Eyes on the podium

NL Summer Games 2024, High Performance – for Pre-Youth, Youth, Junior, & U23

Providing development and competition opportunities for youth and junior age athletes is a key part of TriNL’s Strategic Plan. Hundreds of kids participate in Kids of Steel events across the province, and TriNL would like as many as possible to transition into age group and elite competitions such as the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games and national competitions.

Pre-Youth usually pay $5 one-day membership fees for races. Youth and Junior membership fees (including the $6 Triathlon Canada fee) are set at $23 per year, and discounts are available if parents are also TriNL members. The High Performance Program consists of a monthly fee.

Please contact us if you need more information regarding these age groups.

NL Summer Games - Bay Roberts - August 2024

Athletes from around the Province will gather in the Bay Roberts area in August of 2024 for the next edition of the Newfoundland and Labrador Summer Games. This competition will mark the first time Triathlon will be a part of the Games competition.

Triathlon NL is working on forming and training teams from all regions of the Province, with activities already taking place on the Avalon, and in Eastern, Central, and Labrador. To learn more about the team in your region, or to help form a team in your region, please contact admin@nulltrinl.com. Team training will be assisted in each region based on training programs and clinics provided by Triathlon NL’s provincial coaches.

The age range for the games will be 13 – 16 as of December 31, 2024 (born in 2008, 2009, 2010, or 2011). There will be two events for Triathlon consisting of a modified super-sprint (300m swim, 8.5km bike, and 3.5km run) and a 2-person, mixed team relay (250m swim, 6km swim, 1.5km run for each athlete).

Pre-Youth (ages 10 - 12)

Triathletes are designated in the “Pre-Youth” category if they are between the ages of 10 and 12. Pre-Youth races are found in Kids of Steel events, as well as Triathlon NL’s Indoor Triathlons and Mad Motos. Under the Events menu, check out the listings for the Indoor Triathlon, Mad Moto, St. John’s KOS, and the Clarke’s Beach Sprint Tri and More.

There are maximum course distances mandated for pre-youth age categories for safety and long term athlete development reasons: Age 10/11 – Swim up to 200 m, Bike up to 5 km, Run up to 2 km; Age 12/13 – Swim up to 300 m, Bike up to 10 km, Run up to 3 km.

Youth (ages 13 - 15)

Triathletes are designated in the “Youth” category if they are between the ages of 13 and 15. You will find some youth races as part of Kids of Steel events, and race organizers across the province are including Youth distance events with their adult events as well. Under the Events menu, check out the St. John’s KOS event, and the Clarke’s Beach Try-a-Tri and Paradise Try-a-Tri for suitable distance events for the Youth category. Some relay distances at events will be Youth-eligible as well. Youth age 14 and 15 are eligible to participate in Triathlon NL’s High Performance Program. See the section below for more information.

There are maximum course distances mandated for youth age categories for safety and long term athlete development reasons: Age 12/13 – Swim up to 300 m, Bike up to 10 km, Run up to 3 km; Age 14/15 – Swim up to 500 m, Bike up to 10 km, Run up to 4 km.

Junior (ages 16 - 19)

Triathletes are designated in the “Junior” category if they are between the ages of 16 and 19. Junior age athletes can participate in Sprint distance triathlons (Swim 750 m, Bike 20 km, Run 5 km).

Juniors are eligible to participate in Triathlon NL’s High Performance Program. See the section below for more information.

High Performance Program (Ages 14 - 22)

Triathlon NL’s High Performance Program (HPP) is intended to develop young athletes and provide top performing athletes with training and racing opportunities for advancement to national and international competitions.

The program includes training programs and guidance from our two provincial coaches, Steph Nevin and Will Duggan, who are certified for Competitive coaching by Triathlon Canada, and who also have a wealth of competitive experience at national and international competitions.

The program is designed around regular training in all three disciplines of swim, bike, and run, and can be integrated with participation in programs offered by these sports if appropriate. Training would include, for example, open water swimming technique, bike handling, and transition practice. Training will be organized and progress tracked using Training Peaks if appropriate.

Key features for athletes will be an opportunity each year to represent the province at a national level competition(dependent on availability of age appropriate competitions), with travel subsidized by the program. Athletes will also have access to gear, clothing/swag, and discounts on gear via Triathlon NL and the program sponsors.

The cost of delivering the program will be shared between Triathlon NL and the participants. The participation fee is currently set at $50 per month.

If you are interested in joining the HPP, please contact Triathlon NL at admin@nulltrinl.com.