I know this sounds like a silly question but since USAT is the host federation for the May race, will the ITU rules for clothing be used for AG athletes? i was wondering if they will allow front zippered outfits or will we need to get ITU outfits and get all the name stuff on them? How about wetsuits? At one point ITU had talked about requiring your name on the wetsuit also.
I highly doubt they will make 1000 people dress to ITU standards for this race. Treasure island is an ITU race and we have full Tri bikes, non-drafting, and whatever we normally wear there… I COULD be wrong, but I doubt it
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Rich, You bring up an interesting point. I’m quite certain that the age group races (sprint and Oly) on May 12 in San Diego will not force us mere mortals to abide by the same rules that the elites will have to follow. For starters our race is non-draft so all the bike rules are different (I know that wasn’t your question) and the uniforms will be lax as well - I’m sure we’ll be allowed to expose our mid drift with two piece suits, zips in front, etc. etc.
Ian
PS. I’m deeply stoked about that race. I’m going to make it my early season peak - I was even thinking about it today riding the Simi Valley ride.
No they won’t require age groupers to have their names on suits or use ITU rings or any of the such. That’s elite rules. But they will require your torso be covered. Otherwise good luck with your race 
At last weekends ITU World Cup Auckland race the age group races were TriNZ races not ITU races, if it was an ITU race those clothing rules you mentioned would apply and everyone would need a race license ($150 IIRC) among other things. The actual world champs (Sprint / Standard / Long Distance / Duathlons) are ITU races and that’s why you need the clothing & race license for them.
I know when I did the worlds at the Gold Coast in 2009 they were real sticklers about the uniforms for all of us age groupers. That is why I wondering about this event.
Those rules apply to the elite field. Auckland hosted the last ITU World Cup of 2011 last week. The only age group rule to be concerned with is covered torso (no shirtless & no mankinis).
I know when I did the worlds at the Gold Coast in 2009 they were real sticklers about the uniforms for all of us age groupers. That is why I wondering about this event.
There might be different rules if San Diego was a AG world champs, but it seems they consider it more of just a local AG race. No national qualifying or parade of nations.
Per the San Diego Tri Club Website regarding those races.
“Race Rules and Regulations All age group races are sanctioned by and will be held under the rules and regulations of USA Triathlon. All age-group races are non-drafting. Only the elite races are draft-legal. A complete set of rules can be found here”
It looks like the draft-legal races will be per ITU rules while all the rest will be per USAT.