The Lakefield Triathlon is meant to be a fun, fair and safe learning experience for athletes of all abilities aged 4–19 years of age (as of 31 Dec 2023).
There are variations in the rules and in what athletes can expect between the:
- Kids of Steel age groups (4–5 and 6–7) on our mini Tri course
- Kids of Steel age groups (8–9 and 10–11) on our regular Tri course,
- Youth Non-drafting age group (12–13) competing in an Enduro Tri, and
- Youth and Junior Drafting age groups (14–15 and 16–19) competing in an Enduro Tri.
Registration
All athletes must register online with CCNBikes.com by 21 June 2023:
- A $15 discount is available to those registered before 20 May 2023.
- Race t-shirts are available to order through our online registration, while quantities last.
- Each age group is limited to 50 athletes, and athletes will be registered by their age as of 31 December 2023.
- All athletes must be members of Triathlon Ontario or purchase a one-day membership at the time of registration.
- All athletes aged 14–15 and 16–19 require up-to-date Triathlon Ontario Draft Legal Certification before registration. If CCNBikes.com reports the error “No eligible categories due to membership/license restrictions” and you believe the certification is valid, please contact Triathlon Ontario.
- Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Equipment
Athletes require race equipment that is safe and in good working order. Equipment must meet the ITU competition rules, with some exceptions for younger athletes.
- Bicycles — must have accessories removed that could interfere or come loose, including kick stands, baskets, cage-style pedals, toe straps, streamers, flags, and mirrors.
- Handlebars — must have end caps, and aero bars are not permitted.
- Wheels — must have at least 12 spokes, disc wheels are not permitted, and all non-traditional wheels (such as deep rim and carbon wheels) must be on the UCI list of approved non-standard wheels (manufactured since 2016 or 2000–2015).
- Helmets — must be properly fitted, undamaged and certified bicycle helmets.
- Clothing — must cover the athlete’s chest and stomach during the bike and run.
- Wetsuits — will likely not be permitted based on normal lake temperatures for June, but may be allowed or required at the discretion of the Triathlon Ontario head official (typically when water temperatures are below 20°C or 16°C respectively).
Exceptions to the ITU competition rules for equipment:
- Bicycles — any bicycle will be permitted for the 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, 10–11, and 12–13 age groups, though ensuring the athlete can push their own bike uphill will be important for athletes aged 8–19
- Training Wheels — bicycles with training wheels will be permitted for the 4–5 and 6–7 age groups only.
- Pedals — shoes and pedals that clip together are not recommended for the 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, and 10–11 age groups, and will only be permitted for these age groups, if the shoe sole touches the ground before the cleat when walking, and the cleat is an SPD-style.
- Swim aids — PFDs, wetsuits and other flotation devices will be permitted at all times on the swim for the 4–5 and 6–7 age groups only.
Athletes will be provided in their race kits with:
- Number stickers — 3 stickers for the front and both sides of the helmet, and 1 sticker for the seat post of the bicycle.
- a Swim cap — the Lakefield Triathlon swim cap must be worn at all times while in, on or near the water. A second swim cap may be worn beneath the official Lakefield Triathlon swim cap.
- a Race number — the number must be worn throughout the bike and run portions of the triathlon by athletes in the 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, 10–11 and 12–13 age groups. The race number may be worn on a race belt or attached to clothing.
Pre-race
Athletes must complete a three part check-in process before they race. Check-in will be available at the Athlete Services tent after 7am on Sunday 25 June 2023:
- Race kit pick-up — race kits must be picked up in person by the registered athlete.
- Body marking — athletes will have their race number written on their arms and their age group written on their leg. Body marking must remain visible throughout the race.
- Bike & helmet inspection — all bicycles and helmets must be inspected before they enter the transition area and must already be marked with the athlete’s stickers.
Once check-in is complete, athletes will need also to attend to complete the following:
- Transition set-up — Non-competitors are not permitted in the transition area for the 12–13, 14–15, and 16–19 age group setup, and must be accompanied in transition by an athlete in all other cases. Transition will be open:
- 7–8h for athletes 16–19 to setup
- ~9:20–9:45 for athletes 14–15 to setup and athletes 16–19 to tear down
- ~10:40–11:10 for athletes 12–13 to setup and athletes 14–15 to tear down
- ~11:55–12:25 for athletes 10–11 to setup and athletes 12–13 to tear down
- ~13–13:30 for athletes 8–9 to setup and athletes 10–11 to tear down
- ~14:20–15h for athletes 4–7 to setup and athletes 8–9 to tear down
- Warm-up & course preview — athletes are welcome to use the paths, fields, running track and roadways of Lakefield College School, but swimming will be limited to a designated warm-up area and only while under the supervision of an official Lakefield Triathlon lifeguard. The bike course will only be partially closed before the first race begins, and so its use is at your own risk. Once racing has begun, all race courses are closed and no longer available for warm-up or preview, except briefly between age groups.
- Timing Chip pickup — all athletes must pick up their assigned timing chip at the waterfront, and wear it throughout the race. Athletes who loose their timing chips will be charged an additional $100 fee.
- Pre-race briefing — all athletes must be at the waterfront for a pre-race briefing and ready to race 10 minutes before their start time.
There will be a mandatory athlete’s meeting at the Lakefield College School waterfront at 6pm on Saturday 24 June 2023 for all athletes competing in the Enduro events (all athletes aged 12–13, 14–15 and 16–19). Race kits may also be picked up by athletes at this time.
Program
Athletes are required to know and follow their course including counting their own laps.
All details of the race are subject to change including start times and formats, as dictated by the conditions, rules, and race officials.
Wave | Time | Format | Swim | Bike | Run |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16–19 Boys | 8:00 | Triple Enduro | 300m | 4 laps = 4km draft legal | 2 laps = 1600m |
16–19 Girls | 8:05 | Triple Enduro | 300m | 4 laps = 4km draft legal | 2 laps = 1600m |
14–15 Boys | 9:45 | Double Enduro | 300m | 4 laps = 4km draft legal | 2 laps = 1600m |
14–15 Girls | 9:50 | Double Enduro | 300m | 4 laps = 4km draft legal | 2 laps = 1600m |
12–13 Boys | 11:10 | Double Enduro | 200m | 4 laps = 4km | 1 lap = 800m |
12–13 Girls | 11:15 | Double Enduro | 200m | 4 laps = 4km | 1 lap = 800m |
10–11 Boys | 12:25 | Swim-Bike-Run | 200m | 4 laps = 4km | 2 laps = 1600m |
10–11 Girls | 12:30 | Swim-Bike-Run | 200m | 4 laps = 4km | 2 laps = 1600m |
8–9 Boys | 13:30 | Swim-Bike-Run | 100m | 4 laps = 4km | 1 lap = 800m |
8–9 Girls | 13:40 | Swim-Bike-Run | 100m | 4 laps = 4km | 1 lap = 800m |
6–7 Coed | 15:00 | Swim-Bike-Run | 50m | 2 laps = 1km | 1 lap = 400m |
4–5 Coed | 15:15 | Swim-Bike-Run | 25m | 1 lap = 500m | 1 lap = 200m |
Formats
- Triple Enduro — Junior athletes will complete 3 back-to-back triathlons with no break for a total of 8 transitions, 900m swimming, 12km biking and 4.8km running. This amounts to a swim-bike-run + swim-bike-run + swim-bike-run race format.
- Double Enduro — Youth athletes will complete 2 back-to-back triathlons with no break for a total of 5 transitions in a swim-bike-run + swim-bike-run race format. For athletes 14–15, this will total 600m swimming, 8km biking and 3.2km running; while athletes 12–13 will complete 400m swimming, 8km biking and 1.6km running in their two enduro rounds.
- Standard Single — All other athletes will complete the traditional swim-bike-run triathlon format with 2 transitions.
Courses
- Swim — an out-and-back open water swim in Lake Katchewanoka with a beach start and exit (athletes 4–5 and 6–7 have an uphill run to their transition area).
- Bike — a 1km technical, paved loop with one big climb and an uphill run with the bike to the mount line (for athletes 4–5 and 6–7 the loop is 500m, less technical and largely flat).
- Run — an 800m grassy loop with some pavement and one big climb (for athletes 4–5 and 6–7 the loops is 200m or 400m and largely flat).
All race courses never leave the campus of Lakefield College School.
Post-race
Transition will open after the last athlete from each age group begins their run, and closes again once the next race begins. As our transition areas are small and reused for multiple age groups, athletes are required to promptly remove their gear from transition immediately following completion of their race. Athletes must show their race numbers to remove equipment from transition, and all non-competitors must be accompanied by an athlete in transition.
There will be an awards ceremony approximately 10 minutes following the completion of each age category.
Competition Rules
In the interest of a fair and safe competition, where everyone has the opportunity to finish the race, the Lakefield Triathlon will be governed by the ITU Competition Rules with adjustments for some age groups based on the unique requirements of a Kids of Steel event.
Some of these rules are summarized below, for quick reference:
- Outside Assistance — athletes are not allowed any assistance except from race volunteers. Assistance includes having someone:
- run or ride along with or beside a competitor;
- pass to or take anything from a competitor;
- indicate or demonstrate where to go, including where to find their transition space; and,
- fix or adjust equipment, including flat tires or bicycle chains.
- Sportsmanship — Unsportsmanlike, unfair, abusive or harassing behaviour by an athlete, their parents or other members of their support crew can result in the immediate disqualification of the athlete.
- Non-Draft Legal races — athletes in the 4–5, 6–7, 8–9, 10–11, and 12–13 age groups may not draft behind any vehicles or other athletes during the bike ride. For Kids of Steel races, riders must remain 3 bike lengths behind other riders unless they are passing.
- Draft Legal races — athletes in the 14–15 and 16–19 age groups may only draft other cyclists, and only cyclists from their same gender and age start group that are on the same lap.
- Transition — athletes must re-rack their bikes in their original position, may not ride in transition, and may not interfere with or move other athlete’s equipment.
- Helmets — chinstraps must be fastened before an athlete removes their bike from the rack and must remain fastened until after the bike is re-racked.
- Forward Progress — during the swim athletes may rest but may not make forward progress while holding on to any aids and may only push off the bottom at the beginning and end of the swim; during the bike athletes may not make forward progress unless they are in possession of their bike; and, during the run athletes may not make forward progress unless they are on their feet.
- Blocking — athletes must not block or impede the progress of another athlete.
- Electronic Equipment — cameras, headphones, speakers, hand-held electronic equipment and all electronic equipment that could be distracting to the athlete or other competitors are not permitted while swimming, biking, running or competing on the race course at any time.
For more details, please read about the venue and the specifics of the swim, bike and run.