Let’s Keep It Safe Out There!

Race Etiquette:

• Observe all race rules at all times.
• Don’t use a radio headset during the bike or run.
• Don’t place your bike and equipment on top of someone else’s in the transition area. Respect the athlete’s space and equipment.
• If you are a slower rider stay on the right side except when passing. Keep a straight line when riding. Only discard your water bottles and trash at an aid station. If you have to discard a bottle, make sure your throw it away from the other athletes.
• There is no littering on the race course.
• If you have mechanical problems, pull off the course on the right. Always let the rider ahead know you are passing on the left. And above all obey all safety rules on the course.
• Keep your pets at home if you are racing. Do you really need another distraction?
• The swim is always tough, but I’ve seen athletes actually push and crowd others away from their start positions. Don’t grab, push or pull others during the swim. It’s not combat swimming!
• During the run keep to the right except to pass. When you do pass someone or see them at the turnaround offer a word of encouragement.
• Be careful at the aid stations. This is usually the area where most of the items like gel packs and bottles are dropped and the pavement can be extremely slick. There is plenty to drink for everyone. Give each other room to drink and go.

After the race:

• When you cross the finish line, don’t be dramatic. You did a good job by finishing, now remove your chip or number, get a drink and move away from the finish chute without a lot of drama!
• Treat the finish line workers with respect. Your day is over they still have a lot to do.
• After you recover a bit, cheer on the other competitors and talk with the athletes. Pat all the youth on the back and offer words of encouragement when they finish!
• If you stick around for the awards then wait until all the awards are given out. I know it is tough at times but support the other competitors till the end.
• Good or bad race – “Be your own HERO!” after the race. Smile, hold your head high and take pride inside. You stepped up to the start line and you did it, you put yourself in the heat of competition and you finished even if the only person you were competing with was yourself!

Check out WWW.USATRIATHLON.ORG for more info

Relay Team Rules:

All rules applying to individual competitors apply to relay competitors except where such rules conflict with specific relay rules.

• Relay teams can be composed of 2-3 three athletes – one swimmer, one cyclist and one runner. Team members can be either the same gender or any combination of male/female. The minimum age of a participant is 16 years old.
• The relay team ‘chip transfer’ area must be within the marked Relay Team Area in the transition area. There will be a Relay Team Referee overseeing the ‘chip transfer’ of each team member. If a ‘chip transfer’ happens outside of the Relay Team Area, the team will not be included in the official results.
• Any relay team interfering with an individual competitor or any way placing an individual competitor at a competitive disadvantage will be disqualified.

SWIM

• Relay swimmers will start in the second wave Long Course Wave or the First Sprint Course Wave.

BIKE

• All relay bikes must be placed in the designated bike racks in the Transition Area. Team bikes must not be removed from the designated bike rack until AFTER the timing chip has been passed onto the team cyclist.
• After receiving the timing chip the cyclist must WALK/RUN their bikes through the transition area to the MOUNT LINE. At this time cyclists may mount their bike and depart on the bike.
• Upon completion of the bike and arrival at the Transition Area, cyclists must dismount at the DISMOUNT LINE and WALK/RUN their bike back to the designated bike rack. Once the cyclist has entered the marked Team Relay Area, they may hand off the timing chip to the runner. Once the runner has attached the timing chip, he/she may depart to the run course. Cyclists must re-rack their bike on the designated bike rack.

RUN

• Relay runners must turn in their timing chip at the designated timing table behind the finish line immediate after crossing the finish line. Any team failing to turn in its timing chip will not be considered an official finisher.

TECHNICAL RULES & REGULATIONS

SWIM COURSE – 1500m or 500m

• No swim fins, hand paddles or any swimming aids are allowed (snorkels are allowed).

• Athletes must wear XTERRA swim caps provided at body marking;

• BRING YOUR WETSUIT TO RACE START—wetsuit use determined by water temperature on race morning.

TRANSITION AREA

• You may not mount your bicycle before the exit of the transition area and you must dismount your bike before entering into transition. Riding your bicycle in transition will result in a 2 minute penalty.

• ATHLETES OR REPRESENTATIVE MUST PRESENT RUN RACE NUMBER AT TRANSITION TO PICK UP BIKES AND GEAR AFTER THE RACE.

BIKE COURSE – 25k or 16k

Outside assistance: Limited outside assistance is allowed from another athlete competing in the same event or a race official. No outside assistance is allowed from any person not competing in the event. These include but are not limited to spectators, friends, family, volunteers, photographers, or police.

• Assistance is limited to tools, tubes or any item that would be used to repair a faulty part or damaged bicycle or water, food, or first aid. Exchanging bikes is not allowed.

• The only permitted bicycles are mountain bikes and gravel bikes. Bicycle must have 26″, 27.5” or 29” wheels and hand brakes. Bar extensions or grips off the handlebars may not exceed 5”.

• Drafting is allowed.

• Competitors must display the front number plate at all times. No advertising stickers, writing or alterations of the number plate are allowed.

• Approved helmets must be worn at all times while on the bike.

RUN COURSE –  10K or 5k

• Competitors must display their run number on the front of their body. No advertising stickers, writing or alterations of the race number are allowed. Number holders are permitted.

• Competitors may not use inline skates or other devices, human or otherwise powered, to assist them in running. Headphones are not permitted.

AWARDS: Top 3 in each division. Sorry-we do not mail awards.

TRANSITION SETUP/BODY-MARKING/SWIM CAP/TIMING CHIP: Race day body marking, timing chip and official swim cap distribution will take place at the swim start at

RESULTS: Results will be posted on the notice board in the finish area as soon as they are available. Results will be posted to XTERRALagunaBeach on race night.

GENERAL RULES

• Cutting the Course: Short-cutting and/or cutting trail switchbacks on course is not permitted and may result in disqualification. All athletes are required to stay on the designated trail that is marked as the race course. It is the athlete’s responsibility to know the designated race course. Lack of tape or barriers on the course will not constitute an excuse for cutting the course.

• Protests of any nature must be submitted within one hour of the finish time of the person lodging the protest. Protests must be submitted in writing and signed by the accuser. Saying somebody cut the course is not good enough – it must be written and described as accurately as possible. All protests will be investigated. Because of the nature of XTERRA, it is not always possible to see infractions. XTERRA is in the woods, out of sight and marshalled only where necessary. In every case there will need to be verification of the infraction. Officials will not be drawn into a “hear-say” argument.

• No headphones of any kind are permitted while competing.

NOTICE: WHAT IS PUBLISHED HERE ARE PARTIAL RULES AND ITEMS SPECIFIC TO THIS EVENT. IT IS THE ATHLETE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE RULES.

Here’s a link to a PDF for download.