Registration & Entry Fees

Frequently Asked Questions:

USA Triathlon

Q. Will the event follow the new USAT rule of using age as of December 31, 2008, rather than age on race day, to determine age division placing?
A. Yes.

Q: Is this event sanctioned by USA Triathlon?
A: Yes.

Q: Who is USA Triathlon (USAT)?
A: USA Triathlon is the governing body of the sport of triathlon in the United States. Their website is www.usatriathlon.org

Q. Why do I have to pay a $10 one-day USAT license fee, since I am not an annual member of USAT?
A: All events sanctioned by USAT require that each athlete either be an annual member of USAT or purchase a one-day license. Your one-day license provides you with medical insurance in the event that you are injured in the race. Events sanctioned by USAT are held to a series of criteria set forth by USAT that ensure participant safety, fairness of Transition Area and courses, etc. Annual USAT members participating in USAT events are eligible for age group rankings.

Q. I have my own medical insurance and don’t want to pay the $10 one-day license fee. Can I waive my rights or something?
A: Sorry, but no. Either a USAT one day license or annual membership is required to participate in this triathlon. You will find that this is the standard with triathlons in the USA.

Registraton Questions

Q: Do you offer student discounts?
A: We do not; but we do have other discounts. Please view the list on the registration page.

Q. I registered a month ago and I haven’t received anything in the mail from you. What’s going on?
A. We do not mail anything out upon receipt of registration. Your cancelled check is your receipt that we have received it. We will send out confirmation information via e-mail in the beginning of July. If you do not have e-mail, or did not include it on the entry form, feel free to check back to our website. The confirmation e-mail (along with all other race updates) will be posted here as well. We will also post a list of registered participants on our site starting April 1.

Q. What are the field limits?
A: Sprint triathlon- 500. International Triathlon - 800 individuals plus 75 teams.

Q. Does this race sell out?
A: This race has sold out in the past, but as is the trend in triathlon in Northern California in recent years, has not sold out.

Q. I can’t download/open the printable entry form. Help.
A: The printable entry form is an Adobe PDF document. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view the form. You can download it for free here. Trouble downloading it? E-mail us and we can send back a copy on e-mail, fax it, or send it to you via US Mail.

Q. Do you offer an elite/pro wave or division?
A. No. This event offers age group, athena, clydesdale and relays divisions only. There is no prize money.

Q. I’m a pro/elite triathlete. Can I send you my bio for consideration of a comp entry?
A. Our comp entry policy is that we will award last year’s overall male and female winner of the International Triathlon and Sprint Triathlon a comp entry for this year’s event. If that was you, then e-mail us and we will gladly forward you a comp entry. Please do not wait until the final week prior to the event.

Q. I have a credit for the 2007 event from last year. How do I use it?
A. You will need to download and fill out the printable entry form. Mail that form, your credit letter, and the $20 processing fee to us in order to register for the event.

Q. I have a credit letter valid for the 2007 event (I had registered in 2006, but couldn’t make it). Can I use it this year?
A. Sorry, but credit letters are valid for the following year only as indicated on your letter.

Q. I have already registered for the 2008 event and I just found out that I’m getting married that day. Can I get a refund?
A. This is our Refund Policy: We do not offer refunds for this event for any reason. We also strictly do not allow athlete-to-athlete transfers, for any reason. This is a USA Triathlon policy which we cannot circumvent. If you are registerd and become unable to participate, we will offer you a credit to 2009 if you submit, in writing, a request to have your entry rolled over to 2008. All credit requests must be submitted no later than June 15th, 2008. After June 14th, we will only accept credit requests for medical reasons; and these must be accompanied by a written copy of a Doctor’s note. Absolutely no credit requests will be considered for any reason after July 9, 2008.

Q. Is there a minimum age to participate in this event?
A. The minimum age for the international distance is 14 years old. Typically in the international triathlon, there are very few individual participants under the age of 18. The sprint distance does not have an official minimum age, however, we strongly encourage parents to become familiar with the course before submitting an entry for a child under the age of 14. All minors must have their parent/guardian complete the ‘minor’ section on page two of the entry form.

Transition Area Questions

Q: Where do I put my clothes, towel and bike on race day?
A: On race morning, you will enter a secured area called the Transition Area. Here you will find tons of bike racks. Pick a spot and rack your bike (it’s first come, first serve). Then lay out your towel, shoes, helmet, etc. You will come here after you finish the swim and bike legs to exchange out your gear.

Q. Can my friend wait for me in the Transition Area to cheer me on and help me get out of my wetsuit?
A. The Transition Area is for athletes only. This way it can remain secure and your gear will be safe. There are plenty of great spots at the swim finish, at the bike and run starts for your friends and family to cheer you on. USA Triathlon rules do not allow you to receive assistance during the event and this includes helping you get that wetsuit off. We suggest swimming in it before race day and practice taking it off alone.

Q. What about before the race....can my spouse and kids help me set up my gear in the transition area?
A. No. The transition area must be secure at all times. Therefore no spouses, friends, dogs, etc.are allowed on race day.

Q. Do I need a bike lock for my bike in the transition area?
A: No, you do not.

Q. I haven’t done a triathlon before and I don’t understand the transition area. Is this where I change from my swimsuit to my shorts and tshirt?
A. Most triathletes (99.9%) wear their swimsuit during the entire race; after the swim they may throw on a tank top, shorts or other racing apparel. However, if you wish to change out of your swimsuit, you may do so in the portapotties or permanent restroom facilities located near the transition area.

Q. What if I finish the swim portion and I can’t remember where my bike is?
A: The rows of the transition area will be labeled with numbers and letters. Before the race, you may want to write down your row # with a permanent marker on your hand to refresh your memory after the swim leg.

Course Questions

Q: What is the water temperature of Donner Lake in July?
A: The temperature is usually between 64 and 69 degrees Farenheit.

Q. Are wetsuits allowed during the swim?
A: Wetsuits may be worn during the swim, however they are not required. We have noticed that about 85% of the athletes in the International Distance Triathlon opt to wear a wetsuit; in the sprint triathlon, this figure drops to about 60%. 

Q: Is the bike course closed to traffic?
A: The sprint triathlon bike course is closed to traffic. The international triathlon bike course is closed to traffic from the base of Donner Summit (Transition Area) to just before Donner Ski Ranch (summit). From the summitt to Kingvale (& back) the course is open to modified traffic (residents only) which is controlled by the California Highway Patrol. We advise all cyclists to use caution during the entire bike course, especially if there is a vehicle on the road.

General Questions

Q: Does this event have ChampionChip timing?
A. Yes.

Q. What is bodymarking and will I be bodymarked at this event?
A. Bodymarking is a standard triathlon practice of writing your bib # in large, legible black numbers with a permanent marker on your arms and legs, and your age on the back of one calf (except for relays - an “R” is written instead. You will be bodymarked at this event by a race volunteer or staff member prior to entry to the transition area on race morning.

Q. How warm/cold is it in Truckee in July?
A. The air temperature varies every year. We have found that generally, the lows are between 35 and 50 degrees, while the highs are between 70 and 90 degrees. According to weather.com, the average high in July is 83 degrees and the average low is 42 degrees.

Q. Does this event have prize money?
A. No.

Q. What is the date for the 2009 Donner Lake Triathlon?
A. This has not been established yet.

Q. Will you be hosting the Donner Lake 10K Run again this year?
A. Although we have received multiple requests to continue to host the 10K run in conjunction with the Donner Lake Triathlons, the 10K run will not be taking place in 2008 for logistical reasons. We thank you for your interest.

Q. Do you still have a mountain bike division in the international distance?
A. No, however, any participant in either race is still welcome to participate with either a road or a mountain bike.

Q. Do you have a clydesdale division?
A. We have a clydesdale/athena division in the international distance individual race. There is not a clydesdale/athena division in the sprint race.