Registration for TOUGHKids Championship race is open >

TOUGHKids Championship Series

The series consists of three tri-state area youth triathlons: New Jersey in June, Connecticut in July and New York in August. In addition, we have a series race in Indiana in July, making this a 5 race series. Then the series Championship race takes place at the TOUGHKids Triathlon in Croton, NY in September. At the Championship race, there will be a "Champions Wave" - an elite wave that leads each age-group pack by 3 minutes. This wave is by invitation only. The Championship race has open registration for the first 300 kids. Open registration means that your child will go off in the larger age group wave (not part of the "Champions Wave"). You therefore do not have to participate in the Championship series to race the TOUGHKids Triathlon - you can register directly as long as slots are still available. Once 300 slots have filled, the only way to race TOUGHKids is by qualifying in the top 3 of your age at one of the races in the series (e.g. if you are 11 years old you must be a top 3 finisher of all the 11 year olds in that race).

Fees

The 2012 race will open for registration in January. Each series race sets their own fee schedule. The fees reflected here are only for the Championship Race in September.

Individual $35
Relay $55
Prices increase by $10 on August 1st, and another $10 for race day registration.

Entry fee includes

• athlete entry
• race T-shirt
• race day parking
• post-race refreshments
• swim cap
• finishers medal
• goody bag
• timing chip rental with splits

Age Requirements

You must be at least 4 years old and under 15 years old to participate in this race. Children's ages will be determined based on their age on race day December
31, 2012 so they may be in an older age group than the age they are on
race day.

Packet Pick-Up

Pre-race pick up will be held at Paragon Sports (NYC) on Wednesday September 5th or on race day beginning at 8am. Athlete check-in and chip distribution will take place on Saturday, September 8th from 8:00-9:30 AM, at the race site. A parent or guardian must sign the USAT waiver at pick up and you must bring your child's USAT Youth Card.

After collecting your packet, children will receive their timing chip and have their body marked. Once their bike number is attached to their bike, they may bring it into the transition area and set up their gear. No-one will be allowed to remain in transition once the race has begun (except for relay members or parents of 4, 5 and 6 years olds racing).

Start Times

Transition opens at 8 AM on Saturday morning. The order of age group races is as follows: 4-6, and 7-10, 11-14. The "4-6" TOUGHKids race begins at 10 AM. At the completion of the first race, the "7-10" age group will commence. Finally, at the completion of the older children's race, the "11-14" TOUGHKids race will begin. Each of the three age group waves will have a "Champions Wave" which will start 3 minutes prior to the main wave.

The ceremony for all awards will begin at approximately 12 noon.

Rules

The race is a USAT sanctioned race so USAT rules are in effect. Your child must wear an ANSI-approved helmet during the bike portion of the event.

Insurance

Your child must be a member of USA Triathlon to compete in the race, including each relay member. If your child does not have an annual membership card, please visit the USA Triathlon site to obtain one for $15 (and then print it out to enter their number during registration). You also have the option of buying a one-day license for $12 during registration.

Refund Policy

There are no refunds. Please contact us prior to September 1st with issues of registered kids that cannot complete

Awards

Awards will be presented to:
• Top 3 Overall Boys 4-6
• Top 3 Overall Girls 4-6
• Top 3 Overall Boys 7-10
• Top 3 Overall Girls 7-10
• Top 3 Overall Boys 11-14
• Top 3 Overall Girls 11-14
• Top 3 Relay Teams (one per age group)
• All-Star TOUGHKid (completing in 3 races in series + Championship race)

Champions Wave

To qualify for a slot in the Champions Wave, you would need to either:
1) Finish in the top 3 boys/top 3 girls for your specific age at any ONE of the 2012 series' races
2) Be the 1st place girl or boy for your specific age at last year's TOUGHKids race (does not apply to kids moving up an age group this year)
The Champions Wave will consist of up to 80 slots for each age group made up from: 36 boys, 36 girls (from the 3 race series) plus 4 boys, 4 girls (from last year's TOUGHKids winners).
3) Become an All-Star by racing in 3 of the 4 series races

This wave will start 3 minutes ahead of the main pack, to give them the racing advantage of smooth waters, empty transition area and a clear bike and run course. The final racing times are weighted so that there is no timing advantage to starting earlier. In essence, an athlete from the main wave can still win a podium place if they have a top 3 finishing time in the age group. The Champions Wave is not open to relay teams.

Qualifier Slots

Upon completion of one of the four qualifying summer races, you will be notified by email that you have earned a slot to the elite wave at the TOUGHKids Championship Race in September if you finished in a top 3 position in your specific age. Invitations will be sent approximately 2 weeks after each race. You will be given a registration code to allow you
to register in the event that the TOUGHKids race has sold out. If you have already registered for the Championship race and later receive a Champions Wave invite – please inform us immediately so that we can place you in the elite wave on our system.

There are no discounts provided and you are expected to have a valid USAT Youth Membership card to participate. You will be placed in the "Champions Wave" and receive a different cap color than the rest of your age group. There is no obligation to use this qualifying slot, but note that the registration code is non-transferable. Invitations are the same for each event: 66 per event.
The slots will be divided per age group:
9 Boys / 9 Girls age 4-6
12 Boys / 12 Girls age 7-10
12 Boys / 12 Girls age 11-14.

Qualified Slots – Prior TOUGHKids Winners

You will be notified by email by January 1st that you have earned a slot to the TOUGHKids Championship Race in September if you finished in the top position in your specific age at last year's TOUGHKids race. You will be given a registration code to allow you to register in the event that the TOUGHKids race has sold out. There are no discounts provided and you are expected to have a valid USAT Youth Membership card to participate. You will be placed in the "Champions Wave" and receive a different cap color than the rest of your age group. You may also receive additional goodies in your swag bag. There is no obligation to use this qualifying slot, but note that the registration code is non-transferable. Invitations are based on:
22 Slots from TOUGHKids Triathlon 2011 (one for each age 4 years old to 14 years old)

ALL Star TOUGH Kids

There's one way you can receive an automatic qualifying spot to the Championship Race... Compete in three of the four series races! We have created a unique award category and special prizes to kids competing in four TOUGHKids 2012 races. So regardless of what place you finish in any of the races, you will still be placed in the Champions Wave and brought up on stage at the Championship Race in Croton, and will be recognized as an All-Star Tough Kid!

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