Final Race Information: Click here to view the final pre-race information packet!

State Farm:

Title Partner: Ultramax Events is excited to announce that State Farm will be the title sponsor for the 2011 Myrtle Beach Triathlon! State Farm is a family of insurance and financial services companies that together serve tens of millions of customers in the U.S. and Canada. As one of the top insurers in the country, State Farm offers over 100 products,including coverage for auto, life, home, health insurance. In-line with the Ultramax beliefs, State Farm is on amission to do the right thing for their customers and communities. They strive to build safer, stronger and better educated communities across the country through sponsorships, safety programs, education leadership and service-learning. As they say, "like a good neighbor, State Farm is there".

USAT Elite Race Series Announcement:

The 2011 TriSports.com Halfmax Championship and Myrtle Beach Triathlon have been selected to host one of the events in the USA Triathlon Elite Race Series. Myrtle Beach was chosen as one of the six race series events that will help prepare the U.S. athletes for the 2012 Olympic Games.

With the debut of the USA Triathlon Elite Race Series in 2011, USA Triathlon has created a domestic, six-event series that delivers an opportunity for the nation’s top Olympic-distance triathletes to compete for significant prize money and a series title — all while honing the draft-legal racing skills necessary to challenge for the podium at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The six events that comprise the series will be held in Clermont, Fla. (March 5), Monroe, Wash. (June 25), San Francisco (July 9), Miami (May 22) Burlington, Vt. (Aug. 20), Buffalo, N.Y. (Sept. 24) and Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Oct. 9). Each site also will host an age-group race in conjunction with the elite event.

The USAT Elite Series Event will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2011:
• Women Professional Elite Start Time – 7:30 am
• Men Professional Elite Start Time – 10:00 am

For more information and to register, visit the Elite Information Tab.

The Event Basics:

Start Times:
• 7:30 am - Halfmax First Wave Starts
• 8:30 am - International First Wave Starts
• 10:00 am - Sprint First Wave Starts

Event Date: Saturday, October 8, 2011

Event Location: Myrtle Beach, SC - Marina Inn at Grande Dunes

Event Classifications: Halfmax, International & Sprint Triathlons

Event Distances:
• Halfmax Distance (TriSports.com Halfmax Championship): 1.2 Mile Swim - 56 Mile Bike - 13.1 Mile Run
• Aquabike Distance: 1.2-Mile Swim - 56-Mile Bike
• International Distance: 1000 Yard Swim - 28 Mile Bike - 10K Run
• Sprint Distance: 750 Yard Swim - 10 Mile Bike - 5K Run

Registration: Open - Register Online or turn in your completed registration form to The Starting Block (2902 Forum Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65203)
• Ultramax Championship Series: This year, at the time you register for your races, if you want to be considered a part of the Championship Series and have your score tallied, you will be asked to enter your "PostMyTime ID Number" or USAT Number. If you do not have one or you cannot remember your number, go to the PostMyTime page.

To View the current entry list for both Halfmax and Myrtle Beach Triathlon, click here.

Entry Fee Schedules:
Halfmax Championship Entry Fees
• General Entry = $250
• Qualified Entry = $225
• Aquabike Entry = $190

International Entry Fees
• Through 10/2/2011 = $89
• 10/3/2011 - 10/6/2011 = $99
• After 10/6/2011 - $105

Sprint Entry Fees
• Through 10/2/2011 = $75
• 10/3/2011 - 10/6/2011 = $80
• After 10/6/2011 - $85

International Team Relay Entry Fee = $150

International Distance Elite Prize Money Division Fee = $110 - 100% Payout

*Please Note: (This applies to all triathletes and duathletes.) All non-USA Triathlon Annual Members must purchase a $10.00 one-day USAT insurance fee for each event they do in 2011. You may purchase this at packet pickup or at the time of registration. Relay teams, please add $10 per team member (if not a USA Triathlon annual member).
The entry fees listed do not include any credit card or online processing fees.

Race Cap:
• Halfmax Race Cap = 1,500
• International & Sprint Triathlon Race Cap = 1,250

Schedule of Events:

Friday, October 7, 2011:
• 10:00 am – 7:00 pm: Athlete Check-In & Packet Pickup @ Marina Inn Hotel
• 11:00 am – 7:00 pm: Bike Check-In for All Races - This is no longer mandatory. If you would like to wait to rack your bike in transition until the morning of the race, that is perfectly fine. Sprint and International racers - it may be a good idea to plan on checking your bike in on Friday, as you MUST have your bike in transition by 7:00 am on Saturday moring, no exceptions.
• 6:00 pm - Athlete Pre-Race Meeting @ Marina Inn Hotel

Saturday, October 8, 2011: Myrtle Beach Triathlon & Halfmax Championship Race Day
• 5:00 am: Transition Area & Body Marking Open
• 7:00 am: Transition Area Closes for All Distancess - ALL distances must have their bikes in transition by 7:00 am - NO EXCEPTIONS. No one will be allowed in transition after 7:00 am, even if you are in the Sprint or International races, which don't start until later.
• 7:30 am: Halfmax Wave Start (Approximately - Wave schedules will be posted closer to race day.)
• 8:30 am: International Wave Start (Approximately - Wave schedules will be posted closer to race day.)
• 10:00 am: Sprint Wave Start (Approximately - Wave schedules will be posted closer to race day.)
• 10:30 am: Post Event Food & Beverage
• 11:30 am: Swim Course Closes
• 1:30 pm: Sprint & International Awards Ceremony
• 1:30 pm: Bike Course Closes
• 4:30 pm: Run Course Closes
• 4:30 pm: Halfmax Championship Awards Ceremony
• 5:00 pm - USAT Elite Race Series Mandatory Athlete Briefing @ Marina Inn Hotel
• 5:15 pm: USAT Club Championship Awards Ceremony
• 7:00 pm: Post Race Party (Stay Tuned! Details TBD)

Sunday, October 9, 2011: USAT Elite Race Series Race Day
• 5:30 am: Transition Area Opens
• 7:30 am: Elite Professional Women Wave Start
• 10:00 am: Elite Professional Men Wave Start
• TBA: Awards Ceremony

*Please note that all schedules are temporary and are subject to changes. Please check back periodically.

Wave Start Schedule:

* Please note that this swim schedule is still tentative, as of now. There may be some slight changes due to the tide. There will be a final schedule at packet pickup on Friday, October 7th. Waves will begin every 4 minutes, with breaks in between each race. The swim will be an in-water start for all distances.

TriSports.com Halfmax National Championship - 1.2 Miles
Halfmax	Wave 1	Men	Age 18 - 34	Red/DarkGreen	7:30 AM
Halfmax	Wave 2	Women	39 & Under	Purple	7:34 AM
Halfmax	Wave 3	Men	Age 35 - 44	Blue/Navy Blue	7:38 AM
Halfmax	Wave 4	Women	40 & Over + Aqua	Orange/Maroon	7:42 AM
Halfmax	Wave 5	Men	Age 45 - 99	Light Green	7:46 AM
State Farm Myrtle Beach Triathlon International Distance - 1,000 Yards
International	Wave 6	Men & Women	Elite Prize Division	Yellow	8:30 AM
International	Wave 7	Men	Age 18 - 39	Light Green	8:34 AM
International	Wave 8	Women	All Women	Red	8:38 AM
International	Wave 9	Men	40 & Over + Relays	White	8:42 AM
State Farm Myrtle Beach Triathlon Sprint Distance - 750 Yards
Sprint	Wave 10	Men	All Ages	White	10:00 AM
Sprint	Wave 11	Women	All Ages	White	10:04 AM
** WETSUITS: The official water temerature will be announced at packet pickup on Friday. At this point, there is a very high probability wetsuits will be legal, but the ruling will be made Friday.

 

 

USA Triathlon Club Championship:

Download the 2011 USAT Club Scoring Guidelines

The Myrtle Beach Triathlon will offer three race distances. The Halfmax, the Quartermax, and Super Sprint distance triathlons. All three events are open to individual registrations and all three entrants will compete for the standard age group awards. In addition, the three races will count towards the USA Triathlon national club competition in five distinct club classifications.

The event is scored based on individual age group performances. Athletes will compete for the standard age group division crowns. If an entrant is affiliated with a USAT Club, a finish or Top 10 placing will earn points in the Club Championship classification.

Club Divisions:
• Division I: Over 250 members
• Division II: 249 - 130 members Club
• Division III: 129 - 89 members
• Division IV: 88 - 30 members
• Division V: 29 - 2 members

Club Eligibility: A club must be a registered USAT club in order to participate in the National Club Championship. No Exception: Clubs must provide USA Triathlon an electronic roster of all eligible club members 30 days prior to the date of the championship. No further modifications to the submitted club membership roster will be allowed, unless approved by USA Triathlon.

Club Scoring: Each finisher and each Top 10 age division placement will receive club championship points. Clubs will be ranked within their respective divisions. Download the complete club scoring and eligibility details.

Distance Travel Points - New in 2011: The National Club Championship will award distance/travel points, on a per participant basis, in accordance with the following distances. The distance shall be determined using airline miles from the domicile city of a club to the location of the National Club Championship.
• > 600 miles = 0.50 distance points
• 599 – 300 miles = 0.35 distance points
• 299 - 100 miles = 0.20 distance points
• < 99 miles = 0 distance points
NOTE – Travel points will apply to each finisher that does not finish in the Top 10 in their respective division. Example: A Club member not placing in the Top 10 and traveling 500 miles will earn 1.35 points towards their total Club score for both participation and travel points.

Club Awards: The Top 3 clubs in each division will receive the national club championship awards.

Timing:

Please follow these simple instructions carefully:
• Transponders are non-transferable! Be careful not to switch with other participants.
• The chip must be on your ankle at all times or you will not be scored in the event.
• Your timing chip will be removed by volunteers once you reach the finish line. Failure to return a chip will result in disqualification from all future events owned or timed by Ultramax Events and you will be charged a $125 replacement fee!
• If you find you still have your timing chip after the race, please put it in a padded envelope and mail to: Ultramax Events 2902 - Forum Blvd Suite 101 - Columbia, MO 65203.

A Special Note for Teams: Teams will transfer their timing chip in the transition area. The last member of the team should wear the race number on the run leg. We recommend using a race belt for easy transfer. The timing chip must be on the ankle of each team member at all times while racing.

Parking & Spectators:

Parking Information: For both Saturday and Sunday, all athletes, spectators, and volunteers will be allowed to park on both sides of Grande Dunes between Highway 17 and Business 17. Grande Dunes will be closed or traffic limited between 4:30 am and 6:00 pm. The parking will be managed by parking attendants. It will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you are planning on staying for the Awards Ceremony and you are parked on Grande Dunes, you will need to make sure you car is moved before 6:00 pm, or you will risk getting towed, as the road will be reopened at this time.

Spectator Information: Please plan to watch the event from the race site. Any additional traffic on the course adds to your inconvenience and could compromise your safety, as well as the athletes' safety.

Travel & Lodging Information:

The Host Hotel - Marina Inn at Grande Dunes
8121 Amalfi Place
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Toll-Free Phone: (866) 437-4113

Packet pickup, transition area, swim start, finish line and post-race celebrations will all take place at Marina Inn. The Marina Inn will have a limited number of rooms. We are expecting over 2,500 athletes. The 200 rooms at The Marina Inn will GO FAST, so reserve your room today!

Myrtle Beach Triathlon Rates:
• Grande Guest Room = $114
• Studio Room = $135
• Mediterranean Club Suite = $145
• Two-Bedroom Suite = $177
• Three-Bedroom Suite = $229
*Two-night minimum required for all rooms.

Ready to Reserve Your Room? Simply click this link to secure your reservation for the Myrtle Beach Triathlon & Halfmax National Championship!

Visit the Lodging Page for more travel & lodging information.

Bike Shipping - High Country Shipping:

• Travel With Ease: Ship your bike to breeze through the airports, avoid baggage fees and have you bike professionally built by Grand Strand Bicycles (if desired) and ready to ride upon your arrival. HCS
• High Country Shipping (HCS) is a Fed-Ex shipper arranging round-trip Fed-Ex bike shipping to the Myrtle Beach Triathlon & Halfmax National Championship.
• HCS will ship to the local bike shop for assembly (prices will be posted soon) or direct to your hotel for self-assembly.
• Visit the HCS Myrtle Beach Triathlon & Halfmax National Championship bike shipping information page for more information!

Bike Support - Grand Strand Bicycles:

Ultramax is pleased to partner, again in 2011, with Grand Strand Bicycles for all Bike Support and Help for the Myrtle Beach Triathlon and Halfmax Championship! They will be able to help you with any and all bike questions, problems, concerns, etc. They will have a full staff at packet pickup, bike check-in and on race day to answer any questions you have. If you are shipping your bike (see above), you will be able to ship to Grand Strand and they will store it for you until it's time to race! Just follow the steps below to ensure a hassle-free delivery and set-up of your bike:

Step #1: Start by packing your bike in a case or heavy cardboard box. Be sure your bike is well-packed! For best results, you could take it to your local bike shop for disassembling and boxing. Keep in mind that your bike will be returned in the same case/box and packing material it was received in. To ensure that your bike is assembled with the proper seat height and handlebar placement, please mark or make a note of the two positions before packing. If you need any last-minute tune-ups to get your bike race ready, check with your local bike shop before packing to have those final tweaks handled.

Step #2: Prior to sealing your bike box, place a piece of paper inside the box with the following information:
• First and Last Name
• Your Return Shipping Address
• Phone Number in which you can be contacted (Preferably Cell Phone)
• Arrival Date at Myrtle Beach (When your bike will be picked up)

Step #3: We recommend using High Country Shipping, but you can use Fed Ex or UPS and ship to:
Grand Strand Bicycles
ATTN: Myrtle Beach Triathlon
515 Hwy. 501
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
*Please be sure to insure your bike for its replacement value. Delivery companies will only pay you for the amount it is insured for. Grand Strand is not responsible for paying anything if your bike is damaged in the shipping process.

Step #4: Email Mary at grandstrandbicycles@yahoo.com once you have shipping your bike so that she can log your shipment. Please include your tracking number, along with your full name in this email. If you are using High Country Shipping, they will take care of this for you.

Step #5: All bikes received for the race weekend will be built and waiting at Grand Strand Bicycles. Immediately following your race, drop it off at the designated area outside of the transition area. If you leave the transition area with your bike, it is your responsibility to return your bike to the shop. Grand Strand will disassemble and re-pack your bike for you. *If you are not using High Country Shipping, it is YOUR responsibility to arrange a shipping company to have your bike picked up from Grand Strand Myrtle Beach Shop.

Service Choices & Fees:
• As a courtesy to our out-of-town athletes that will be shipping bikes to Grand Strand, there will be no tune-ups the week of the race.
• Drop-Off Pre-Race Tune-Up - Available Saturday, September 24th through Friday, September 20th = $49.00
• Pre-Race Unpack, Assemble, Post-Race Disassemble, and Pack for Shipment = $125.00
• Bike Storage Only = $20.00
*Bikes must arrive at the above address by Wednesday, October 5th. (Bikes received after October 5th will incur an additional $50 assembly charge.) There will be additional adjustments and repairs available on Friday, October 7th inside the Transition Area for separate fees.
**No major tune-ups will be provided on October 7th or on race day.

Policies & Refunds:

Refund Policy: 50% of your entry fee will be refunded up until 45 days from race date. Refunds are not available for any reason, other than active military service, less than 45 days prior to an event. Event entries are not transferable between persons, events or years. No exceptions will be made to this policy. By registering for this event you agree to these refund terms. To request a refund fill out and submit a form on our Contact Page.

Weather Policy: In the event of inclement weather, the event will be postponed as long as possible in hopes the inclement weather will pass. If the event is not possible, the event will be cancelled and a 25% credit for next year will be issued for all registered participants in the 2011 event. No refunds will be issued if the event is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Event Photos:

Action Sports Images is the official race day photographer! Be sure to wear your bib number on the front of your shirt so we an identify your photos! They will be on the course and at the finish capturing your accomplishment. Sign up now to have an email notification sent when your photos are ready at www.ActionSportsImages.com.

Race Categories & Awards:

Race Categories:
• Male & Female Age Groups: 5-Year Increments (19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80 & Over)
• Clydesdale 39 & Under (Males 200+ lbs.)
• Clydesdale 40 & Over (Males 200+ lbs.)
• Athena (Females 150+ lbs.)
• International Distance Relay Teams - All teams will compete in the same category. We will award the Top Three Teams.

Award Information:
• Awards will be presented to the Top Overall Male and Female Champions as well as the Top Three in each Division.
• The Top Relay Team will also be awarded.

Ultramax Championship Series:

The Ultramax Championship Series launched in 2004 and starts over with each new season. The Series is a competition comprised of Ultramax owned races, and a select few of Missouri's best events. Participants are awarded points at each Ultramax Series Race based on their individual finish time versus the overall amateur's finish time. Much like the USAT rankings, events in the Series have a multiplier based on the specific event.

Championship Series Requirements:
• You must be an Annual USAT Member before the season starts to be counted in the series.
• New for 2011: You must have a "PostMyTime" ID number at the time of race registration to have your score tallied as part of the Ultramax Championship Series. If you do not have an ID number or you cannot remember it, both can be resolved by visiting the PostMyTime page.

Event Sanction - USA Triathlon:

USA Triathlon competition rules will apply. The complete list of rules can be found at http://www.usatriathlon.org.

USA Triathlon Sanctioning: Per USAT rules, please remember to bring a valid photo ID and USAT card to registration. No one will be permitted to race without a photo ID. You must bring your yearly membership card or purchase a one-day license at registration or when you pick up your packet. You must pick up your own packet - you cannot have someone pick up your packet for you.

USA Triathon Most Commonly Violated Rules: It is a good idea to review this document before race day!

Intersted In Volunteering?

We have positions of all kinds where volunteers can see the start, portions of the race and even the finish. Nearly 100% of all unsolicited racer comments include praise for our volunteers; this is truly what makes these events possible. The racers really appreciate your time because they know and realize they could not pursue this sport without volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please take a second to fill out our Volunteer Inquiry Form.