HITS Triathlon Series looks forward to meeting national and international triathletes during the 2012 season as well as welcoming new athletes to the sport. To celebrate all HITS triathletes, qualifying restrictions will be waived for the first HITS Championship in Palm Springs, California December 1-2, 2012. Registration is now open and HITS Triathlon Series invites HITS regulars as well as those experiencing the series for the first time to come to Palm Springs.

Focused on the desires of triathlon veterans as well as first timers, each distance of every HITS Triathlon Series event, starting with the inaugural Palm Springs event, will offer opportunities to qualify for HITS Triathlon Series Athlete of the Year Awards, which will be awarded at the HITS Championship in Palm Springs. To qualify for a 2012 HITS Triathlon Series Athlete of the Year Award, an athlete must earn points in their specific gender and age group as follows:

Categories:

One Year Age Groups* (M/F) Example: F40, M43, F27, M32.

Top three overall will be awarded
1st Place = 20 points
2nd Place = 15 points
3rd Place = 12 points

Top three in each age group will be awarded:
1st Place = 10 points
2nd Place = 7 points
3rd Place = 5 points
All finishers = 1 point

*All age groups will be one year groupings as of January 1 of the current year.

Points will be calculated after each event during the 2012 schedule and posted online the week following the conclusion of the race.

In addition to the one year age group scoring, each of the events within the HITS Triathlon Series will follow USAT age group breakouts for annual sanctioned rankings.

Clydesdale/Athena Athletes:
All distances within the HITS Triathlon Series are open to Athletes wishing to compete in the Clydesdale/Athena Category. There will be four categories with the same start and cutoff times:

• Clydesdale (Men 200lbs+): 39 and under, 40 and above
• Athena (Women 150lbs+): 39 and under, 40 and above

Physically Challenged Athletes:
All distances within the HITS Triathlon Series are open to Physically Challenged Athletes. Category will be co-ed and scored the same with the same start and cutoff times. Awards for all.