Facts & Questions Are bike inspections mandatory? Bike inspection are not mandatory and you may have your bike checked locally; however we are a local organization whose goal is to provide a safe venue. The simplest way to get bikes checked is at the Spokesman Bicycles downtown Santa Cruz. Bikes can be taken there during the month of September and get a bike check free of charge. May I give or sell my slot to someone else? All entries are non-transferable. If an applicant would like to request a refund before the deadline (Monday, September 1, 2003) , they may do so, keeping in mind that a processing fee will be included in that decision. Thank you for respecting our policy. Participants found racing under another persons name will be disqualified and could be barred from USA Triathlon membership for one full year; this is a USA Triathlonrule. You will also be barred from racing in future Sentinel Triathlons. Do I need a wetsuit for the swim? A wetsuit is strongly recommended for the swim course. The water is cold (less than 55° degrees) and there can be a current. In previous races surf conditions were highly unusual (surf shot), but there can be swells and chop. Remember, a wetsuit is an advantage over not having a wetsuit. How does the wave start work for the swim? Because of the volume of swimmers, we start in waves that are five minutes apart. The first wave starts at 8 AM, males 34 and under. The second wave starts at 8:05, males 35-39. The third wave starts at 8:10, males 40 and over. The forth wave starts at 8:15, females 34 and under. The fifth wave starts at 8:20, females 35 and over. The last wave starts at 8:25, relay teams and Athena/Clydesdale. Make sure you are wearing the appropriate swim cap for your wave. Are there assigned bike racks in the transition area? NO, bike racks are available on a first come, first serve basis. You must rack your bike on the bike racks provided. There is a special bike racking section for relay teams located on Bay Avenue. Please do not take more than one space for your transition set-up; every space is needed. Your gear will be moved if you use more than one space. Can I ride my bike in the transition area? NO, this is the first year that we will be using chip timing for the race. In order to get accurate recording from your chip you will need to walk your bike across the timing mat which will be placed at the bike exit and entrance to the transition area. As you come in from the bike course there will be a "dismount" line. You should be off your bike at this point to avoid a USA Triathlon penalty. Where can I park? You can park in the neighborhood surrounding the transition area. The streets immediately surrounding the transition will be closed. These are Gharkey, Santa Cruz, Laguna, West Cliff Dr. between Bay and Gharkey and Bay Street between West Cliff and Laguna Please try and be quiet when parking in this residential area...we want to be able to stage this event for many years. There is also marking available at the old train depot site at the bottom of the hill on Washington Street. Who does the event benefit? All the profits from this event support all the Santa Cruz County High School and College athletic programs. The Sentinel Triathlon Awarded over $69,000 last year. Students from all the institutions receiving money from the race act as volunteers on the different courses. They appreciate your participation in this event! Where can I get my race packet? Packet pickup is at the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper, click for map, office at 207 Church Street in downtown Santa Cruz on Saturday, September 27, pickup from 9:30 am to 3 pm. Where can I stay in Santa Cruz? It is best to reserve a hotel or motel room well in advance of the event. Even though September is not considered high season, the weekends in Santa Cruz are still very attractive to out of town visitors, thus causing a crunch for hotel/motel space. So find any accommodation you can as soon as possible. Obviously accommodations near the beach/wharf and west side of Santa cruz are the most convenient. But any place in Santa Cruz will be fine at that time of year and that time of day. See our Web site at Monterey Bay Plays for lodging options or Travel Zone for hotel reservations.