is not permitted.

 I.ii.ii. Drafting Regulations

Any competitor found to be in violation of the drafting rules by a Technical Official may be subject to a warning or a penalty. 

An athlete will be issued a verbal warning, or issued a time penalty. If issued a time penalty, the athlete will report to the penalty box near transition before racking their bike. The penalty box will be clearly marked and located near the "Bike In" entrance of transition. The time penalty will be 1 min. The athlete is responsible for checking in with the volunteer in the penalty box.

J. Run Course

J.i. Run Course Description

The mostly flat 5 km run course winds its way down Octagon Pond on a well groomed gravel trail.  Leaving transition area the athlete will proceed as follows:

As Athletes leave transition they will immediately turn RIGHT onto the railway bed trail and run a short distance before completing a U-Turn (at pylon) and running back toward Octagon Pond trail.  Athletes will make a RIGHT turn and head down the trail toward the pond. At the fork in the trail athletes will turn RIGHT to follow the trail COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. 

Athletes will then cross the parking lot (near Dragon Boat dock) following pylons. There will be two short sections where runners will be running on the sidewalk/shoulder of Topsail Road. After the second section, athletes will turn left back onto the trail, run the remainder of the pond trail back to the Y-junction and back towards the transition area. The finish line will be on Sarah Davis Way parallel with transition.

Athletes who are running the Try-a-tri race will run 3 km and start the run the same way as the sprint distance event by leaving the transition and immediately turning RIGHT onto the railway bed trail and run approximately 360m before completing a U-Turn and running back towards Octagon Pond trail.  Athletes will make a RIGHT turn and head down the trail toward the pond.  At the fork in the trail athletes will turn RIGHT to follow the trail COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.  However, once these athletes reach the gravel parking lot next to the two docks they will make a U-Turn and head back toward transition. The finish line will be on Sarah Davis Way parallel with transition

Run cut-off: 11:00 am

 J.ii. Run Course Rules

1. Runners must complete one lap of the run route for the Sprint.  No form of locomotion other than running or walking is permitted.

2. Runners’ numbers must be visible from the front. 

3. Runners are expected to follow directions and instructions of all race officials and public authorities.

4. A bare torso is not permitted while running.

Thank you for coming out! Good Luck!

Paradise Triathlon Committee