H.1 National Championships
H.1.1 Elite
PGB’s may field athletes in the Elite competition at National Championships based on their provincial ranking standards for elite athletes.
H.1.2 U/23 (Under 23)
U/23 athletes are those competitors aged 18 to 23 as on December 31 in the year of the competition who compete in the Olympic Distance drafting race.
a) Lower Age Limit : If an athlete is 17 years old and turns 18 in the year of the competition they are eligible to compete
b) Upper Age Limit:: If an athlete is 22 years old and turns 23 in the year of the competition they are eligible to compete.
c) A U/23 athlete may race in the elite category depending on their standard.
d) Qualification criteria and team selection is determined by each PGB.
H.1.2a Junior
Junior athletes are those competitors aged 16 – 19 as on December 31 in the year of competition who compete in the Sprint Distance drafting race.
a) Lower Age Limit : If an athlete is 15 years old and turns 16 in the year of the competition they are eligible to compete.
b) Upper Age Limit:: If an athlete is 18 years old and turns 19 in the year of the competition they are eligible to compete.
c) Qualification criteria and team selection is determined by each PGB.
H.1.3 Age Groups
Categories: Age groups: The categories for age group competitors are: (Eligibility determined by age on December 31 in the year of the competition).
(a) 16 - 19 years (j) 60 - 69 years
(b) 20 - 24 years (k) 65 - 69 years
(c) 25 - 39 years (l) 70 - 74 years
(d) 30 - 34 years (m) 75 - 79 years
(e) 35 - 39 years (n) 80 - 84 years
(f) 40 - 44 years (o) 85 - 89 years
(g) 45 - 49 years (p) 90 - 94 years
(h) 50 - 54 years (q) 95 - 99 years etc.
(i) 55 - 59 years
H.2 OAT Mod – Youth/Kids of Steel (KOS) Races
H.2.0.1 OAT Mod – KOS Safety
The following technical race rules and restrictions are to promote safety with regard to appropriate equipment and distances for the development stage of the young Triathlete. The restricted equipment can be more dangerous when used by a novice. For example, race wheels are available with minimum spokes and excessive rim depth. Examples of unnecessary risks to developing young Triathletes are an athlete stepping into a wheel due to too few or wide spokes and ‘blow overs’ from windy conditions where deep rims or disc wheels are used. Similar issues arise with clipless pedal and cycling shoe systems. The development focus at these age divisions should be less on high tech equipment and more on skill development, conditioning and an active healthy life style.
H.2.0.2 OAT Mod – Participation
A secondary consideration for these special rules is that, high tech equipment may be more expensive than standard equipment. For younger age groups, this may be a deterrent for children to participate in the sport, due to the perceived advantage (real or not) of other athletes racing with high-end equipment.
H.2.0.3 OAT Mod - Application
Except where amended or modified by this section ALL other rules apply equally to ALL KOS divisions.
H.2.1 OAT Mod – KOS Age Divisions
OAT Mod - The age for KOS participants is determined by the age on December 31 in the year of competition. The KOS division age groups are:
(a) 7 and under;
(b) 8 – 9;
(c) 10 – 11.
(d) 12 – 13;
(e) 14 – 15.
OAT Mod – The KOS Youth Regional Championship Division age groups are held for the 12 - 13 and 14 – 15 divisions only.
H.2.2 OAT Mod – Maximum Distances
OAT Mod – The following table shows the distances for each of the KOS divisions. The distances are in the order swim/bike/run. For each age division, the distances may be shorter but not longer. For 5 and under age groups in the 7 and under division, the distances should be substantially shorter than stated.
Age Division 7 & U 8 to 9 10 to 11 12 to 13 14 to 15
Maximum Distance 50m/1.5k/.5k 100m/5k/1.5k 150m/10k/2k 300m/15k/3k 500m/15k/4k
H.2.3 OAT Mod – Bicycle Regulations
OAT Mod – The following table shows the rules and recommendations that affect the bicycles of competitors in the KOS divisions.
Age Division 7 & U 8 to 9 10 to 11 12 to 13 14 to 15
Triathlon Bars (Aero Bars) No No No No Yes
Clipless Pedals & Cycling Shoes No No No No Yes
Gear Ratios (Recommended) 45 x 16 45 x 16 45 x 16 45 x 16 52 x 16
Race Wheels No No No No Yes
(a) OAT Mod - Triathlon bars may be of any type. However, participants in Youth Regional Championships must comply with Rule E.3.6. Athletes who intend to compete in draft legal Junior races when eligible are also encouraged to conform to Rule E.3.6.
(b) OAT Mod - For age divisions where Clipless Pedal and Cycling Shoe Systems are not permitted, mountain bikes that have wide based platform pedals designed with a clip-on shoe cleat may be allowed at the discretion of the Head Official. If such a pedal system is allowed, the athlete must wear running shoes (or other shoes without cleats such as touring shoes) on the bike segment. The Official’s decision as to whether the pedal is suitable for a running (non-cleated) shoe is a “judgement call” and is not open to protest or appeal.
(c) OAT Mod - The gear ratios shown are recommended only as being:
(d) OAT Mod - Race wheels are not permitted in any age divisions up to and including the 12-13 age group. In these divisions athletes are required to use Standard Wheels, which are defined as follows:
H.2.4 OAT Mod – KOS Relays
OAT Mod - These technical race rules do not apply to relays involving youth in any of the age divisions.
H.2.5 OAT Mod – Racing Up a Division
OAT Mod - No athlete may race in an age division higher than the one suitable for their age. The Head Official may not modify this rule under any circumstance.
H.2.6 OAT Mod – Outside Assistance
OAT Mod – In accordance with Rule C.2.d.e) and to protect the spirit and originality of the discipline, no outside assistance of any kind will be permitted. Such assistance may result in immediate disqualification. This does not include medical assistance and normal food and liquid items provided by the OC at official aid stations.
OAT Mod - Outside assistance includes, among other things,
(a) any person running or riding alongside a competitor;
(b) fixing flat tires or replacing chains,
(c) passing to or taking from any competitor clothing, shoes, hats, or similar articles;
(d) a person, other than the competitor, removing gear from the transition area while the race is in progress;
(e) demonstrating or indicating by any means, visual or aural, the location in the transition area of a competitors bike and rack;
(f) other similar actions according to the judgement of the Head Official (and as such are not subject to protest or appeal).
H.2.6 OAT Mod – Unsportsmanlike Behavior
OAT Mod - In the spirit of Rule C.2.4 b), a competitor, parent, guardian or any member of the competitor’s support team or entourage at a race, using abusive language or behavior toward any official or unsportsmanlike behavior, exposes the competitor to immediate disqualification and possible suspension.
OAT Mod – For the purposes of this rule official is interpreted as:
(a) the OAT Head Official;
(b) all other OAT Officials;
(c) the Race Director
(d) the Race Director’s paid or volunteer staff;
(e) employees of the town, city, municipality, etc. who are directly involved in assisting the presentation of the race;
(f) all volunteers assisting the race (including registration and all other pre-race activities and site clean up and all other post-race activities;
(g) OAT Office staff (volunteer or otherwise); and
(h) Any member of the OAT Board of Directors or other officer of OAT.
H.2.6 OAT Mod – Attention to Rules
The attention of competitors is particularly brought to other rules, including but not limited to:
(a) the need to wear an approved securely fastened helmet at all times on the bike (E.3.3, E.3.4);
(b) obeying the traffic rules (E.1.1);
(c) wearing a shirt on the bike and run (E.1 b)and F.1.c));
(d) proper conduct in the transition area (G.1); and
(e) their conduct overall (B.1).
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