What we are doing to ensure safety at our events concerning COVID-19

 Triathlon governing bodies have deemed it appropriate to host a triathlon event in the event that the venue and race director can provide a safe triathlon experience with social distancing measures and enhanced safety measures and protocols put into place at an event.

“Here at iDaph Events, safety is our top priority,” says Race Director Daphne Kirkwood. “We want to ensure that our participants, staff and volunteers stay safe and healthy, and we are following all of the necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Over the past few months iDaph Events has put together event safety plans for our event to move forward in a new format to ensure social distancing measures that are set forth by the CDC are adhered to.

“We will aim to have a ‘contactless’ event to provide a safe event for all!”

As a reminder, all athletes must follow the rules of the road while they are out on the bike and run portions of the course. The courses will allow for more space between participants when passing, and we will have time trial starts to encourage social distancing.

• We will provide face covering for staff/volunteers and officials.

• We will have increased Hand Sanitizer and increased hand washing stations, and we will continually wipe down frequently used surfaces.

• Temperature screenings will be performed upon arrival to the event on race day. Staff and volunteers required to have face coverings. Participants may be required to wear coverings until they start and after they finish, depending on the current NC guidelines.

• Time Trial Start: Participants start one at a time in the pool, spaced apart so there’s no contact, and in 30 minute waves in small group sizes that adhere to NC safety guidelines. Swimmers will be socially distanced at the start by having a pre-assigned wave start based on their swim time submitted during registration. There will be a limited number of participants allowed on the swim deck at one time based on event gathering restrictions in North Carolina on event day. Participants will be socially distanced by six feet while standing in line around the pool. Swimmers start by jumping into the deep section of the pool, swimming down the first lane, then under the swim lane into the next lane. They will continue to swim down each lane in one direction by zig-zagging through the pool. Swimmers will exit on the opposite side of the pool to run out to transition. We expect swimmers to start with a large enough gap of time so that there is no contact between swimmers.

• Transition will have a new twist this year! In order to maintain social distance, the transition will be at your vehicle. Before the event you will put your bike and run gear and equipment at your car. The exit and entrance for the bike part of the event will be at the same location at the parking lot. The run start will be at another side of the parking lot.

Sorry, no after party this year. After participants are finished they will grab a food box and leave the event site so that we can maintain social distancing measures. Awards will be mailed or can be picked up locally. Spectators are not allowed in the event village area, but we will have cheering sections along the bike routes where spectators will be allowed to gather and cheer on their friends and/or family members. 

Packet Pick-up: Packet pickup is at Patton Park at the roundabout in front of the pool. Pickup will be drive thru style, 2-5pm on Saturday, July 18th. Registration must be done online at home. THERE IS NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION.  There will be NO Packet pickup on Race day. You may have a friend or family member pick up your packet on Saturday if you aren’t able to make it. There is an option to mail bib and packets until July 1st.

Please bring your own water bottle and fuel items.

We will have more specific details for the event soon! Please look for updates on our Facebook Events page.

VIRTUAL OPTION AVAILABLE!

As we all know the pandemic changes things quickly! We ask that you be flexible and patient as we may have to adjust things for this event up until the event takes place. In the event that the U.S. or NC government, Hendersonville County or City of Hendersonville declares a new stay-at-home order or places new restrictions on gatherings and we are not able to have the in person event, all ‘in person’ triathlon event registrations will automatically be converted to the Virtual event. If it gets switched to a virtual event you will receive a $30 credit for the 2021 event, free transfer into the Virtual Event and your swag mailed.

GREAT FOR BEGINNERS AND ELITE ATHLETES! 

VOLUNTEER FOR THE ASHEVILLE TRIATHLON