McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center, Scottsdale, AZ

April 19th, 2025 | 8:00 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 inaugural 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.  

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 2 laps while intermediates and Juniors complete 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.  

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.