KIDS TRI PARENT GUIDE

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Irma Morton
5 years ago
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1 KIDS TRI PARENT GUIDE 1

2 SAFETY IS OUR #1 PRIORITY Safety is our number one priority when hosting a kid s event such as this. At every stage of the course (swim, cycle, transition and run) there are volunteers to assist your child if they need it. Our volunteers will be wearing shirts branded TriYas so they will be easy to spot. The Kids Triathlon consists of four activities - the swim, transition (x2), cycle leg and finally the run. We will stage the event in groups of no more than kids at a time. That way each participant has room to safely negotiate the bike course and transition area. This is the maximum number of participants we can safely fit into the transition area and on course. Please Note: Bikes will not be able to be removed from the transition area until the event is finished and the announcer says it s OK. This is for the safety and enjoyment of ALL participants so please plan your day at the TriYas Kids Triathlon to allow for this. If it has rained or is raining, and the event can still be conducted safely, the event will go ahead - with possible course adjustments if required. However, if weather conditions before or on the day of the event make it unsafe for the event to proceed, and adjustments cannot be made to make it safe, the event will be cancelled. An event may be cancelled depending on the effect or likely effect of actual or forecast weather conditions. Please note that the decision to cancel an event is not made lightly and safety is our priority when making this decision including the safety of the children. 1

3 There are some important things we need you to do before coming to the event to make sure your child will be safe: 1. Check your child s bike To ensure your child can start and complete the course and enjoy the day, please check their bike or have it checked at your local bike shop. Ask them to read and act on this check list, and once the checks are done, then take the bike for a ride before event day, to make sure it s working well. We cannot emphasise enough how important it is to our kids to make it through the bike leg without broken chains, pedals that fall off and tyres that go flat. Remember this event is for your child s enjoyment. Another important aspect of safe riding is the helmet. All helmets must have a working clip and should be appropriately sized for your child. Incorrectly fitting helmets, such as loose helmets that are too large for your child s head, are dangerous in the event of an accident or your child falling off the bike. Important things to check on your child s bicycle: Firstly, please check the bike is not suffering from rust in any areas. Rust makes for breakages that could cause an accident for your child whilst riding. Your child doesn t need a fancy bike, but they do need a safe one. Once overall spot checks for bad rust are completed then please check the following: The head stem not loose but at a safe tension, with no slack. The pedals are properly fitted, and not rusty, and please ensure that they won t unscrew whilst your child is riding. The bike chain is at the proper tension (so it won t come off!) and not dry, or rusty. Please oil the chain to prevent it breaking and ruining your child s day. The tyres are safe, have no cracks, show tread and are properly inflated to the recommended air pressure shown on the tyre and hold that pressure for 24 hours. The ends of the handle bars are covered by the rubber of the hand grips with no metal showing. If there is metal showing at the ends of your handle bars either tape the ends with heavy duty tape or buy some handle bar plugs from your local Bike shop. Please note that bikes with uncovered bar ends will not be allowed into transition for the event. That all brakes are working front and back, where fitted, and the bike brakes smoothly. The brakes should not bind. Make sure your child can ride down-hill and brake safely. If the bike has gears, bells, or any equipment fitted, please ensure EVERYTHING is working. Note that participants cannot share bikes during the event. Each participant, including kids from the same family, must have his or her own bicycle. Sharing bikes can compromise safety and security. 2

4 2. Keep your child hydrated Hydration tips It is important for your child to be well hydrated going into an event like the TriYas Kids Triathlon. This means maintaining good hydration habits in the days leading up to the event. Before the race: Have a water bottle with you before the start so that can have small sips. Don t drink too much or you will end up running with a full bladder! On your bike: The run: You will be able to have a drink on your bike, please make sure that your child starts the bike with water as there is none available on the circuit. Remember to move away from other competitors when you reach for your bottle and keep riding in a straight line. If you have a good drink on your bike before you change over to the run, you should not need to drink on the run. There is a water station on the course should your child need a top-up! Once you have finished the event, you should replenish any water lost over the event and drink every 15 minutes until you feel hydrated. 3. Be sun safe Sun tips Be generous: Be prepared: Reapply: Hit the spots: Take cover: One dollop per limb is the best measure. Apply mins before sun exposure. Every 2 hours and at frequent intervals after initial application, excessive perspiration or towel drying. Remember to use sunscreen on often-missed spots such as under your eyes, your ears, lips, shoulders, behind your knees, and the top of your feet. Cover up with sun-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to keep out harmful rays all year long. And remember, the sun s rays are strongest between 10am and 4pm. 3

5 4. Special conditions What if my child has a medical or physical condition? Upon entry is a place for you to write notes your child s medical or physical condition. We request that you call us on 800 YAS (927) or us on triyas@ymc.ae and outline the condition if there is not enough room on the entry form. Please make sure the TriYas Kids Triathlon team know about it. We need to make sure that your child will be safe on the day! Please make sure that your child knows to approach a Help Team Volunteer if they feel unwell at any time during the event. The incredible Volunteers will be able to look after and direct your child to medical if and where needed. 5. Spectating Where is the best place to watch the event? We ask all parents, unless volunteering on the day, to stay clear of the course and transition. It is important for the kids to be encouraged, but they also need a clear course for the bike and the run. The volunteers will assist your child with any questions and help in transition. Transition is a parent free zone and participants are not to be assisted by their parents at any stage. The best place to observe the race is either trackside in a designated spectator area or from the main grandstand seating area accessible via the stairs. 4

The Newbies Guide to Triathlon. Presented by Willie Fitzpatrick

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