The history of XTERRA & Rules
It all began in Maui, Hawaii, November 3, 1996, when a motley crowd of mountain bikers and triathletes met up. They had a crazy idea for something new: an un-sanitized three-sport adventure, a REAL challenge..... an off-road triathlon.
They named the race AquaTerra, and it consisted of an open ocean swim, a mountain bike race up the side of a volcano and a gruelling cross-country run through forests, up mountains and across beaches. It was a brand new concept, one which attracted athletes who could not resist the beauty of Maui and the pain, danger and adrenaline rush that this new event offered.
A new concept had been born: an off- road triathlon, which included these unique elements that set it apart from former and tamer road based triathlons.
The concept became known as XTERRA®
From modest beginnings of 123 participants in 1996, XTERRA has matured into the world's largest offroad multi-sport series with hundreds of thousands of athletes participating in XTERRA events worldwide.
XTERRA is the fastest-growing multi-sport series, boasting 90 races annually in the Nissan XTERRA Points Series in the United States and the Global and European tours with championships in Saipan, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Spain and now also UK, France and Denmark.
These tours qualify participants for the Nissan XTERRA world championship in Maui, Hawaii, October each year.
Below are links to XTERRA Planet and XTERRA Europe. XTERRA UK is part of the Global and European tour 2006
www.xterraplanet.com www.xterraeurope.com
Rules
General rules
Off-road triathlon is an endurance sport combining three disciplines that the participants must participate in. The three disciplines are swimming, mountain biking and cross-country running – in that order.
The participants are advised to be well-prepared for the race
It is the obligation of the individual participant to familiarize him or herself with the rules and regulations and to comply with them. He/she must comply with all instructions given by the organization. Furthermore, it is the obligation of the participants to familiarize themselves with the race courses. The courses are expected to be marked shortly before the race.
The participants are not allowed to receive any assistance from outside parties, nor are they allowed to be accompanied by boats, vehicles or other forms of escort on the courses. If that happens, the participant will be warned or be disqualified, if the situation does not alter.
Musical equipment such as MP3, disc-man, radio etc. are NOT allowed!! Participating in a race without access to all your senses can be a danger to both yourself and your fellow competitors.
Littering on the course is strictly FORBIDDEN except by the aid stations.
Violations of the rules and regulations or instructions given by the organization or its representatives, will lead to warnings, possible penalties or to disqualification. Unsportsmanlike behaviour will result in disqualification.
Participants who decide to withdraw from the race/ do not finish (Mechanical or injury/health) must report immediately to the race officials or race headquarters.
Race timing is handled by ChampionChip.
Categories
Professionals – following participants are included in this category:
- Triathletes who hold a pro license from their respective federations.
- Athletes who have participated in the elite category of their national triathlon championships in the last two years.
- Athletes whom Team Unlimited, the organization behind the Xterra Global Tour, considers elite participants.
Only participants in this category can win prize money.
Age groups
A participant's age is determined by his/her age on December, 31, of the current racing year. In that way the participants remain in the same age group throughout the year.
Male
M15-19(Sport distance)/ M20-24/ M25-29/ M30-34/ M35-39/ M40-44/ M45-49/ M50-54/ M55-59/ M60-64, M65+
Female
F15-19(Sport Distance)/ F20-24/ F25-29/ F30-34/ F35-39/ F40-44/ F45-49/ F50-54 /F55-59/ F60+
Age group athletes compete for trophies and the 34 slots for the Nissan XTERRA World Championship in Maui, Hawaii.
Teams – Teams consisting of two or three persons who divide the disciplines among them. There will be trophies for top three (3) finishing teams. This category is excluded from winning slots for the Nissan XTERRA world championship.
Registration
Participants must provide valid photo identification, when they collect the race packets.
Briefing
XTERRA UK briefing is mandatory for all participants. Rules, regulations and race courses will be thoroughly explained at that time.
Start numbers
Participants are obliged to use all the start numbers, which the organization has included in the race packet; bike plate, helmet number, and the running jersey number.
Start numbers can under no circumstances be altered i.e. bent or cut off.
Transition Zone
Participants are responsible for their own equipment and the organization cannot be held responsible for lost equipment in the zone.
Cycling in the zone is not allowed, i.e. racers are not allowed to get on the mountain bike before leaving the zone. Also participants must dismount their bicycles before entering the zone again.
Participants must put on their helmets and they must be fastened before leaving the zone. The strap of the helmet may only be loosened and the helmet taken off, when the participants return to their place in the zone after cycling.
Bicycles must be returned to the same place on the transition zone bike rack.
Participants or representatives of the participants must show their start number on demand to the staff in the zone, when they collect bicycles or other equipment.
Swim 1500 M
Depending on the temperature of the water the day before the race, wetsuits may be allowed or required.
Wetsuits are allowed, if the temperature of the water is below 22 degrees Celsius. Wetsuits are mandatory, if the temperature of the water is below 14 degrees Celsius.
All participants must go through a swimming check before entering the lake. Remember to wear the ChampionChip for the swim check.
No swimming aids such as fins, snorkel etc. are allowed.
Participants must wear assigned swim cap.
Escort boats and kayaks with XTERRA staff will monitor and follow the swimmers along the course.
The course will be clearly marked with buoys and participants, who are not following the course will be presented with a warning and subject to penalty or even disqualification.
The course consists of two 750 meter laps. Following the first lap the participants must get out of the water and run a short distance along the shore before re-entering the lake.
Bike 34 K
Following the swim, all athletes must cross the timekeeping mats on their way to the transition zone. This will not only guarantee a correct reading of the swim time, but it is also a security measure to keep track of all swimmers.
Only mountain bikes may be used in the biking segment.
Participants must place their equipment next to their bicycles.
Helmets must be fastened before the bicycle is removed from the rack. Please remember - NO cycling in the transition zone.
Please use proper cycling etiquette, for example, indicate your presence when overtaking a fellow participant.
Drafting is allowed.
The start number for the bike must be placed on the handlebars and the small number on the helmet. The start numbers can under no circumstances be altered i.e. bent or cut off. Participants without numbers will not be allowed to continue the race.
The course will be clearly marked with blue signs and participants who do not follow the course will be presented with a warning and be subject to penalties or disqualification.
The course consists of two 17K laps. Following the first lap the participants will ride over a timing mat that records the laps. All disputes will be verified by the timing system.
Run 10 K
Before entering the transition area the participants must dismount their bikes and cross the timekeeping mats on their way to their place in the zone. The helmet must only be taken off, after the bike is placed in the rack.
The start number must be placed on the torso either with the enclosed safety pins or with the participant’s own elastic belt. Start numbers can under no circumstances be altered i.e. bent or cut off. Participants without numbers will not be allowed to continue the race.
It is not necessary to wear the start number during the cycling leg, as a number is applied to the bike.
The course will be clearly marked with red signs and participants who do not follow the course will be presented with a warning and possibly be subject to penalties or disqualification.
Cut off times
Five (5) hours after the start.
The managing organization reserves the right to make any alteration in the rules and regulations.
|
