McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center, Scottsdale, AZ

April 19th, 2025 | 7:00 AM

The RipRoar Youth Triathlon Series, in partnership with USA Kid’s Tri and the Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission, are excited to announce the 2nd Annual RipRoar Arizona Youth Triathlon.

Experience an early-season race in Arizona's warmth at Scottsdale's McDowell Mountain Ranch Preserve. This swim, bike, and run course with stunning city and mountain views is exclusively for youth ages 6-17 and promises a positive and challenging experience for all who attend.

Divisions & Distances

Race Weekend Timeline

All race related activities from early packet pick through the award ceremonies will be centered around the transition and finish line areas located just south of the McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. All Friday activities, while helpful for new athletes, are not required. Packets that are not picked up at “Early Packet Pick Up” will be waiting for athletes at their assigned transition number on race day.

All registered athletes will receive further race instructions including their bib number throughout the week leading up to the race.

The Course

The Swim

Athletes start their race swimming a “snake style” course at the beautiful McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center. Tucked next to the hills of McDowell Mountain Ranch Preserve this beautiful swimming pool is the perfect place for youth new to the sport to confidently take on the course and gain confidence with multiple lifeguards in the water and lane ropes at their side. Seniors will complete 8 lengths, Intermediates 4 lengths, and Juniors a simple down and back. Athletes start one at a time, every 3 to 5 seconds, and are positioned based on their age and gender.

 Please note: Athletes will not be allowed to wear a life vest during the swim, due to USAT regulations

The Bike

The looped bike course takes place primarily on 102nd Way and the interior drive of the Reata Sports Complex. While the course is flat relative to the nearby McDowell Moutain Preserve athletes will rarely have flat roads beneath them, with the transition/lap area sitting at the top of the course. The bike course will be completely closed to vehicular traffic to ensure athlete safety. *Note: this course has multiple “traffic tables” on the route. While these are a staple of the Phoenix metro area, athletes are advised to always keep their hands on their handlebars and plan accordingly for this additional challenge on the route. Seniors will complete 3 laps, Intermediates 2 laps, and Juniors 1 lap of the bike course.

Please note The RipRoar Arizona Bike Course contains four “speed bumps.” Click the link below to learn more about how to handle this aspect of our course in the safest way possible.

The Run

For the final leg of the race, sponsored by Certified Piedmontese Beef, athletes will run a clockwise loop of the Desert Canyon Middle School grounds and adjacent roads. Like the bike course, this route will be completely closed to traffic to allow unimpeded progress. The course will feature an aid station on each lap with a finish line set against the backdrop of McDowell Mountain. Seniors will complete 3 laps, Intermediates 2 laps and Juniors 1 lap. All athletes are encouraged (and incentivized) to join the fun at the finish line to welcome in the final finishers of the day before the award ceremony.  

Please note that the course map is subject to change.

PACKET PICK UP and COURSE TALK

We will have early packet pick-up the day before the event. Join us on Friday afternoon before the race to pick up your packet, check out your transition spot, and find some new RipRoar swag! Packets include a swim cap, bike number, race bib, and $10 in RipRoar rewards to use at the merch tent!

At 5:00 p.m. you can join the Beginner Triathlon Clinic and course walk-through hosted by USA Kids Tri that will meet at Transition. This is not required, but it is a great way to learn how triathlons work - all about transition, gear, and the course you will race the next day!

TRANSITION

At 5:30 a.m. on race morning, transition will open for all athletes.

It is RipRoar policy that all athletes (including intermediates and juniors) must set up their bikes and transition areas between 5:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. on race morning. All bikes must be racked by either the seat of the bike or by using a kickstand. Please note that we do not allow bike stands in transition due to space. Parents are welcome in transition prior to the race, but will not be allowed in during the running of the events. Don’t worry - RipRoar staff and volunteers are trained and ready to help athletes as they work their way through transition.

It is a RipRoar policy that athletes need to wait to remove their belongings from transition until the entire race is over.

START LINE

Athletes will be lined up based based on their assigned bib number. We assign bib numbers based on age and gender so that all athletes competing in the same division are grouped together. The order of athletes within these divisions is solely at the race director’s discretion and will not be lined up based on swimming ability.

FINISH LINE

The RipRoar finish line is unlike anything else, especially during the junior division event. Our belief is a straightforward one: triathlon is a hard sport, and we want to positively reinforce a child’s desire to do hard things. Therefore, we build a massive finish line chute, line it with red carpet, and strongly encourage all athletes and spectators to help make it something special. If we all do our part, we can get these kids addicted to the feeling of crossing difficult finish lines.

POST-RACE PARTY + AWARDS CEREMONY

Triathlon represents a big challenge for our athletes and we give out big hardware. Every finisher, regardless of place, will receive a super sweet finisher medal. In addition, we highlight the top five boys and girls from every age (6, 7, 8 etc.). The award ceremony is held approximately 20 minutes following the final finisher crossing the finish line. During this time we invite all athletes to remove all their items from transition. Those looking to leave the venue are welcome to do so.

Race Sponsors + Supporters

Race Partner: USA Kid’s Tri by USA Triathlon

RipRoar Arizona and USA Kids Tri have teamed up to revolutionize youth triathlon and multisport activities. Our partnership focuses on introducing and nurturing a love for multisport in schools and community centers. Through this initiative, young athletes can access expert coaching, join thriving clubs, and participate in incredible races like RipRoar Arizona.

The program emphasizes inclusive opportunities for kids from diverse economic backgrounds, ensuring everyone has a chance to lead healthier, more active lifestyles. This collaboration is set to expand nationwide, promising a brighter, more dynamic future for youth triathlon.

USA Kids Tri Arizona is made possible by the Tridave Legacy Trust.

Dave Alexander, longtime triathlete, is a founder of the Tridave Legacy Trust. Tridave Legacy Trust’s indendent philanthropy will help introduce the sport and its lifelong health benefits to youth in the Arizona and provide five years of support for coaches, races, school outreach and training programs in the area youth getting involved with triathlon.

“Triathlon is a terrific sport that has done so much for me over the years. I’ve always said if I can do a triathlon, I can do anything,” said Dave Alexander. “Getting kids involved in triathlon will expand their life. The sport will expand their athletic and mental capacity. It is an amazing sport with a wonderful community and the work the USA Triathlon Foundation is doing is just terrific.