The swim is in the Cass River, which is overlooked by all of the incredible shops of Frankenmuth. This section of the river is used for the final leg of the swim challenge event in the river each year.
The bike course is on rural country roads - lightly travelled, some spots you will be lucky to see a vehicle. It is pretty much as flat as it gets out there.
The run is also flat as a pancake, but will take you by all the sights and sounds of beautiful Frankenmuth. It is a loop run course with a dedicated closed course most of the way.
To keep the event safe for athletes, as well as the thousands of spectators and visitors to Frankenmuth, official course cut off is 11:30 pm. This will not be a loose cut off, this will be the official course cut off STRICTLY ENFORCED. Any athletes still on the course at 11:30 pm will be picked up and brought to the Transition Area. Half Bavaria Athletes will sign a release form for that cut off.
Again this is one of Michigan's top tourist destinations bringing thousands of people to the area on a daily basis. Your safety is our top priority so making sure we have all the athletes off the roads by that time is very important.
The Transition area is located behind the River Place Shops in the large grass lot to the right of the famous covered bridge. We will rack everyone according to his/her age group, so you will know who is in your wave based on who is racking around you.
No friends or family members allowed in the transition area for any reason. The race director and race officials will close the transition area 30-45 minutes before race start to ensure all athletes are at the starting area for mandatory course meeting and announcements. Once the transition area is closed, you will NOT be permitted back in before the race starts. Family/Friends will not be permitted in for any reason at any time throughout the event.
When the last cyclist is off the course and has headed out for the run. This time is variable and we will make announcements at the event when the transition area is ready to re-open.
Any athletes removing gear from transition areas before the announcer or race director has officially opened the transition area will be DISQUALIFIED from the race! This pertains to all athletes of all distances. All athletes deserve a clear transition.
In the event of inclement weather, it is recommended you have warm, dry clothing outside the transition area to put on following your finish due to other athletes still being on the bike course.
When you have completed the race, please do NOT enter the transition area wearing your timing chip. PLEASE remove your chip before re-entering the transition area and exiting again. This will cause a timing error.
You must rack according to your race number, based on the sequence numbers placed at the end of each row. Please remember racks will hold 7 bikes racked with the seat tip on support bar. Please be courteous to fellow athletes to ensure there is space for 7 bikes on a rack. If there is not enough room for your bike on your designated rack, please see a 3D Team member and we will help. Please do not move another athletes bike or gear.
Run In/Out and Bike In/Out chutes are clearly marked on the large structures at either end. It is your responsibility to go the right direction while racing in the transition area.
You must be on time and get into your wave start area. The start will NOT be delayed. You will make your way onto the Belle River Queen boat, out to the plank and start off the plank crossing a timing matt at the edge of the plank. The river will be divided in half. Your will turnaround at your designated buoy where there will be a break in the swim line. Simply turn there, head back passing the Belle River Queen heading towards the waterfall, exiting to a step out of the river..
Olympic Distance athletes start at 7:30am. A time trial start off the Belle River Queen boat plank. You will be seeded according to your 1500m ACTUAL swim times. Don't know? seed in back.
Sprint Bavaria: 7:50 a.m. A time trial start off the Belle River Queen boat plank. You will be seeded according to your 500m ACTUAL swim times. Don't know your time, seed at the back.
Super Bavaria: 8:05 a.m. A time trial start off the Belle River Queen boat plank. You will be seeded according to your 200m ACTUAL swim times. Don't know your time, seed at the back.
Exiting the transition area you will take the back entry/exit drive to the Bavarian Inn onto Weiss street South. Left at the four way onto Jefferson that becomes Curtis then Ormes down to a RIGHT on Lewis. Left on Townline to a Left on Bray to a Right on Ormes. This will take you to a Left on Buell. A great section of the course here taking you along a beautiful tree lined section along the river on Loren. This will bring you back to Bray, making a RIGHT on Ormes and back to the venue. This is a one, two or four lap course and it is your responsibility to keep track of your laps.
Aid Station: as you make your loop through the fenced roundabout you will enter after the driveway and have the aid station immediately. Gatorade Endurance bottles, water bottles, bananas, pickles, and fig newtons.
Exiting the Transition Area, you follow an exit chute which opens to a coned cross-country course for about 2 tenths of a mile. That will bring you out onto Weiss street south bound across Jefferson, down Weiss Street, past Bronners Christmas Shops, crossing into Grandpa Tiny's farm across the bridge to a RIGHT on Townline, Right on main street back onto Bronners Christmas Lane. Continuing North down Main street via a coned lane to the sidewalk at the River Place shops. Then crossing the pedestrian bridge down, to a RIGHT on Covered Bridge Lane to a LEFT down the grass hill to the river. About 2 tenths cross country style back on the path along the river, around back through beautiful Heritage park. The path will take you around the park and back out onto Weiss st. From that point you have about 800m to the finish line as we bring you into the same driveway you exited along the bike lap chute and into the finish line or out for lap 2. This will truly be an unforgettable run with all the sights and sounds along the route.
To keep the event safe for athletes as well as the thousands of spectators and visitors to Frankenmuth OFFICIAL RUN COURSE CUT OFF OF 11:30 pm. This will NOT be a loose cut off, this will be the OFFICIAL course cut off. Any athletes still on the course will be picked up and brought to the Transition Area.
You will start with your specific swim wave. Check the information cube at the event for wave start information.
You will complete the Swim and Bike disciplines of the event. Following your Bike discipline, you will dismount your bike, cross the Bike In timing mats and place your bike back at your spot on the rack in the Transition Area. You will then proceed across the Run Out timing mats and you are done! Your finish time will be when you cross the timing mats at that point.
If the event offers a finisher’s memento, please proceed to the finish area to receive the item. Tell the support crew at the finish line you were in the aquabike race and they will hand you the finishers memento.
You will keep your timing chip & strap on until all the bikes are off the course. Once we announce the transition is open, you may turn your chip & strap in at the designated collection point and retrieve your gear at that point.
The race tip here is, first of all, Come Early!!! this event has a lot of components to it like any event in a tourist destination in the summer. Don't wait till race morning to figure things out! Come during the summer to train to get the lay of the land. Plan to come a day or two early to get a feel for where everything is at. This will make for a stress free event for you to race your best.
Next get to the swim early, if you need to warm up you will need to get in the water and out and in line in time. So that is looking like 6:45 a.m. to not be rushed. If no warm up is required, get down in line in plenty of time to get seeded. Once you start swimming take advantage of the swim lane. where do you get a lane lined swim course? You need to get into a smooth comfortable groove quickly with a swim like this. The water will be flat, so use that lane to your advantage, picking one swimmer off at a time.
Exiting the swim it is a good 300m to the transition area so use that time to get your self stretched and ready for the bike. If you do not run well barefooted take shoes to the swim with you. . Also knowing where you are at all times in your age group will be key during the bike. You will know when you get out there where you stand as the transition area is set up according to age group as well.
The wind can be a factor on this course as there are few spots for wind breaks, so it is important to know where the wind is coming from. There are few trees and a flat course means the wind can affect your race. Know where the wind is coming from before the swim, so you know where to drop the hammer on the course. It is flat as a pancake so no worries about any climbs at all.
Finally the run: you will be extra motivated due to all there is to see and hear, so again pay attention when you get to your section in the Transition Area how many bikes are there. This will immediately let you know how many athletes you can go after. Enjoy all the sights and sounds, use that as motivation and start going after your competition one at a time. We will see you at the finish line with a smile and the party awaits.