USA Triathlon has announced its 2022 Splash & Dash Youth Aquathlon Series, featuring more than 45 swim-run events in cities across the United States this season. The national governing body noted that additional events will be added to the calendar as the season progresses.
The series, launched in 2012 with 30 events, is designed to introduce youth athletes between the ages of 7 and 15 to the multisport lifestyle through the discipline of aquathlon (swim-run). With a focus on participation and fun, rather than competition, many of the events are not timed.
At all Splash & Dash events, participants ages 7-10 will complete a 100m pool swim and an approximate 1km run, while athletes ages 11-15 will complete a 200m pool swim and an approximate 2km run. All participants will receive a custom finishers’ medal and giveaways.
‘The Splash & Dash Series is a part of USA Triathlon’s emphasis on increasing opportunities and access to multisport events and clinics for current and prospective youth multisport athletes. As part of its 2022 Return to Racing Youth Stimulus Package, USA Triathlon is offering free youth event sanctioning, free youth clinic sanctioning, free registration for youth clubs and expansion of the Youth Scholarship Program.’
In addition, USA Triathlon will donate 10 free youth memberships directly to race directors and clubs for every youth sanctioned race and youth club. Race directors and clubs are encouraged to distribute these memberships to underserved and underrepresented youth and communities at their discretion.
“With a focus on participation rather than competition, minimal gear and equipment requirements and approachable race distances, the Splash & Dash Series offers a great way for youth athletes to ‘get their feet wet’ and try multisport in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere,” said Brian D’Amico, Director of Events at USA Triathlon.
“USA Triathlon is committed to growing the sport at the youth level and working together with local communities and race directors to break through barriers of entry to the sport. We are grateful to our race directors for their commitment to hosting safe events for youth athletes and helping introduce the great lifestyle of multisport in a fun-filled way.”
The Splash & Dash series is structured to align with the American Development Model (ADM), a concerted effort between the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee and its sport national governing bodies to apply long-term athlete development principles in a way that resonates with the culture of sport in the United States.
2022 Splash & Dash Youth Aquathlon Series Calendar (as at March 24):
Apr 10 — Playtri Youth Splash and Dash (McKinney, Texas)
Apr 23 — Houston Texans Kids Triathlon (Katy, Texas)
Apr 24 — Pikes Peak Open House Splash and Dash (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Apr 28 — Westfields Triathlon Splash and Dash (Chantilly, Va.)
May 15 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
May 22 — Paragon Splash & Dash #1 (San Antonio, Texas)
May 28 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
May 29 — E3 Endurance 7.03 Junior Tri Series (Greensboro, N.C.)
May 29 — Mission Viejo Splash and Dash (Mission Viejo, N.C.)
Jun 4 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
Jun 4 — Rev3 New England Splash and Dash Series (Webster, Mass.)
Jun 5 — CORE Superhero Splash and Dash (Virtual)
Jun 5 — Central YMCA Splash & Dash (Willington, Del.)
Jun 11 — PowerWatt Gator Chase (Los Fresnos, Texas)
Jun 11 — Norwich Splash and Dash (Norwich, Conn.)
Jun 11 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
Jun 12 — Kids Splash and Dash at Lincoln Park Pool (Grand Junction, Colo.)
Jun 18 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
Jun 19 — Paragon Splash & Dash #2 (San Antonio, Texas)
Jun 19 — E3 Endurance 7.03 Junior Tri Series (Greensboro, N.C.)
Jun 25 — Pikes Peak Swim-Run Series (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Jun 25 — Tri-NOW KIDS! Splash and Dash (Dallas, Texas)
Jun 25 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
Jun 28 — Alaska Kid’s Splash ‘n Dash Series #1 (Anchorage, Alaska)
Jun 30 — CORE Superhero Splash and Dash (Virtual)
Jul 3 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
Jul 9 — Women’s Philadelphia Kids’ Splash and Dash (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Jul 9 — Lake Whatcom Splash and Dash (Bellingham, Wash.)
Jul 12 — Alaska Kid’s Splash n’ Dash Series #2 (Anchorage, Alaska)
Jul 16 — RVA Splash and Dash Series (Richmond, Va.)
Jul 17 — Paragon Splash & Dash #3 (San Antonio, Texas)
Jul 21 — MMTT Splash and Dash (Geneva, Ill.)
Jul 23 — Boston Triathlon (S. Boston, Mass.)
Jul 24 — Montclair Splash and Dash (Montclair, Va.)
Jul 24 — Kids Splash N Dash at Peachbowl Park Pool (Palisade, Colo.)
Jul 26 — Alaska Kid’s Splash n’ Dash Race Series #3 (Anchorage, Alaska)
Jul 30 — Alexandria Triathlon (Alexandria, Minn.)
Jul 31 — Kids Splash N Dash at North Fork Pool (Hotchkiss, Colo.)
Aug 14 — Paragon Splash & Dash #4 (San Antonio, Texas)
Aug 23 — T-Rex Tri Splash and Dash Series (Brighton, Mich.)
Aug 26 — Maple Grove Tri Youth Splash and Dash (Maple Grove, Minn.)
Aug 27 — E3 Endurance 7.03 Junior Tri Series (Greensboro, N.C.)
Aug 27 — Tri Faster Splash and Dash Youth Aquathlon Series (Menomonee Falls, Wis.)
Sep 18 — YMCA Central Maine Youth Splash and Dash (Lewiston, Maine)
Sep 18 — San Diego Kids Splash and Dash (San Diego, Calif.)
Oct 10 — Alpha Win (Saugerties, N.Y.)
Oct 16 — Tri-Now KIDS! Splash and Dash (Dallas, Texas)
www.usatriathlon.org/splashanddash
