Rules

AMCAN
Endurance Promotions LLC
Blue Water Triathlon (est. 2007)

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RULES

NOAA Marine Forecast: Lexington to Port Huron

It is your responsibility to know these rules. They are in place for fairness and safety. It is also your responsibility to know the course...if you go the wrong way, miss your turnaround or get disqualified for breaking a rule it is your fault, not ours.

AGE CUT OFF:
We WILL NOT compromise the safety of athletes in any way, shape or form. That goes for the future development of kid's physical or mental stability or growth! Therefore these age limits are in place to protect you the athlete and your kids. There are extensive studies showing excessive weight lifting and endurance activities in under age kids can affect these developmental systems within the body negatively by stunting the growth and development of these systems. Bottom line, we will not be the facilitator or contributor to this.

14 and under - Superkids triathlons
15 plus - Sprint distance triathlon (younger kids possible depends on kids experience and difficulty of events course)
16 plus - Olympic distance triathlon
18 plus - Half distance triathlon

If for some reason your kids entry slipped through the system and you were not contacted prior to the race, IT WILL BE CAUGHT at packet pickup either day before or day of. You will be addressed by race management and asked to race in the appropriate event. There is no compromise with this. If you chose to not race in the appropriate event for your age as addressed by race management you will forfeit your entry fee! This is your choice, no exceptions.

Race Conduct & Packet Pick-Up:
Participants must cover the prescribed course in its entirety. It is the participant's responsibility to know the course. None of the following will be allowed:

Improper use of language toward an official, volunteers, participants, and spectators.
HEADPHONES – unless otherwise stated by race director
MP3 PLAYERS – unless otherwise stated by race director
GLASS BOTTLES
CUTTING CORNERS DURING COURSE
YOU MAY NOT PICK UP RACE PACKETS for friends

Race Numbers/ChampionChip:
All athletes are required to wear race numbers at all times during the RUN. Numbers must face the front and be clearly visible at all times. Numbers may not be cut or folded or altered in any way. DO NOT transfer your number to any other athlete. You will be issued a ChampionChip and neoprene strap at registration time as well. This is your responsibility and MUST be worn at all times. You must return the chip and strap following your finish.

A $30 Chip Recovery Fee will be charged for athletes who do not return their timing chips.

Venue/Course Litter:
All personal equipment and belongings taken out onto the course must stay on the athlete the entire time. No garbage, Gel wrappers, clothing, etc. shall be thrown on the course.
Penalty: If you are caught littering the race course you will be disqualified. (note this does not include aid station cups)

NO REFUNDS OR TRANSFERS for any reason. Selling of your race entry is strictly prohibited. HOWEVER If you cannot race due to injury or other extenuating circumstance you may contact race management a minimum of 2 weeks before event to notify for transfer. Your transfer athlete MUST contact race management immediately and a minimum of 1 week prior to event with a completed printed entry from the event website. If this is not done there will be NO ENTRY ALLOWED. NOTE: A valid ID will be required at race packet pick-up.

Transition Area:
Entering and Exiting, Placement of Equipment, Bicycle Placement.

NO Obstruction, Glass Containers, Indecent exposure.
A participant must reduce cycling speed when approaching TA (Transition Area).
NO cycling is allowed in the TA. Cycling past the STOP/DISMOUNT signs at the entrance to the TA will result in a 1 minute time penalty.
A participant must place equipment only in the assigned individual area and not interfere with another participant's equipment while in TA.
A participant must return his/her bicycle to an upright position in the properly designated area.
Trash containers are placed throughout the TA by race management, you must throw your trash away following the event. Do not leave the trash in the TA.
EVERY event will have transition area OPEN and CLOSE times. If you arrive before or after these times you will not be allowed in. No exceptions. Check your event confirmation for these times.

Failure to do any of the above will result in a variable time penalty and in some cases the penalty will be disqualification, this will be up to the race director to access the situation. Entrance to Transition Area is to competitors with Race Numbers ONLY. Please make sure your family members and friends stay out of TA at ALL TIMES. You will be asked to show your race number before leaving the TA.

Helmets/Chin Straps:
Must be worn at all times during the bike discipline. Chin straps must be buckled before exiting the Transition area. Straps must be buckled at all times when on a bicycle. DO NOT unbuckle your chin strap unless you are off your bicycle.
Penalty: Disqualification on the course;

Outside Assistance:
No assistance other than that offered by race and medical officials may be used. This means IN NO WAY can you have any person assist you on the course with food, beverage, and pacing.
Penalty: Race Director will determine either a disqualification or time penalty.

Bike Course:
The responsibility of knowing and following the prescribed course rests with each participant. No Drafting ALLOWED!

Drafting:
Keep at least three bike lengths of clear space between you and the cyclist in front at all times. If you move into the zone, you must pass within 15 seconds. Cyclist in back MUST drop back to the 3 bike length zone before overtaking another athlete. This will not be tolerated, no excuses penalties will be assessed.
Penalty: 3 minutes first, second, THIRD Infraction Disqualification.

Positioning on course:
Keep to the right hand side of the lane of travel unless passing at all times. Use loud communication at all times when passing with “On Your Left” calls.

Blocking:
Riding on the left side of the lane without passing anyone and interfering with other cyclists attempting to pass
Penalty: 3 minutes first, second, THIRD Infraction Disqualification.

Courses:
All competitors are required to follow the prescribed course and to stay within all coned lanes. Cutting the course is an obvious violation and going outside the course is a safety issue. Cyclists shall not cross a solid yellow center line for ANY reason. Cyclist must obey all applicable traffic laws at all times. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PRINT, STUDY and UNDERSTAND COURSE MAPS. If you do not understand something it is your responsibility to ask race management the day before the event for clarification. In most cases all courses will be marked two days prior to event. It is recommended you drive every course prior to event.
Penalty: Race Director’s discretion

Course Support:
You are on your own, it is recommended you bring spare tube/tire air and tools with you while racing. Race management will have a SAG vehicle on all courses in the event you need to be picked up. Once you are picked up your race is over. You may not seek outside assistance for any reason UNLESS race management has provided a Bike Aid Station on the course. In which case you must get to that aid station for assistance.

Unsportsmanlike-Conduct:
Foul, harsh, argumentative or abusive language or other unsportsmanlike conduct directed at race officials, volunteers, spectators or fellow athletes is forbidden and will not be tolerated!!
Penalty: Disqualification

Swim:
The responsibility of knowing and following the prescribed course rests with each participant

Wave Starts:
Will be announced race morning to all athletes. There will be a designated, flagged swim start corral. ONLY the wave called will be inside the starting corral. YOU MUST PASS through the corral chute one athlete at a time for a head count. If you skip this and go around you may be disqualified from the event on the spot. We must get a head count for each wave. You may NOT switch waves to race with friends. If you miss your wave start you must inform timing officials IMMEDIATELY at the swim start. If you switch waves you will be disqualified.

A participant may stand on the bottom or rest by holding a buoy, boat, rope of floating object.
A swimmer in need of assistance should RAISE AN ARM OVERHEAD, and pump it up and down, and call for assistance.
A swimmer who has received official assistance, whether voluntary or involuntary, must retire and withdraw from the remainder of the race.
No swimmer should return to the race if the official rendering assistance requests that the participant withdraw from the race or receive medical assistance.
Any swimmer wearing any artificial propulsion device, including but not limited to fins, gloves, paddles, or floating devices of any kind will be disqualified.

Wetsuits:
You will be permitted to wear a wetsuit if the announced water temperature race morning is 77 degrees Fahrenheit OR less. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees you must have a medical circumstance and contact race director prior to the start to wear the wetsuit and you shall not be eligible for prizes or awards.

Running Courses:

The responsibility of knowing and following the prescribed course rests with each participant. Please always print, study and understand the course maps available for print at event website.
An athlete who gains progress by crawling or by cutting corners violates the Rules and will be subject to a disqualification.
No headsets, radio and/or headphones/ MP3 Players are allowed (Unless otherwise stated by race management)
An athlete may carry a water bottle on the run portion, provided that such container is not made of glass.
You may not have any outside assistance, including someone pacing you at any time.
Please do not throw any litter on the course. Please, help us preserve the roads trails and parks we use to ensure the race returns for many years to come.

Awards/Raffles:
Under no circumstances will race management mail out awards, raffle items or T shirt. Jerseys. However, race management will make an award available from a previous event if race management is contacted at a future event THAT YEAR only. There will not be t-shirts made available if race runs out. Pre registered athletes registered prior to the 14 day deadline will be guaranteed t-shirts. Anyone registered after that time is not guaranteed.

Inclement Weather:
Race management reserves the right to postpone, cancel or change a race format at any time to ensure athlete safety. Race management will not compromise athletes safety, if the race director deems conditions unsafe he/she will have full control to cancel, postpone, or change a format. No Refunds or Transfers will be given.