Course update!  The river forecast from TVA shows that the current in the river will continue to drop and we “expect” it to be near 45,000-50,000 cfs per second on race morning.  This roughly equates to about 1.5 mile an hour of current.  This will create both a worthy challenge when paddling upstream, and a bit of “free speed” when paddling downstream.  In addition, this will require racers to exercise additional care around buoys, buoy cords, underwater or river debris, and other racers.  While this returns us to a fairly typical summer afternoon downtown flow rate, we are opting to update the SHORT COURSE only (both triathlon paddlers and Southern Stoke qualifiers) to be the same distance, but in shorter bites.  Short course racers will proceed upriver .75 miles, turn clockwise around the buoy, return .75 downstream, turn clockwise around the buoy near the start, and repeat the process again for a total of 3 miles.  Long course racers will still proceed upriver 1.5 miles, (passing the short course boat), turn clockwise around the top course buoy, return to the start, turn clockwise around the buoy near the start, and repeat the loop for a total of 6 miles. 

Course map:  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HW7DD-lKHs6g236T-RQC84Yt-OlotOrE/view

Distance Options:

• Long - 10K Stand Up Paddle, 10K Run (½ road, ½ trail), 4 Climbing Routes (Walnut Street Bridge Wall)

• Short - 5K Stand Up Paddle, 5K Riverwalk Run, 2 Climbing Routes (Walnut Street Bridge Wall)

• All division paddle times count towards Southern Stoke Paddle Series points. Racers who do not wish to participate in individual or team triathlon may race just for points. NOTE: Podium awards are for triathlon divisions below. Southern Stoke standings will receive certificate of placement and points will carry but no podium.

• Due to anticipated strong currents, this is an OPEN DRAFT paddle event. Racers may draft any craft, any race class, any gender. Be courteous and share the work :).

Craft Divisions (Pertinent to individual triathlon and for Southern Stoke points):

• Rec/Surf SUP (under 12'6" - individual triathlon short course ONLY)

• 12'6" SUP (individual triathlon short course or long course)

• 14' SUP (individual triathlon short course or long course)

• Open (individual triathlon LONG COURSE ONLY any other craft: kayak, OC, Prone...)

• NOTE: All Relay Triathlon teams will compete against one another; there is no designation for craft nor gender blend, but instead for cumulative total team age. Run what ya brung!

Individual/Team Divisions:

INDIVIDUAL TRIATHLON:

• Individual Triathlon (Racer completes all three paddle, run, and climb portions; men and women awarded distinctly; board craft awarded distinctly)

• EACH TEAM must complete a registration ($40 per participant online; $120 per team, with payment made by team captain at signup)

• Relay General: (Three members each complete one sport leg, combined age between 76 and 124; no distinction for gender. NOTE: IF a team wishes to only run 2 people and double up on legs, that double up team member must register twice.)

• Relay Masters: (three racers each complete one sport leg and Combined Team Age of 125 or higher; no distinction for gender. NOTE: IF a team wishes to only run 2 people and double up on legs, that double up team member must register twice.)

• Relay Young Bucks: (three racers each complete one sport leg and Combined Team Age of 75 or less; no distinction for gender. NOTE: IF a team wishes to only run 2 people and double up on legs, that double up team member must register twice.)

Registration Info

Registration Dates & Race Fees:

Team Racers Per Racer:

• $40 per racer thru 5/24 includes tee shirt*
• $40 5/25 thru 6/7 but no tee shirt* 
• THERE IS NO TEAM RELAY RACE DAY REGISTRATION.

Additional lunch tickets must be purchased for non-racers IN ADVANCE online $10 per lunch

Paddler Premiums:

• Tri-blend Race tee for all participants if registered by 5/24 (we do this instead of doing an additional reg fee increase a week out)

• Custom pint glass

• Post-race lunch onsite for awards

• Custom awards for triathlon podium finishers

• More fun goodies to be announced soon!

Race Detailed Info

Race Logistics:

• Packet pickup will be Saturday morning onsite at the race from 6-7:30 am. Please be on time.  

• The board staging area and race day check in will open at 6:00 am race morning.

• Boat staging area & Start/Finish will be on the lawn at the Kayak launch under the Walnut Street Bridge, between the the Walnut Street Bridge climbing wall and the Chattanooga Theatre Center (near the Blue Rhino statue at the terminus of Tremont Street)

• Please use COURSE tab to study the race courses in advance.  We will review the course during the safety meeting but each racer is responsible for their own course navigation.  Run course will be chalked or flagged.

• All of the climbs are top rope climbs and belayers are provided.  You may bring your own harness and climbing shoes to stage in the board transition area if desired. If you do not wish to bring gear, harnesses are provided and you may climb in regular shoes or barefoot.

Race Overview and Timing Rules:

• Racers begin race on water with a mass start by course length (long or short).  Race clock begins for each race.  

• Racers complete their paddle course, bring their boards up the ramp to the lawn, and the paddle time is recorded by timing team as racers cross the sidewalk at the top of the paddle take out ramp. Make sure your number is visible and know your race number if asked.

• Racers return board/gear to grass and transition to the run, proceeding to their respective courses.  Runners must stay on designated course as posted; runners who shorten the course will be disqualified.

• Racers complete the run course and return to the transition area to grab any desired climbing gear or proceed directly to climb area.  

• Racers approach the climb staging area (fenced area at climbing wall) and MUST CHECK IN with a timer, and their race clock pauses as they are assigned a climbing route. This also records their run completion time.

• The clock starts again once the athlete leaves the ground on the first climb, and the clock pauses when the climber tops out for each climb for the descent and the change of routes. If the climber falls (or elects to stop) from the route and is caught on belay and descneded, the clock also pauses and the climber moves on to the next climb.

• There will be a time penalty for each failed climb, calculated on race day to be the time of the day’s slowest successful climber for that route plus two minutes. Multiple falls/route stop/non-complete will result in an additional penalty for the racer (one noncomplete= penalty of slowest time+2 minutes; three noncompletes=penalty of slowest time on EACH failed route+6 minutes).  

Race Awards

TRIATHLON AWARDS: Podium Presentation and custom race award for places 1-3 in the following divisions:

INDIVIDUAL TRIATHLON:

SHORT COURSE INDIVIDUAL TRIATHLON:

Female and Male 1-3:

• Rec/Surf SUP
  
• 12’6” SUP
  
• 14’ SUP
• Note: no open craft division for short course

LONG COURSE INDIVIDUAL TRIATHLON:

Female and Male 1-3:

• 12’6” SUP
  
• 14’ SUP
• Open Craft (all other, including OC, Kayak, Prone, other)

TEAM RELAYS:

SHORT COURSE RELAY TRIATHLON:

Any Craft/Any Genders:

• Relay General
  
• Young Bucks (Combined age under 75)
  
• Masters (Combined age over 125)

LONG COURSE RELAY TRIATHLON:

Any Craft/Any Genders:

• Relay General
  
• Young Bucks (Combined age under 75)
  
• Masters (Combined age over 125)
  

SOUTHERN STOKE SERIES POINTS: Online posting of results in the days following the race (no podium presentation) in divisions pursuant to Southern Stoke Series point structure will be provided and shared with SSPS Directors.

Chattanooga Accommodations

For those unfamiliar with the Chattanooga area, Wild Trails has assembled a quick reference to area hotels.  Click here to view this document.