Ottawa Kids Tri General Race Information
Distances
The Ottawa Kids tri and du events are usually the following distances for each age group:
Triathlon
Duathlon
Age
The age of the child at the end of the current year determines his/her age group.
Ottawa Kids 5 & Under Fun Du (Run-Bike-Run)
The Ottawa Kids 5 & U Fun Du is a fun event for kids 5 years or younger at the end of the current year.
Our Fun Du events are approximately 150m run, 200m bike, 150m run. Kids can use a bicycle, with or without training wheels, or a tricycle. They must wear a bike helmet during both the run and the bike portions. Parent or Guardian may run alongside but watch out for the others kids. You may help your child to get on and off of the bike. There is no timing, no top finisher awards in our FunDu race. It is a fun event for the little kids. You can enter children in the FunDu by completing the On Line Entry Form on this website or by registering at the pre-race Check-In.
Entry Fee
FunDu: $15 per child
Age Group Tri and Du
$36 Per Child if not an OAT Member
$30 Per Child if an OAT Member
There is a $5 per child late entry fee if you enter after midnight the Sunday before one of our races. We make a special exception for the FunDu kids who can register right up to 8AM on the race day for $15, no late fee.
OAT Fee
OAT members have paid for their race day insurance coverage as part of their membership fee. The Non OAT Member Entry Fee includes the $6 for one day membership in OAT as part of the insurance cover it provides to us. If your child or children are planning to enter 3 or more OAT sanctioned KOS races this season, you might consider joining OAT. There are other benefits from joining OAT at www.triathlonontario.com
Members of other provincial triathlon organizations or USAT must pay the $6 one day OAT fee to race in Ontario.
On Line Entry
Complete the entry form on this web site carefully. If you have any concerns, questions or problems with entering on line, please contact us. The On Line Entry service provider will charge a nominal fee for this service.
Our partner organizers will have their own On Line Entry process. Please check our events page for links to their websites to enter on line, mail in or drop off entries. Mail in and drop off entry information for one of our events is provided on our events page
Entry Deadline
All entries MUST be received by 2PM, EDT the Thursday before the event, including mail in entries and drop off entries. Our On Line Entry will close at that time.
Maximum Entry
Ottawa Kids Tri has a maximum entry for each race. Check the events page to see maximum for each event. The maximum is determined by such factors as site parking capacity, pool or site rental time and time for road closures allowed in our permits. We will not take On Line or other entries received after the maximum has been reached so plan to enter early.
Entry Refund
We will consider special circumstances for a refund such as injury if advised at least 7 days before the event.
Event Cancellation
There are no refunds if the event is cancelled or shortened due to unsafe conditions, such as bad weather or water quality. If we are experiencing thunder, lightning or high winds or there is an imminent threat we will cancel, alter or postpone the start of the event. The final decision to postpone or cancel an Ottawa Kids Tri event is the responsibility of the event Race Director who may consult with OAT officials, City officials and the President of Ottawa Kids Tri before making his/her decision.
Last Minute Announcements
OKT will e-mail participants and post on our web site any last minute announcements about our race at least 24 hours before the event.
T-Shirt
Supply of souvenir t-shirts is very dependent upon support from our cash and value in kind sponsors. We had to make a tough decision this year - given our current sponsorship levels, in order to supply t-shirts, we would have had to increase race fees. We have decided that we will not supply t-shirts this year, unless we are able to obtain additional sponsor support. All participants will receive a medal though.
Awards and Participation Souvenir
All
participants will receive a participation medal.
As in past years it is our intent to provide top 3 finisher awards for male and for female participants in each age group tri and du provided our budget permits the purchase of such awards.
Swim Caps
Swim Caps are required for all kids participating in our open water triathlons and in our swim pools where it is the policy of the pool to require swim caps. Swim caps were previously supplied to us by OAT as part of its sanctioning and one day fees but will not be supplied this year. If we cannot find a sponsor for this expense, participants will be advised by e-mail if it is necessary to supply their own swim caps.
Athletes With A Disability
Children with a disability are welcome to participate in our races. Parents or our volunteers can provide necessary support to young athletes with a disability. Please discuss this with the Race Director at least a day before the event. We will do everything possible to adjust and fit your child�s needs. Please contact us before the race if you have any questions and please let us know at least 5 days before the race if you have any special needs.
Timing Chips
For our race events it is our intent to use electronic timing to record results. This is usually done by the participant wearing a timing chip around the ankle. The time is electronically monitored each time your child steps on the timing mats near the entrance and exits to the transition zone and at the finish line. The mats are activated at the start of the first age group race.
Therefore, if your child is in a later age group they must not step on the timing mat before their event if he/she is wearing a timing chip. Please remind your kids to step on these mats only during their race to ensure their time is correctly recorded.
The Velcro timing chips will be handed out to each child by a volunteer before they start their race and will be removed by a volunteer at the Finish Line. NOTE: Parents and guardians will be responsible for the cost of replacing lost computer chips.
Event Results
Results will be posted approximately 30 minutes after the age group KOS is completed following review and approval of the results by the Race Director.Any questions, concerns or complaints must be given to only the Race Director within 15 minutes of the posting of the results and prior to any awards.
Race results can be found at www.sportstats.ca . The latest race results are usually posted on their web site by the Monday following the race.
Transition Zone Restrictions
An adult may accompany his child into the Transition Zone before the Pre Race Meeting to help set up the bike and gear. All parents and other spectators must clear the T-Zone prior to the race starting.
A parent may remove equipment after the awards are handed out for the age group but only at certain times as determined by the Transition Coordinator. Entrance and exit will be only through a designated gate to ensure there is no chance of interfering with other age groups who may be entering or exiting the area during their race.
After the bike portion of the event is completed, athletes must rack their bike in the area designated for their age group. Each athlete should rack their bike on alternative sides and utilize a minimum amount of space for their race gear. The Transition Zone Coordinator or the OAT official may ask the athlete to remove non essential equipment if excess space is being taken up by unnecessary race gear.
Water Aid Stations
A water station may be located near the T-Zone exit for the run and additional water stations may the located on the run route. We do not supply water on the bike course but experienced bike riders may have a proper water bottle rack on their bike and take water while riding if it is safe to do so. Practice before the race for taking water while riding a bike is recommended.
First Aid
A first aid station is normally located near the Transition Zone and PA Announcer. In the event of an accident requiring first aid the child and his/her parent should report to first aid. Volunteers on the bike and run course will communicate to first aid volunteers in the event assistance is required out on the course. The swim, whether open water or in a pool, is monitored by one or more lifeguards and volunteers.
Pre-race Meeting
The Pre-race meeting is 15 minutes before the first age group starts their race. The Race Director and the OAT official will go over some of the more important KOS rules and stress any special points or rules to be aware during the race. The Race Director will also go over the race routes, any last minute changes to the routes or racer schedule and answer any questions.
Bike Mechanical Safety
Parents and guardians are responsible for the mechanical safety of their child's bike. Ottawa Kids Triathlon does not check bikes for mechanical condition prior to our event.
We encourage you to have your child's bike checked by a qualified bike mechanic before race day. OKT will not have a bike mechanic on race day.
Some Bike Mechanical Safety Tips
Make sure tires have adequate pressure as kids like to have mountain bike tires soft but this will not help during a race.
The chain should be lubricated, clean and not too loose.
You should test that the brake quick release works and make sure that wheels are centered in frame and the wheels are secure and the quick release firmly closed.
Also check to see that the brakes are centered on wheels and the brake shoes are properly positioned in relation to rims.
Take time to test brake cable tightness by squeezing the brake levers to see that after initial contact they have enough travel left without bottoming out on handlebars.
Bouncing the bike and listening for rattles may help you identify parts that need tightening.
Make sure any saddle bags, water bottles, etc are secure with no loose straps to catch in wheels.
Holding the front wheel between your knees and trying to twist the handlebars and stem with one hand will test the tightness of the handlebars; if it moves easily tighten the stem binder bolt a moderate amount.
Spinning the wheels will check for any rubbing on the frame. Also, check the pedals to make sure they are tight and clean.
Bike Helmet
Make sure the bike helmet is an approved helmet in good condition with no cracks or worn chin straps. Helmets straps should be snug when worn, no more than two fingers of slack under the chin.
