Kids and Youth

The emphasis for kids in triathlon is on participation and fun. The events feature age-appropriate distances and are not officially timed. The Kids of Steel (KOS) program is an opportunity for children (up to age 15) to gain valuable experience in the sport of triathlon in a safe and fun environment welcoming to all children. The KOS program aims to foster principles of fun, fitness, respect, and integrity. Participation as a KOS athletes gives children the chance to challenge themselves physically in a healthy and fun environment, and to develop an appreciation for sport and fitness to live a prolonged healthy active lifestyle.

If they choose, children can begin to specialize and place a more serious focus on triathlon in their teens. At the Youth level (U15), training starts to become more structured, equipment becomes more prescribed, events are timed, and the distances increase to the SuperSprint distance (400m swim, 10 km bike, 2.5 km run).  At the age of 16, the athlete is eligible to compete in the Junior Elite category over the Sprint distance (750m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run). At the Youth and Junior level, the emphasis is on short distance, high intensity, technical, draft-legal triathlon.

Juniors are also eligible to qualify for and attend the quadrennial Canada Summer Games, an opportunity to race against Canada’s best on the path to becoming a high performance Elite triathlete.

Triathlon Nova Scotia has a provincially recognized development squad, coached under Head Coach Shannon Read. Comprising athletes from all across Nova Scotia, the Junior Development Squad is made up of junior elite athletes wishing to place a more serious emphasis on their training and racing goals in the sport of triathlon. Athletes in this program have access to weekly meetings and practices with coaches, and emphasis is on training and competing at the Provincial and Junior National level.