AQUABIKE
1500m SWIM / 40K BIKE
Course Description and Maps
Please review the maps before the race. It is each athlete’s responsibility to know the course and any potential hazards.
TRANSITION AREA
The new transition area will be on the soccer fields at Depot Park. There is a zero-tolerance policy for eating and drinking while inside the fenced area on the turfed grass. Athletes are allowed to bring in nutrition but cannot eat or drink inside on the fields. If we see you eating or drinking on the fields, you will be disqualified. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Transition opens for the Aquabike at 6a.m. and closes at 7:30a.m. Athletes must be body-marked and have their numbered bracelet to enter and exit the Transition area. Athletes only. Transition closes promptly at 1pm. Maps of the new transition area to be posted soon!
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Swim Course
**New This Year** The swim will start with a rolling start. Athletes start the race in smaller groups at regular intervals. Instead of everyone diving into the water at once, participants enter the water in a continuous stream, based on their estimated swim finish time. Athletes will not be divided by age or gender, everyone will begin in this rolling start base on estimated finish time only. All Athletes will need to be ready at the beach for the 8:00am start time. Aquabike athletes will start with the Olympic distance racers.
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The swim corral will be located on Main Beach in front of the Boardwalk bandstand. Aquabike swimmers will start in the rolling start, heading clockwise around the Wharf and exiting the water at Cowell Beach. There are two buoys at the end of the Wharf that swimmers will go around and keep on their right shoulder. If you do not go around the buoys you may be disqualified. Once you end at Cowells Beach, swimmers run through the parking lot, across the street and up a paved path and under the trestle to the transition area. Volunteers will guide racers.
In the event of extreme fog delay, an alternate swim course that parallels Main Beach will be utilized.
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NEW Bike Course
Note: The Bike In and Out go on the road overpass, above the train tracks.
Start:
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Exit transition and head up Washington Street Extension, across train trestle onto West Cliff Drive
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Right on Bay Street
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Left on Laguna Street
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Left on Santa Cruz Street
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Right on West Cliff Drive ​
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Right on Woodrow Avenue
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Left on Delaware Avenue
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Continue on Delaware Avenue
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Right on Natural Bridges Drive
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Right on Mission Street Extension and a quick Left on Western Drive
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Left onto Highway 1 and ride out to Davenport
In Davenport:
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Right on Davenport Avenue
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Left on Marine View Avenue
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Left on Ocean St. at the top of the hill on Marine View Avenue to return to Highway 1 (look for volunteers)
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Left on Highway 1 all the way back to Santa Cruz
In return to Santa Cruz:
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Right onto the Schaffer Road and a quick left onto Mission Street Extension (caution it is a quick left after a right hand turn)
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Right onto Natural Bridges Drive
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Left Turn onto Delaware Avenue
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Right turn onto Woodrow Avenue
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Left onto West Cliff Drive
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Stay right of the cones at Bay Street to finish then veer left to go over the train trestle to head back to transition.
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Watch for dismount area at the side of the transition area.
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Go left into the transition area
Aquabike racers will receive their medals in the Transition Area. Please visit the Athlete Information table to collect your medal.
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Note: The Swim In and the Run Out both follow the path at the back of the park and go under the train trestle, avoiding the street traffic on Pacific Avenue. The Bike In and Out go on the road overpass, above the train tracks.
Any course changes and details will be covered in the mandatory pre-race meeting on the main beach at Lifeguard Tower #3 at 7:45 am.