Info- Rocky Point Triathlon

Tenth Anniversary Las Palomas Rocky Point Triathlon,
Sprint Triathlon,
Triathlon Relays
10k Run,
Open Water Swim
April 30, 2005 8:00 am

Race Information			Registration	Travel & Accommodations	Results
Race Info	Local Info	Prerace Meeting	Entry Fees	Travel Info	Current
Course Details	Local Weather	Awards/Tshirts	Entry Form	Lodging Info	Previous
Relays	Packet Pickup		Online Registration	Maps	Course Records
Clydesdale Athena Information	Swim Event	Banquet	Refund Information

WATER TEMP: Approximately 76-80 (wetsuit ruling made race day)
AIR TEMP: 70 at start, 85 at finish
PACKET PICK-UP: 2:00pm - 10:00pm, April 29, Playa Bonita Hotel, also 1:00pm - 5:00pm on Sat April 23 at Landis Cyclery at Warner & Rural in Tempe.
WELCOME PARTY: 6:00pm - 9:00pm Las Palomas
PRE-RACE MEETING: 6:00pm, April 29 Las Palomas
FIESTA BANQUET: 6:00pm, April 30 Plaza las Glorias
TECATE AWARDS PARTY: 8:00pm, April 30
ENTRY FEES: Click here
ENTRY FORM: Click here
ONLINE REGISTRATION:Click here

This is it – the greatest triathlon party on the planet – THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY LAS PALOMAS ROCKY POINT TRIATHLON. April 30 in Rocky Point, Mexico, short a short skip, jump and hop from Phoenix, Arizona. Sponsored by LAS PALOMAS, the premier golf resort in Rocky Point and our longtime friends at TECATE, the tenth anniversary race promises to be bigger and more crazy than ever.
The beach at Rocky Point is just a short 4 hour drive from Phoenix and only 60 miles south of the border. Rocky Point is rapidly becoming one of the premier tourist destinations in all of Mexico. Stay in a 12th floor penthouse or camp at the beach, there is something for everybody in Rocky Point.
We start late at Rocky Point – 8:00am! We know that everybody wants to enjoy Rocky Point on the night before the race, why start at the crack of dawn? The weather in Rocky Point in the spring is ideal for our late start, cool mornings and mid-afternoon breezes make for perfect conditions.
Race weekend starts Friday with packet pick-up and registration at Playa Bonita Hotel. For those driving down, don’t worry we are staying until 10:00pm. And if you can’t make that, let us know and we will make special arrangements for you to get your packet.

For those that take a vacation day on Friday, join us for the Annual Welcome Party. Las Palomas will be hosting our welcome party. We start at 6:00pm, come out and enjoy some food, beer and margaritas and see the fabulous resort and golf course that Las Palomas is building on Sandy Beach.
Race weekend ends with our Tenth Anniversary Banquet at Plaza Las Glorias. Limited to 600, the setting is poolside overlooking beach as the sun sets over the Sea of Cortez. The Palapa Bar is open and the Mexican food is extraordinary. Join 600 of your closest triathlete friends at 6:00pm at Plaza Las Glorias. Please buy tickets for yourself and your friends as we sell out every year approximately 3 weeks before the race.

The good news is that conditions are perfect for an 8:00am start to the Tenth Anniversary Las Palomas Rocky Point Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon and 10K. The bad news is that we have had to change our 10:00am start to 8:00am.

Each year we consult tidal charts to determine the start time but, due to winter storms, beach conditions and local tidal fluctuations, the exact start time cannot be determined until race weekend. The above tide chart is for Saturday morning, April 30. Conditions are ideal for a great 8:00am start and with the gentle outgoing tide, should stay ideal for several hours. Please note, however, that exact determinations of beach conditions are approximate at this time and final determination will be made on race weekend.

SWIM (Click to view full size map)

Both triathlon swims and the 1500 meter open water swim are in the Sea of Cortez. The water is generally calm with no currents. There is no sea life to be concerned about during the swim. Water temperature is expected to be in the mid to high 70s. USAT rules will be followed and a determination of wetsuit usage will be made on race day. The start is in water. You will be asked to clear the water and gather in the swim start corrals corresponding with your cap color. There will be no swim warm-up in the swim start area and athletes will not be allowed in the water until the prior wave has left.
The course generally follows a square, keeping buoys on your left. The start will be in front of Plaza Las Glorias, with the finish by the sea wall, with a short run across the beach, through the pool area and to the transition area. The exact layout of the swim will depend on tidal conditions. Early checks of the tide charts look like ideal conditions.

BIKE Click to view full size map)

East on Calle 13 to the first light, turn right. South to the first big four way intersection and turn left and then right on the main blvd. Turn left at the light and go approximately 7 miles where you hook around at the intersection and head northwest back to the main highway (the one to the border) Right on main highway and then u-turn and back through town to Calle 13 (just past the pedestrian bridge). Right on Calle 13 to the transition area.
The sprint turnaround will be on the Caborca road past the Las Conchas intersection.

Landis Cyclery will be providing bike support at registration between 6:00pm and 8:00pm and again from 7:30am to 9:30am near the transition area. Landis will only be providing minor tweaking and adjustment, not major repairs.

TRIATHLON RUN(Click to view full size map)

The triathlon run is one of the most fun in the sport. It starts by meandering through the commercial port, winds through the tourist area of Old Port, climbs Montezuma’s Revenge (a most gnarly hill with spectacular 70 mile views from the top) goes by the beach bars and then returns to the finish line at Plaza Las Glorias. Typically there are thousands of spectators lining the course. Purified water will be provided at all aid stations. Aid stations will be every mile. Gatorade will be at mile 2 and 4.

10K RUN Click to view full size map)

The 10K run follows the exact same course as the triathlon run. The 10K will start at 8:00am at the run exit of the triathlon transition area. Purified water will be available at all aid stations. The finish will be the same as the triathlon finish.

Corporate relay members must be employed at same business. Family relay members must be related.
All relay members must sign waiver at packet pickup. There is no relay division in the Sprint Triathlon race.

The Rocky Point Triathlon is adding a 1500 meter swim for those who do not wish to bike and run. It will be the same course as the 1500 meter swim done by the triathletes. Swimmers will start in their own wave after the triathletes have started (or two waves if we have enough people). The swim will be roughly triangular in shape and will start adjacent to Plaza Las Glorias. The course will be marked with 5 foot triangular buoys and will be patrolled by City of Tucson lifeguards. The water temperature is expected to be about 78 degrees, wetsuits will be allowed but the water is warm enough to enjoy the swim without one. Click "here" to link to a downloadable entry blank or go to www.active.com.

PUERTO PEÑASCO One of the best parts of the Rocky Point Triathlon is that there is something to do for the whole family. Puerto Peñasco is the closest beach to Phoenix or Tucson and only slightly longer from San Diego and Southern California. Shopping ranges from curios to fine Mexican furniture. The food and drink is as good as any place in Mexico. So, come down and race hard and have a great weekend in Mexico! Puerto Peñasco (or Rocky Point as it is known to tourists) is a paradise on the Gulf of California that is only now being discovered by tourists. With an enticing mixture of traditional Mexico and modern tourist amenities, Puerto Peñasco offers something for everybody.

Few places on the Gulf of California have such a wide variety of attractions for visitors. With a pleasant average temperature of 95°F in the summer and 64°F in the winter, Puerto Peñasco is the perfect place to enjoy the ocean and sun on white sand beaches that extend as far as the eye can see. The moderate waves and warm water are ideal for playing, windsurfing, sailing or scuba diving. Sport fishing is a year-round activity with anglers catching snapper, red hind, Spanish mackerel, triggerfish, spotted sand bass and other game fish. Ecotourists enjoy the tidal fluctuations, second in the world only to the Bay of Fundy in Canada, and the myriad of sea life exposed at low tide. Birding enthusiasts can view some of the largest collections of aquatic birds in the world at the tidal estuaries. Scuba divers often see sea lions, dolphins and the rare vaquita, which is an endangered species native to the region.
Puerto Peñasco is surrounded by fascinating geological phenomena. The internationally known El Pinacate Biosphere Preserve is a short drive north of town and has craters from volcanic eruptions that occurred as recently as 1000 years ago. The area was also used by NASA to train astronauts in the 1960s due to the area’s similarity to the Moon’s surface. Desert bighorn sheep make their home on 4000-foot Pinacate Peak and can often be sighted.
Puerto Peñasco offers tourists a wealth of lodging, dining and club choices. Plaza Las Glorias, one of the biggest hotel chains in Mexico, has one of their finer hotels in Puerto Peñasco. Other options include Playa Bonita and, for budget travelers, El Señorial. Dining can be as simple as a delicious taco at a roadside stand to fine dining at Lily’s, El Capitan or the Friendly Dolphin. From time immemorial Rocky Point has been known as a place to party. J.J.’s in Cholla Bay is famous for both its fabulous views and raucous atmosphere. In town, everybody seems to end up at Pitaya or Margaritavilla before the night is over.

The weather on April 30 is likely to be quite nice. Temperatures at the start of the race likely be in the mid 70s and up to the mid 80s by the end of the race. The humidity can be high but often gentle ocean breezes moderate the conditions and likely will create a headwind on the bike return.

FIESTA BANQUET
Plaza Las Glorias will be hosting our banquet. There is no better way to celebrate a successful triathlon than sharing a good meal with your fellow competitors and with the sun setting over the Sea of Cortez. The Fiesta Banquet will start at 6:00pm and finish at 8:00pm. We will sell out. Last year we sold out of the banquet three weeks before the event. When the banquet sells out we will post that information on the web site. If there any extra tickets they will be sold at registration.
TICKETS TO BANQUET
We are limited to 600 people at the banquet. Triathlon competitors can purchase a ticket for $7. 10K competitors can purchase a ticket for $12. Tickets are also available for purchase so that family and friends can attend. The cost is $14 for adults, $8 for children 7-12 and free for children 6 & under. Tickets will be sold to competitors/family/friends on a first come/first served basis. Once we have sold 600 tickets we will not be able to accommodate any more people. That means that it is possible that you may enter but we may not have space at the banquet.
Please note that Rocky Point is famous for its fresh seafood and many fine restaurants. We will be working with the restaurants in town to provide special deals to competitors, their family and friends. So, even if the banquet is sold out, there are some great restaurants waiting to whet the voracious appetites of triathletes.

Also you can pick your packet the week before the race- 1:00pm - 5:00pm on Sat April 23 at Landis Cyclery at Warner & Rural in Tempe.

The Pre-Race meeting will be at Las Palomas at 6:00pm on Friday, April 29. Check out the Las Palomas booth at registration or directions. Come to the pre-race meeting and stay for the Welcome Party! Look for announcements posted at Registration. If there is critical information that you need to know, we will inform you at the swim start.

Awards ceremony is at 8:00 pm. Custom awards will be given for overall, age group and collegiate. This ceremony is fun and free to everyone- join us and bring your friends and family along. Please note that awards will not be mailed.

Clydesdale/Athena
USAT rules will be followed. Please check the USAT website at www.usatriathlon.org for more information. At the time of this writing, the USAT rules dictate that those eligible for the Clydesdale category be men who are 200 pounds and over and those eligible for the Athena category be women who are 150 pounds and over.

The Rocky Point Sprint Triathlon has been created to provide more competitive opportunities for those who want to try their first triathlon but are a little intimidated by the longer distances of the Rocky Point Triathlon. Make no mistake, though, this is a real triathlon and nothing will be compromised in order to provide the best possible triathlon experience.

We will be starting with an open water 300 meter swim in the Sea of Cortez, just steps from Plaza Las Glorias. The swim will be out and back and well patrolled by lifeguards. Our transition area will be the same for all races, in the north parking lot of Plaza Las Glorias. The 8k (4.8 miles) bike course will be on the course as the Rocky Point Triathlon but we will time the race such that the Sprint Triathlon contestants will have the course to themselves. The final 2K run will be along the marina and port of area of Puerto Peñasco and will return to the finish line in front of Puerto Peñasco.

There are no relay divisions in the Sprint Triathlon. Split times will not be provided.

Please read the Online Registration Information page. When you are ready to register online, click on the appropriate link below.

We are happy to transfer you between the sprint triathlon and the Rocky Point Triathlon, or vice versa, at any time. Please do us a favor and let us know as soon as possible should you wish to do so.
A full refund, minus any fees charged by Active.com for online entry, will be given if the refund is requested thirty (30) days before race day. After that, we cannot give refunds, transfer entries or rollover entries to any other race for any reason whatsoever (and please be advised that we have heard them all). This includes weather, injury or the necessity to change distances or the course due to unforeseen and/or unanticipated circumstances.

Puerto Peñasco (commonly known as Rocky Point) is an easy 3.5 hour drive from Phoenix or Tucson on very good roads. There is no air service to Rocky Point but cars can be rented from the Phoenix and Tucson airports that can be taken into Mexico. From the border town of Lukeville, Puerto Peñasco is 60 miles south into Mexico.

From San Diego and Los Angeles, the fastest way to Puerto Penasco is to cross at Yuma and take Highway 2 to Sonoyta and then south to Puerto Peñasco. Travel time is 5-6 hours.

As it is located on the Gulf of California, Puerto Peñasco grew up as a fishing town but is now a major Southwestern tourist destination and the Mexican government has made travel very easy. Puerto Peñasco is in a travel free zone and no special paperwork or fee is needed for either yourself or your vehicle. It is, however, advisable to purchase Mexican auto insurance.

The road from the border to Puerto Peñasco (about 100k) has recently been fixed and is in great shape with wide shoulders.

Mexican Insurance:
Mexican law states that every car must be insured while driven in Mexico.
It is advisable to purchase Mexican insurance for your automobile before you cross the border. It is very easy and absolutely no hassle considering the alternatives

For more information about Rocky Point and the Sonora, Mexico area, visit Sonora Turismo website.

Flight Information
Flights are not available into Rocky Point. The easiest way to get to Rocky Point by air is to fly into Tucson or Phoenix and rent a car to drive the short drive to Rocky Point. A number of car rental companies rent cars that can be driven to Rocky Point.

BIKES FLY FREE: Tucson Racing has made arrangements with America West for a discount on the lowest published coach fare and free bike transportation, which can be as much as a $190 saving. In orde r to get this discount you must call our flight travel agent, Navigant Travel, 800-836-5823. You must ask for the TUCSON RACING fare in order to eligible for discounts and bikes flying free.

Please call Mexico Tours at 520-325-3284 for all travel needs to the Rocky Point Triathlon. Mexico Tours is the exclusive travel agent of the Rocky Point Triathlon and reservations at the Plaza Las Glorias, as well as all triathlon discounts, can only be made through them. In addition, Mexico Tours has rooms reserved all over town that can meet every budget need.

Plaza Las Glorias is our host hotel but we will be working closely with them, as well as many other hotels, to make sure that we can provide everybody with their lodging choice. Please note that we sell out of the desirable rooms first.

If you want to have maximum lodging choice, please make your reservations early. All properties that we work with are clean and safe although some are not directly on the beach. Please give Mexico Tours a try as they are able to provide rooms to fit a wide range of budgets. Reservations at most of the hotels in town can only be made for two nights - April 29 and April 30. Please understand that this is high season and rooms are at a premium. All reservations are being handled by Mexico Tours. Call them at 325-3284 in Tucson or 1-800-347-4731.

Please make your travel plans early as it is likely that the town will be out of hotel rooms by race weekend. Last year we were able to accommodate everybody but choices were increasingly limited by race weekend.

Mexico Tours is also able to help with all other travel needs, including airline reservations, car rentals where the car can be driven into Mexico and other hotel reservations.

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