Safety is our #1 priority
Safety is our number one priority when hosting the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon. At every stage of the course (swim, transition, cycle and run) there are HELP TEAM volunteers to assist your child if they need it. Our volunteers will be wearing shirts branded HELP TEAM so they will be easy to spot.
The Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon consists of three activities - the swim leg, cycle leg and finally the run. We stage the event in age and gender groups of no more than 20-30 kids at a time. That way each participant has room to move even though there will be others swimming and cycling near you. Each event has a limited capacity. 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 Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon to allow for full morning away from home and for your child’s full enjoyment of the day.
If it has rained or is raining, and the event can stll 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.
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 long 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.
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 an overall spot check for bad rust is 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 Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon event. Each participant, including kids from the same family, must have his or her own bicycle. Sharing bikes can compromise safety and security.
2. Keep your child hydrated
Hydration tips from BRITA
It is important for your child to be well hydrated going into an event like the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon. This means maintaining good hydration habits in the days leading up to the event. BRITA helps improve the taste of tap water and the better it tastes the more you will drink.
- Before the swim: 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: You will be able to have a drink on your bike after the swim. Remember to move away from other competitors when you reach for your bottle and keep riding in a straight line.
- The run: 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. 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 from Banana Boat
- Be generous: One dollop per limb is the best measure.
- Be prepared: Apply 15-20 mins before sun exposure.
- Reapply: Every 2 hours and at frequent intervals after swimming, excessive perspiration or towel drying.
- Hit the spots: 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.
- Take cover: 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 stringest between 10am and 4pm.
4. Swim safety
- What if participants have only ever swum in a pool? Will they be able to touch the bottom in open water locations?
The swims will be very clearly marked with swim buoys and lifesavers and swim safety teams will be there to assist your child at every stroke. Many swim legs are held in swimming pools e.g. Canberra will be in the Australian Institute of Sport pool, and Sydney will be held at the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre. See the location maps for more details. Please note that all water depths will be given in pre-event newsletters. In many cases there will be a portion of the swim, where your child may not touch the pool or bottom of the river or lake.
- Can floaties or flippers be worn?
Every participant in the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon MUST be able to swim. Floaties and flippers can obstruct and injure other participants while swimming so we ask that floaties and flippers or other items to help you swim are not worn. If you need any further information on swim safety at our event, please contact 1800 989 999.
5. Special conditions
- What if my child has a medical or physical condition?
On the entry form is a place for you to write down your child's medical or physical condition. We request that you call us on 1800 989 999 and outline the condition if there is not enough room on the entry form. Please make sure the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon 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 (in a red shirt) if they feel unwell at any time during the event. The incredible Help Team will be able to look after and direct your child to medical if and where needed.