PRE-RACE INFORMATION

Registration - 5 December
10:00am - 3:00pm
Layan Room, Laguna Beach Resort
Please bring proper identification and a 500 Thai Baht deposit for your timing chip with you to claim your race kit.
Your race kit will include:

• Race number for bike & run
• Race belt
• Swim cap
• Competitor's T-shirt
• Numbered bag for race gear
• (1) Invitation to the Pasta Party

Race Briefing - 5 December 2008
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
A mandatory course briefing in English and Thai will be held on Saturday 5 December. See Race Week Schedule for details. There will be 3 sessions conducted in English as follows:

4:00pm-5:00pm for relay teams and first time triathletes
5:00pm-6:00pm for individual triathletes
6:00pm for professional triathletes

Awards and Professional Prize Purse
Equal men's and women's prize money will be awarded as follows:

All contestants wishing to race for prize money must register as "pro" at race registration. Contestants registered as "pro" are not eligible to win age group awards. Contestants registering as "pro" are advised to check with their country's national triathlon governing body to determine the impact of racing "pro" on amateur standing.

Thai Athlete Prize Money
The first Thai male and female amateur athletes will each receive 10,000 baht in prize money. Trophies will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place Thai male and female athletes.

Age Group Awards
First, second and third finishers in each age group category will receive a trophy at the Awards Banquet.

Label Gear
Label every piece of clothing and gear, including both shoes, before coming to Laguna Phuket.

Weather Conditions
Average air temperature for December in Phuket is 27°C/81°F with 85% humidity. Contestants MUST hydrate properly during race week, race morning and throughout the race. Bikes should be equipped with at least two water bottle cages.

Personal Safety
Always train with another person, especially in the water. While in the water, please wear a brightly coloured swim cap. When biking and running, please take precautions as Phuket drivers and motorcyclists are unpredictable. Take extreme caution when biking on ALL public roads. On Thursday and Friday of race week, organised rides on the bike course will depart from the Laguna Beach Resort Y-Junction at 8:00am, led by a police escort vehicle. It is strongly recommended that contestants train on the bike course only during one of these organised rides.

Pasta Party
5.30pm - 9.00pm
Similan Room, Laguna Beach Resort
Triathletes and relay teams are invited to attend the Pasta Party free of charge, upon presentation of an invitation please remember to bring your tickets to the event. Additional tickets for family and friends will be on sale during Registration on 5 December (Saturday). Ticket cost Baht 900.

Bike Storage
Bikes will be permitted to be stored in athlete’s hotel rooms. However, all maintenance must be done in hotel car parks in order to prevent damage to room furnishings.

Bike Shop / Bike Mechanic
Laguna Beach Resort Y-Junction Transition Area
3 December - 6 December
It is NOT possible to rent racing or mountain bikes in Phuket. CYCLISTS MUST BRING BIKES WITH THEM. Athletes are encouraged to bring spare bike parts with them. A bike mechanic will be stationed at the Y-junction from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 6 December. The bike mechanic opens at 7.00am on Thursday and Friday, at 9.00 am on Saturday and 5.30 am on Sunday.

RACE DAY - 6 December

Parking
Competitors and spectators driving to Laguna Phuket on race morning should follow all signs and volunteer directions for available parking areas. Please arrive no later than 6:30am.

Transition Area
5.30am - 6.45am
Transition Area opens at Laguna Beach Resort Y-junction for check-in, numbering and placing equipment.

From the Transition Area at the Y-junction, athletes will be transferred to the Swim Start. Free shuttle buses will circulate every 10 minutes between the hotels. Fill bike bottles from your hotel room or home before arriving at Transition. Pre-race aid stations will be available at the Transition Area and the Swim Start. In addition, there will be 2 aid stations on the bike course, 3 aid stations on the run course and a post-race aid station and medical facilities at the finish area.

Race Start - Triathlon Wave #1 and Wave #2
7.00am and 7.10am
Please see maps for course details.

Finisher Medals
Will be presented to every athlete who completes the race at the finish line.

Athlete Hospitality & Massage
09.30am - 1.00pm
Post race hospitality shall include a lunch box and a complimentary 15-minute massage behind the finish line. Note: Massage services are only available for triathletes.

Medical Tent
6.00am - 1.30pm
A Medical Tent will be located in the Finish Area at the Y-junction for athletes who require medical attention before and after the race. This area will be closed at 1.30pm. Any athletes in need of medical attention after 1.30pm should go to the Bangkok Hospital Phuket clinic at Canal Village shopping centre.

Post Race Equipment Pick-Up
In your registration pack, you will receive one numbered bag to be used for gear after the completion of the swim and the bike. Numbered bags will also be available at the Swim Start if you want to leave warm-up gear. This bag will be collected after the swim start and deposited at the Equipment Check-in/Information tent at the Athlete Only area at the main Transition Area.

All bags, equipment and bikes must be claimed and removed from the Transition Area by 1.30pm on race day.

To claim left items show race number which must correspond to the number on the bag(s). You will be responsible for transporting your own gear back to your hotel after the race.

Lost and Found
This will be located at the Transition Area at the Y-junction and will be open until 1.30pm on race day. After this time, any remaining lost property items will be transferred to the race office. Please remember to label all of your equipment before the race.

Finisher Certificates
A desk will be set up at the Awards Banquet for athletes to pick up their finisher certificates. Certificates will not be posted to athletes.

Pre-Awards Cocktail Party
5.00pm - 6.00pm - 7 December
Beach front, Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
Outside the marquee at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket beach garden.

AWARDS BANQUET
6.00pm - 11.00pm
Beach front, Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
The Awards Banquet will be held in the marquee at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket beach garden. All athletes are invited to attend by purchasing tickets in advance online. Tickets must be presented to gain entry to the Banquet. If not sold out, tickets will be sold at Registration on 5 December and possibly at the door. Tickets cost Baht 1,400