OLYMPIC DISTANCE
1500m SWIM / 40K BIKE / 10K RUN
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.
Swim Course
The swim corral will be located on Main Beach in front of the Boardwalk bandstand. Swimmers will start in waves, heading clockwise around the Wharf, making two right shoulder buoy turns at the end of the wharf, then swimming parallel to the wharf toward the Dream Inn (the big white building on shore) and exiting the water at Cowell Beach. From there, swimmers run up the walking ramp along the Dream Inn, run across the street and up a paved path under the trestle to the transition area. Volunteers will guide racers.
In the event of extreme fog delays, an alternate swim course that parallels Main Beach will be utilized.
*Note: there are two buoys at the end of the wharf that you must keep on your right shoulder. Go around the buoys or you may be disqualified.
NEW Bike Course
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 turn onto Bay Street
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Left turn onto Lighthouse Avenue
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Left turn onto Cowell Street
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Continue on West Cliff drive which turns into Swanton Boulevard
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Left Delaware Street
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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 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 quick left onto Mission Street Extension
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Right onto Natural Bridges Drive
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Left onto Delaware Avenue
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Right onto Swanton Boulevard which turns into West Cliff Drive
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Stay left on Washington Street Extension (over the train trestle) and back down the hill to transition.
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Watch for dismount area just before the base of the hill!
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Go into the first driveway of the transition area
Run Course
The Run Out section from transition is on the path that goes under the train trestle. The run is along West Cliff Drive. The turnaround is about .2 miles before Delaware Ave. You will finish at the beach this year down at Cowell's. Run down the hill in front of the Dream Inn and go through the Cowell's parking lot and you will be guided onto the beach for an epic finish!
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.
