Junior Challenge

• Course closes at 3pm on race day. Athletes finishing after this time will get a DNF.
• All transitions will close at 3.30pm. Leaving any gear after this point is at the athlete’s risk as the transition will no longer be staffed.

All race numbers will be received in the registration pack. Local schools will receive these on race week to hand out to students. Racers from outside the area will receive their race packs from registration on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.  Transponders will be provided for year 5&6 at registration on Thursday only. Competitors must not alter the size or appearance of the race number and must wear their race number clearly and visibly. Failure to do so will result in a disqualification.

Event Tracking

Only Year 5 and up must wear the transponder as directed by the Event officials.

You acknowledge that:

• if the transponder fails, you may not receive a time record and will have no claim against the Organiser or be entitled to a refund of your entry fee;
• you must pay $150 for any transponder that is not returned to the correct Event official.

Children will compete in year group waves, two minutes apart with waves. This ensures that the swim is safe, and they can move easily through the Transition area while allowing the event to run smoothly without congestion.

Junior Race Day Briefing information available below.

Race Briefing

On the date of the Event you must be 5 years or older (unless otherwise pre-approved by the Event Director).

If you are under the age of 18, your parent or legal guardian must complete the registration process on your behalf and must accept full responsibility for your compliance with these terms and conditions.

Relevant for Years 4-6

If you are not a strong swimmer, then please don’t worry you can still compete in the race. Participants who are non-swimmers have the option to walk along the shoreline. If you chose this option, then all non-swimmers in year 4, 5 and 6 will need to wait until the last swimmer is out of the water before they can continue with the race. You also have time to improve your swimming over the summer months and challenge yourself to see if you can swim the distance without putting your feet on the bottom.

• The swim leg of the race will be along the lake front opposite Pembroke Park. 
• Children will swim out to the first buoy, across (parallel to the lake shore) and back into the exit chute. 
• Please ensure your child is able to swim the entire distance (see non-swimming option below)
• Non-swimmers will be allowed to walk along the shoreline and exit with the last swimmer of their start wave.

• Swim Safety – We will have marshals out in the water with pool noodles, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to support and regulate each wave of children. 

• Only mountain bikes are permitted, no road bikes, e-bikes or hybrids.
• We recommend a bike check with our mates at Racers Edge or a local bike shop before competing. Bike should be in a safe and roadworthy condition.
• Each participant is responsible for the state or repair of his/her own bike.

Helmets are COMPULSORY and need to come with you on race day to the event. Please check your helmet is the right size which fits your head well and is not damaged or cracked. We also recommend you have your helmet inspected by your local bike shop and replace the helmet if there is any sign of damage.

• Year 1-2 children wear their helmets during the first run (as its a duathlon).
• Years 4-5-6 children need to place their helmets and their running shoes with their bike in the transition area as they make their way to the swim start.

Bike Information

Each year group will have a designated transition area where their bikes are racked and will bike the distance specified for their age group. All bikes MUST have the student’s MTB race plate number cable tied to the front of their handlebars before they are dropped off at the bike transition

• Swimmers/runners will enter the transition area (as illustrated in the course map) and locate their bike, which will be in numbered sections within each age category.  
• Helmets are compulsory for the bike leg and marshals will be checking helmets are secured when children exit the transition. 

Bikes will need to be collected at the end of the race. Challenge Wānaka cannot take responsibility for any bikes left at Pembroke Park after the race has finished.

Run Course

• Year 1-3 children will run a shortened course for both the run legs of their duathlon.
• Year 4-6 children will enter the transition area, rack their bikes, and continue to exit onto the run course (see maps when available).

Finish Line

Once each child has crossed the finish line and received their participation medal. They will be collected by their school in a designated area inside the Recovery Tent. Non-Local students will have an area to muster where their parents can collect them from.

If a youth athlete needs to withdraw from the race before finishing, they must notify their teacher or parent, who should then inform the relevant Race Director at the finish line.

We encourage parents to advise their child before race day that if they become lost on course or at the event, they should return to their school tent if possible, talk to a event marshall or go directly to the finish line and ask an event official for help.

View full race rules
View terms and conditions