COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon, along with race production company Ready Set Go Adventures, today announced that the 2020 USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championships have been canceled due to ongoing precautions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Off-Road Nationals were initially scheduled to take place May 16 as part of the Way Over Yonder Off-Road Triathlon & Duathlon hosted by Ready Set Go Adventures at Wawayanda State Park in Hewitt, New Jersey. The event was then rescheduled to Sept. 13 at the same venue.
Currently, COVID-19 restrictions in New Jersey require individuals traveling from 36 states to self-quarantine for two weeks. Due to the cross-state travel required for a National Championship, and to enable a smaller and more local race to continue with proper COVID-19 safety precautions in place, USA Triathlon and event organizers determined that the Off-Road National Championships can no longer take place in 2020. The Way Over Yonder Off-Road Triathlon & Duathlon is still scheduled to take place Sunday, Sept. 13, as an age-group event without a National Championship designation.
The 2021 edition of Off-Road Nationals will return to Hewitt and the Way Over Yonder Off-Road Triathlon & Duathlon on May 15.
“Unfortunately, current COVID-19 restrictions in New Jersey eliminate the possibility of drawing a national field for this event,” said Brian D’Amico, Director of Events at USA Triathlon. “While it is always disappointing to cancel a National Championship, we are confident this is the only feasible decision that is fair to all athletes. We hope athletes local to New Jersey may still be able to participate in the age-group Way Over Yonder event. We are grateful for the support of Ready Set Go Adventures and look forward to returning to Wawayanda State Park for the 2021 edition of Off-Road Nationals.”
“As racers ourselves, we have a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing many athletes,” said David Schwartz, Head Adventurer at Ready Set Go Adventures and Race Director for the 2020 and 2021 USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championships. “Hence, the decision to continue to hold the race as a non-championship, but offer flexible deferral options, was very clear for us. For racers who are able to safely attend the September 13 Way Over Yonder Off-Road Triathlon & Duathlon, they will be treated to a fantastic championship-quality course and a great preview of 2021 Nationals. We look forward to racers from across the nation joining us for the fulfilling of our dream of holding the Off-Road National Championships in New Jersey on May 15, 2021.”
Athletes who were registered for the 2020 Off-Road National Championships have the option to participate in one of the age-group races at the 2020 Way Over Yonder Off-Road Triathlon & Duathlon, which is still scheduled for Sept. 13, provided they can abide by New Jersey’s COVID-19 restrictions. They will also receive a special 30% off discount code towards the 2021 race. Athletes may also transfer their registration to the 2021 Off-Road National Championships or the 2022 Way Over Yonder Off-Road Triathlon. Athletes will receive an email from Ready Set Go Adventures with more details about how to select a deferral option.
The 2021 USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championships will serve as a qualifier for both the 2021 and 2022 ITU Age Group Cross Triathlon World Championships, which will be held in Almere-Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Townsville, Australia, respectively. In addition, athletes who qualified and claimed their Team USA spot for the 2020 ITU Off-Road Triathlon World Championships, which have been canceled, will be eligible to transfer their qualification to the 2021 World Championships. More information about the transfer process will be shared in the coming days with all confirmed 2020 Team USA athletes.
Updates from USA Triathlon regarding COVID-19 are available at usatriathlon.org/covid-19. USA Triathlon continues to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19, while following the guidance of local authorities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), when making decisions regarding the status of USA Triathlon events and programs. Any further potential changes to USA Triathlon’s National Championships event calendar will be communicated immediately.
About Ready Set Go Adventures
Ready Set Go Adventures (www.RSGAdventures.com) produces racer focused events at premiere destinations. Founded in 2016, Ready Set Go Adventures is known for developing challenging and unique events including XTERRA Way Over Yonder, Wednesday Wonders Sprint Triathlon Series, Jersey Gravel Grinder and the 2020 USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championships. They may be contacted at info@RSGAdventures.com.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 events and connects with more than 400,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).