The course will be clearly marked using a mixture of signs and arrows as well as bright tape tied to trees to reassure you that you are going the right way. The blue arrows are for the bike courses only. The red arrows are for all run courses. Please watch for course marshals to point you in the right direction.
All races will fall under the USA Triathlon Rules for Multisport Competition which can be found here: https://www.usatriathlon.org/multisport/rules
General Rules
Do Not Litter the Course: XTERRA prides itself on leaving the trails better than we found them. Do your part and “leave no trace.” Take your trash with you or leave it at an aid station. Penalties may be enforced for athletes found in violation.
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.
A USA Triathlon race official will be present at the XTERRA North American Championship. Protests of any nature must be submitted in accordance with the USA Triathlon Multisport Competition Rules.
No headphones of any kind are permitted while competing.
Swim
Listen for race announcements on race morning for updated wetsuit ruling. Athletes must wear swim caps provided at body marking. If you decide not to continue during or after the swim you MUST IMMEDIATELY REPORT to the transition manager that you did not finish.
There will be a separate, non-competitive wave for any athletes who wish to wear non-allowed equipment (snorkel, wetsuit if outside of temperature range, deployed buoy, etc.). You must talk to the race director at the Athlete Briefing in order to have equipment approved and be assigned to this wave.
Transition
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 time penalty.
ATHLETES OR REPRESENTATIVE MUST RETURN TIMING CHIP AND SHOW RACE NUMBER AT TRANSITION TO PICK UP BIKES AND GEAR AFTER RACE.
Bike
The only permitted bicycles are mountain bikes. Cyclo-cross bikes and bicycles with drop handlebars are prohibited.
Run
Competitors must display their run number on the FRONT of their body.
If you start the race and need to withdraw before reaching the finish line, please do not just get in your car and go home. Let a race official or volunteer know your bib number and return your timing chip to the finish line. Fines will be issued for any triathlon chip that is not returned.
The water temperature is typically right on the border of wetsuits being allowed or not. We will have a general idea of water temperature at the Athlete Briefing, and an official announcement will be made on race morning. Historically, at the XTERRA North American Championship, wetsuits have not been mandatory, but we recommend that everyone brings one just in case. For full USAT swim regulations, including rules about cancelling a swim for safety reasons, please visit https://www.usatriathlon.org/multisport/rules.
Rain or Shine
XTERRA North American Championship will be held rain or shine and will only be postponed in extreme circumstances. If weather conditions may potentially cause any amendments to the format and distance of the event or the postponement or cancellation of the event, race organizers will communicate in the days prior to the event via email, and on the website to race participants. If a decision is to be made on the day of the event, announcements will be made at the Race Village. Please note the event will be staged unless extreme weather conditions occur on the day of or leading up to the event. i.e. not just a bit of rain.
To ensure the safest event for the participants and all involved, we reserve the right to cancel, delay, or modify the format of the event at anytime. We will be following the guidance of USAT officials when making decisions.
The XTERRA North American Championship is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event. Please view the link below to review all rules and regulations.
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