Race Information for Participants

Elite Race Briefing

22 October 2010 (Friday)

1430 Race pack distribution at Sunset Terrace, Disney's Hollywood Hotel.
1530 Gather at entrance of Disney's Hollywood Hotel for Elite Race Briefing
1630 Open water swim practice (optional. please bring along your swim gear should you wish swimming at the sea area)

for all race courses except Elite Olympic & Sprint

Preparation - prior to race day

• Course familiarization is strongly recommended. The race courses will be well sign-posted. Nevertheless, it is each athlete's responsibility to take their correct route. It is not the job of race officials to direct athletes. This would not be feasible given the number of different waves and courses, which involve different numbers of laps. There will be no race briefing. All race route information will be made available in your race pack and on the event web site.
• Rules familiarization is strongly recommended. A checklist of race rules and the penalties to be applied for rules violation will be available on the event web site, but is not included in the race pack. Some, but not all rules, are mentioned in this Race Information.
• Ensure that your bicycle is roadworthy. You are responsible for its roadworthiness. Folding bikes are not allowed for safety reasons.

Preparation - on race day

• Upon arrival at the Race Venue on race day, please proceed directly to the Transition Area. Officials will be checking that your bike and helmet are numbered, prior to allowing you into the Transition Area. They will also stop you from entering the Transition Area with a folding bike.
• Parents and supporters are not allowed to enter the transition area. Otherwise, participants will be disqualified.
• An adult may accompany an Ultrakids participant into the Transition Area for set up and body marking, but not during the race. Otherwise, only athletes and officials are allowed into the Transition Area.
• Remember to bring your timing chip and race number bib - two bibs for relay teams - with you on race day. They will be included in your race pack. If you have forgotten either of these items, you must get a replacement from the Lost Chip desk at the exit of the Transition Area. If you race without a timing chip or race number bib, you will be disqualified.
• Drinks and other refreshments will not be available to athletes during transition set up. You should arrive with sufficient drinks and other nourishment to meet your needs until the run leg of the race.
• You may proceed to the Body Marking booth for body marking of your race number at any time after you have racked your bike and attached your timing chip. Instructions on how to attach the timing chip are included in the race pack. Please do not apply sun block prior to body marking. You must bring your race number bib with you when you come to body marking to avoid any mistakes being made by the marking officials, who will also check that you timing chip is attached correctly.
• Only those things that you require during the race should be left in your Transition Area location. Transition Area officials will keep an eye on them, although they are left at your own risk.
• All other personal possessions should be put into a bag and handed, after labeling with your race number, into the Baggage Collection booth, next to the Body Marking booth, where they will be stored again at your own risk. You are advised not to bring valuables with you.
• You will be required to leave the Transition Area, no later than 20 minutes prior to the start of your wave. Please allow sufficient time to make your way to the Swim Start.
• Olympic and Sprint athletes may wear shoes and other clothes down to the Swim Start if you wish, although there is no need to do so. A deposit desk for these items will be available in the Swim Start holding area. These items will be bagged and labeled with your race number on deposit for passing to the Baggage Collection booth, where they may be collected after the race.

Swim Leg

• The Olympic and Sprint course will start from the Ferry Pier. The Ultrakids and Youth/Fun courses will start close to the Swim Exit Ramp.
• Athletes due to start their race in the next swim wave will be called into a holding area, 20 minutes prior to their Swim Start time. After entering the holding area, you will not be allowed out, except to warm up or start your race.
• Warm up will be allowed for the Olympic and Sprint courses only. You will be required to come back behind the Swim Start line 5 minutes before your wave is due to start. A horn will be sounded repeatedly to notify you of this.
• There will be a deep water start for all courses.
• Please refer to the swim course maps for the layout of the buoys you need to navigate. For the Olympic and Sprint courses, which run in a clockwise direction, all buoys should be kept on your right-hand side, except the final buoy by the Swim Exit Ramp that should be kept on your left-hand side. For the Ultrakids and Youth/Fun courses, which run in an anti-clockwise direction, all buoys should be kept on your left-hand side. Athletes not keeping to the correct side of a buoy will be penalized.
• The primary role of the kayakers is to ensure your safety during the swim leg of the race. If you get into difficulties whilst in the water, raise your hand and a kayaker will come to your assistance.
• A secondary role of the kayakers is to ensure that you do not cut the course short.
• Although you are responsible for your direction around the swim course, the kayakers will redirect you if you are going significantly in the wrong direction.
• The Youth/Fun course comprises 2 laps. All other courses are 1 lap only.
• Athletes must wear the official swim cap during the race. Offenders will be disqualified.
• Swim suits covering any part of your arms or below your knees are not allowed. Nor are swim skins, speed suits or wet suits. Offenders will be disqualified. The water temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees Celsius. The legality of your swim suit will be checked by officials as you enter the holding area.
• The edge of the landing step of the Swim Exit Ramp will be indicated with small marker buoys. Please take care when passing between these buoys and when running on the Swim Exit Ramp, which could be slippery, to avoid injury.
• Your swim time will be taken as you leave the Swim Exit Ramp.
• For relay teams, the handover will be done by transferring the timing chip from the swimmer to the cyclist. Cyclists should wait for their swimmer by their bike in the Transition Area.
• If you lose your timing chip during the swim leg you must go to the Lost Chip booth, at the entrance to the Transition Area, to get a replacement. If you finish the race without a timing chip, you will be disqualified.
• If you start in the wrong wave, your times will be recorded from your actual start time, but you will be disqualified.
• Waves will be started promptly. If you are not behind the start line as start time you will be penalized.

Bike Leg

The Ultrakids and Youth/Fun courses share the same route, but differ in the number of laps to be completed, there being two laps for the Youth/Fun course and just one for the Ultrakids course. The lap section comprises the section of Magic Road between Sea Point Road and the Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre and the loop around the lake itself. Youth/Fun athletes should turn for their second lap at the junction between Magic Road and Sea Point Road and not head back to the Transition Area until two such laps have been completed. This is best illustrated by referring to the Ultrakids & Youth/Fun Bike Course map.

The Olympic and Sprint courses share the same route, but differ in the number of laps to be completed, there being three for Olympic and just one for Sprint. The lap section comprises Sunny Bay Road and Cheung Tung Road. Olympic athletes should turn for their second and third laps in Sunny Bay and not head back to the Transition Area until three such laps have been completed. This is best illustrated by referring to Age Group Olympic & Sprint Bike Course map.

• A yellow flag zone will be in operation at the Sunny Bay Road turning point, as it is a very congested area. The reason for this is your own personal safety. The beginning and end of the zone will be signposted and also indicated by officials waving yellow flags. Athletes are not allowed to overtake in this zone. Offenders will be penalized.
• Your race number must be visible on your lower back throughout the bike ride. Athletes leaving transition without a race number will be stopped and told to go back and get it. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• The bike course will be closed to all vehicles, except for emergency vehicles and race officials on motor cycles.
• Your helmet chinstrap must be fastened from before taking your bike off the rack until after you have put it back on the bike rack. Offenders will be penalized.
• Keep to the left side of the road except when overtaking, to avoid blocking other cyclists, emergency vehicles or race officials. Penalties may be applied in you fail to do so.
• Do not cross the white line in the centre of the road. Offenders may be disqualified for dangerous riding.
• There will be no drink stations on the bike courses. You should carry sufficient fluids to meet your own hydration needs.
• Headphones are not permitted. You will be stopped by officials on exiting transition if you are wearing them and asked to return them to your transition location. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• For relays, the handover will be done by transferring the timing chip from the cyclist to the runner. Runners should wait for their swimmer by their bike in the Transition Area.
• Drafting is allowed, but at your own risk. Please take care and only draft if you have the skills to do so safely.

Run Leg

The Olympic, Sprint and Youth/Fun courses share the same route, but differ in the number of laps to be completed, there being four laps for Olympic, two for Sprint and just one for Youth/Fun. The lap section starts and ends at the Run Start, except that on the last lap athletes turn into the Finish Line instead of going back on to Waterfront Promenade after running up and down the edge of the Third Hotel Site. This is best illustrated by referring to Olympic & Sprint Run Course map and the Youth/Fun Run Course map.

The Ultrakids course has the same Run Start point as the other courses, but then turns right into and up and down the edge of the Third Hotel Site before turning into the Finish Line. This is best illustrated by referring to Ultrakids Run Course map.

• Your race number must be visible on your front throughout the run. Athletes leaving transition without a race number will be stopped and told to go back and get it. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• You are not permitted to run with a bare torso or bare feet. Athletes leaving transition without a running top or shoes will be stopped and told to go back and get one. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Athletes may also be penalized for having an open run top that exposes a bare torso.
• Headphones are not permitted. You will be stopped by officials on exiting transition if you are wearing them and asked to return them to your transition location. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• Although there is only one aid station on the Run Course, you will pass it frequently, so you will never have to run much more than approximately 1km without passing it again. Water will be provided for all distances, and sports drinks will be provided for Olympic and Sprint Distance.

Finish Line

• As you cross the finish line, you will receive your finisher's medal. If you are a relay runner, please ensure that you receive three medals.
• Drinks and other refreshments will be available in the Athletes Recovery Area. Please be sure to re-hydrate thoroughly.
• First Aid will also be available in the Athletes Recovery Area, should you require it.
• Trophy winners will be announced and posted on site as soon as possible in readiness for awards presentation. Full results will be posted to the event web site by the end of the day.
• Belongings may be collected from the Baggage Collection booth at any time on production of your race number bib. Belongings may only be collected from the Transition Area, on production of your race number bib, after all athletes on your course have completed the bike course.

• Please return your timing chip at the Champion Chips booth and collect your $100 deposit.
• If you fail returning the timing chip on the race day, please return it to the Tri HK Secretariat on or before 1 November 2010, or else your deposit will be forefeited.

- Bird's Eye View of Event Centre