USA Triathlon Partners with RipRoar Events and Flatland Cup Triathlon to Host 2024 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals in West Des Moines

December 21, 2023

USA Triathlon is also launching its new Youth State Series, a series of local, grassroots youth races across the country that allow new youth athletes to get involved in the sport and race throughout the year.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – USA Triathlon, in partnership with RipRoar Events and the Flatland Cup Triathlon today announced the 2024 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals will be held July 12-14, 2024 in West Des Moines, Iowa. USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals welcomes youth athletes of all experience levels to participate in the fun and iconic youth triathlon event.

USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals will take place within Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, which has a rich triathlon history dating back to 2008 when the Hy-Vee Triathlon served as the final U.S. Olympic qualifying race for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Since then, Blue Heron Lake has seen some of the largest and fastest triathlons in the sport’s history, including the first-ever Mixed Team Relay World Championships in 2009.

West Des Moines has also been home to the Flatland Cup Triathlon, the longest-running elite youth and junior draft-legal triathlon in the United States. The Flatland Cup Triathlon has long been a part of the USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Development Series.

“USA Triathlon is proud to partner with RipRoar Events and the Flatland Cup Triathlon to organize the 2024 USA Triathlon Youth & Junior Nationals. For years, RipRoar has organized fantastic youth triathlon events, introducing the sport to a new generation of athletes, and the Flatland Cup Triathlon has long welcomed the rising stars of triathlon to race the draft-legal format in a fun, competitive environment,” said Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO. “Each year, Youth & Junior Nationals showcases the most promising up-and-coming triathlon stars, while welcoming participants of all abilities. We look forward to partnering with fantastic local events like the Flatland Cup Triathlon and RipRoar to provide a premier race experience as we celebrate the performances of these young athletes.”

“For more than a decade, the RipRoar and Flatland Cup weekend of races has had the feel of a national championship. We’re thrilled that for 2024 these races will play host, officially, to the top step of our sport,” said RipRoar Race Director Michael Zimmerman. “The best thing about triathlon is its accessibility to anyone with determination and a bike. Athletes of all abilities are welcomed to Sunday’s non-drafting race, including first-time athletes looking to discover a new sport.”

“The Flatland Cup Triathlon is the oldest youth and junior draft legal triathlon in the United States. Since 2010, the event, along with Z3 Triathlon Team, has hosted athletes from across the nation in the heart of America,” said Craig Hanken, Race Director of the Flatland Cup draft-legal triathlon. “We’re excited to partner with Rip Roar Triathlon, as we have for many years, to bring the USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Triathlon Championships to Des Moines, Iowa, to show athletes, their families and coaches some good old-fashioned Iowa hospitality, and deliver an amazing race experience for America’s fast youth athletes.”

The racing at 2024 Youth & Junior Nationals begins on Saturday, July 13 as the nation’s up-and-coming draft-legal triathlon stars (ages 16-19 and 13-15) will race in USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals at Flatlands West Des Moines. Athletes must qualify for the event and registration will open after qualification races begin in 2024. The draft-legal format is the same style of racing contested at the Olympic Games and other elite World Triathlon competitions.

Several past and present members of the U.S. Elite Triathlon National Team — including Tokyo 2020 Olympians Kevin McDowell and Taylor Knibb; 2016 U.S. Olympians Ben Kanute and Greg Billington; and World Triathlon U23 and Junior Champion Tamara Gorman — all began their triathlon careers on the draft-legal youth and junior racing circuits.

On Sunday, July 14, the racing continues with the non-drafting (ages 6-18) USA Triathlon Youth and Junior Nationals at RipRoar West Des Moines. No qualification is required to race in the youth age group races. Registration is open now for the youth age group races. To register, visit here.

The team qualification-based, Youth & Junior Mixed Relay will cap the weekend of racing on July 14. In the Mixed Relay, teams are made up of four competitors (two boys, two girls), with each team member completing a 250m swim, draft-legal 5k bike and 1.2k run before tagging off to the next athlete. The Mixed Relay event made its Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, with the U.S. team winning silver.

USA Triathlon Launches New Youth State Series

USA Triathlon is also launching its new Youth State Series, a series of local, grassroots youth races across the country that allow new youth athletes to get involved in the sport and race throughout the year.

Each localized series will be owned and operated by the local community and supported by USA Triathlon. Each local series will consist of at least five races and athletes will have the opportunity to earn points and compete for series awards. The format follows the USA Kids Tri Dallas Series, which USA Triathlon launched in spring 2023.

Race Directors interested in hosting a Youth State Series event can learn more in this guide here.

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, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,000 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 World Triathlon Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of World Triathlon and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

About RipRoar Events

RipRoar Events is a Des Moines-based endurance event production team, passionate about bringing triathlon to the next generation of athletes. Their events focus on the celebration of challenges, and the empowerment of joining together a community. Michael Zimmerman has led more than 75 youth triathlons through his work with RipRoar and IronKids, dating back to 2010. He has served as the Race Director of the IronKids National Championships (2013, 2014) and is a nationally recognized triathlon emcee.

About Flatland Cup Triathlon

The Flatland Cup Triathlon is the longest running elite youth and junior draft-legal triathlon in the United States. Taking place annually in West Des Moines, Iowa, the Flatland Cup Triathlon is organized by race director Craig Hanken.

– usatriathlon.org –

CONTACT: STEPHEN MEYERS (stephen.meyers@usatriathlon.org, 719-884-5616)