2025 Race Briefing

Welcome to the pre-race briefing for the 2025 Victoria Youth Triathlon. The race takes place this Sunday, June 1st, at the Panorama Recreation Centre in North Saanich.

Race package pick up is on Saturday at the Trek Store, 332 Catherine Street in Victoria from 2 to 5 pm. There is a mandatory bike safety and helmet check during RPP. Stickers will be affixed to bikes and helmets that have passed inspection. Athletes will need to match race numbers to the bike stickers to remove their bike from transition following the race on Sunday. There will be limited package pick up available from 6 to 6:30 am on race morning for out of town athletes who are not able to pick up packages on Saturday.

Parking for the event on Sunday is available along the perimeter of the south parking lot at Panorama Rec, accessed off East Saanich Road. These spots are available on a first come, first served basis with access until 6:30 am on race morning. Vehicles parked in the Panorama lot will not be able to move until after the last cyclist is off the bike course. There are approximately 70 spots available at this location. There is additional event parking at Kelset Elementary on Forest Park Drive and street parking on Forest Park Drive immediately adjacent to the Rec Centre. Please do not park on residential streets surrounding the Rec Centre or in the Rec Centre north lot accessed off Forest Park Drive.

Transition is located on the north side of the Rec Centre adjacent to the pool exit. Transition opens at 6:00 am on Sunday morning. Racks are assigned first come, first served by age group. Bikes should be racked eight to a rack, alternating side to side, hanging from the nose of the saddle. Bikes that are too small to hang from the racks may be placed on the ground under the appropriate rack. Each athlete should place their cycling and or running gear to the non-drive side of their bike. All gear must be stored so that it does not extend beyond the front wheel of the racked bike. There will be marshals and officials in transition during set up to assist athletes. Only athletes are allowed in transition with the exception of one adult to assist athletes in the 6-7 and 8-9 age groups. Only registered athletes are allowed in transition after 6:45 am. Transition closes for set up at 6:45.

After placing their bike and gear in transition athletes should proceed to the north entrance of the pool for timing chip assignment. Timing chips may be secured to either ankle. Once you have your timing chip do not return to transition or cross any timing points. Athletes will cue outside the pool until their age group is called into the pool by marshals. The swim starts with Super Series athletes at 7:00. Each Super Series athlete is assigned a lane and position for the swim and will complete 12 lengths of the pool, staying to the same lane and staying on the right side of their lane.

The age group swim swill start at approximately 7:30, starting from the oldest age group and finishing with the youngest. Each age group swimmer will be started by the starter at 5 second intervals. Each age group will be directed to start in the appropriate lane for their age group with each swimmer doing one lap in each lane, staying left, and passing under the lane rope at the end of each lap so that they complete the correct swim distance in the last lane adjacent to the pool exit.

After completing the swim each athlete will proceed to the transition area and collect their bike and cycling gear. Your helmet must to secure on your head before you touch your bike. Each bike lap is 1.5K and each athlete will complete the correct number of laps for their age group according the chart below. Once you complete the correct number of laps you will return to transition and rack your bike in the same manner that it was previously racked. Do not undo your helmet until your bike is racked.

The run course is a 1K out and back loop on the gravel trail on the west side of the parking lot.. Each athlete will complete the correct number of run laps according to the chart below. 6-7 year olds will do half a lap, escorted by a course marshal. There are bollards at each end of the run course that athletes will turn around. On completing their last lap athletes will bear right into the finish shoot and cross the finish line. Do not cross the finish line until your last lap as doing so may result in disqualification.

Distances by age group:

6-7 – 50m swim, 1.5K bike, 500m run (1 lap swim, 1 lap bike, half lap run)
8-9 – 100m swim, 3K bike, 1K run (2 lap swim, 2 lap bike, 1 lap run)
10-11 – 150m swim, 4.5K bike, 1K run (3 lap swim, 3 lap bike, 1 lap run)
12-13 – 200m swim, 6K bike, 2K run (4 lap swim, 4 lap bike, 2 lap run
14-17 – 300m swim, 7.5K bike, 3K run (6 lap swim, 5 lap bike, 3 lap run)
Junior relay – 150m swim, 4.5K bike, 1K run (3 lap swim, 3 lap bike, 1 lap run)
Senior relay – 300m swim, 7.5K bike, 3K run (6 lap swim, 5 lap bike, 3 lap run)

Super Series – 300m swim, 9K bike. 3K run (6 lap swim, 6 lap bike, 3 lap run)

Relay team members will exchange in transition next to their bike. The swimmer will start with the timing chip, passing it to the cyclist after the swim. The chip must be secure to the cyclist’s ankle before their bike is unracked. Once the cyclist has complete the bike they will rack their bike before passing the chip to the runner who will secure the chip to their ankle before leaving transition.

Awards will be at 10:00 am, or shortly after the last finisher, adjacent to the finish line. Winners must be present to collect their award.

Romeos Hillside will be serving pizza to participants during the awards.

If you have questions regarding this information or anything else about the race, please do not email the Race Director. We will be available at RPP to answer questions and if you have questions on race morning, ask one of our amazing volunteers.

Remember to thank our sponsors: Kersten Orthodontics, Arbutus Physiotherapy and Health Centre, Trek Bikes Victoria, and Romeos Hillside.

Instructions for applying race number tattoo: The number goes on your left calf. Remove the cellophane cover from the front of the tattoo. Place the tattoo, logo side top, against your bare skin and wet the paper backing until the backing comes away from the tattoo, leaving the tattoo adhered to your skin. Carefully remove the paper backing to not tear the number. Allow to dry before placing clothing, etc., over the tattoo. Apply the tattoo to clean, dry skin. Apply lotions and sunscreen after the tattoo has dried.