FAQ: classic
Travel Logistics
Q. What airport(s) should I use for the start and end of the Epic5 Classic event?
A. The event starts on Kauai so you’ll want to fly into Lihue (LIH) at least by Saturday so you can join us for a Meet & Greet social on Saturday afternoon, and the Pre-Event Briefing and bike checks on Sunday morning. Many people arrive sooner to acclimate but it is personal choice.
The event ends on Hawaii Island (the “Big Island”) and we recommend flying out of Kona (KOA). The event ends with a celebration brunch on Sunday so it’s recommended that you book your departure flight for Sunday afternoon at the earliest. If you need to fly out on Saturday, we recommend an evening or red eye flight so that you can join the award celebration on Saturday afternoon.
Q. How do we get from one island to the next?
A. Two of our flights will be on larger commercial planes, and two of our interisland travels will be via a private charters. The private charters will consist of small planes and potentially a private ferry from Molokai to Maui, pending availability. Post pandemic & Maui fires have impacted ability to do private ferry charters in recent times.
Q. What are the baggage restrictions on flights?
A. Each athlete is limited to 4 pieces total checked luggage.
Bike box, cooler, and two pieces of luggage whether they be suitcase, bin, wheel case etc. Crew should plan to do carry on only.
In terms of flights to/from Hawaii, it all depends on the airline and your status with them. We recommend you check your airline’s website for their policy.
As for inter-island flights, we often use small charter flights for the event. These smaller aircraft usually charge for checked baggage.
Note that overhead bins are either quite small or are non-existent on inter-island flights so expect for carry on bags to be tight. Crew should bring backpack or duffle bags, but not hard shell roller type as they will not fit.
We encourage you to pack light for the event. We’ll provide a suggested packing list for all athletes & crew.
All associated costs for luggage are the responsibility of the athlete. The private charters are typically luggage inclusive.
Q. Where should I stay before, during and after the Epic5 Classic event?
A. We will provide suggestions on where to stay and in some cases there will be group hotel rates.
Q. How should I get from the airport to my accommodations?
A. You & your crew team should plan to have a rental car to transport you everywhere you need to go. Minivan is the recommended rental car type though some will choose to get SUV. We offer group discount codes for Budget & Avis rental car companies.
Preparing for the Event
Q. How do the relay teams work?
A. If you’re unsure whether you can do all five triathlons, consider organizing a fundraising relay team and share the event with friends! Each team member must do one discipline each of the five days, or you may alternate full days, for your team to qualify as a Relay Team Finisher.
Q. Why is there a cost for additional people on a relay team?
A. While there may only be one of you doing the event at a time, the additional cost covers the interisland travel, epic swag bag, and pre- and post-race meals during the event.
Q. What should I pack for the Epic5?
A. We provide a detailed packing list to all registered athletes. In short, because of the baggage restrictions on the inter-island flights, we encourage all crew to pack as light as possible.
During the Event
Q. What does a typical event day look like?
A. Day 1 we have an evening commercial flight, so start in the wee hours of the morning. The last night’s flight has varied from 8pm to 11pm over the years, so our schedule works backwards from that.
Day 2 we’ll start at 6am and finish at a reasonable hour. It will be a luxury to sleep in the same hotel for 2 nights in a row.
The following 3 days have morning travel, so a bit of a later start, and it’s not unusual for these to go through the night. Occasionally an athlete will run straight to the airport. On these last 3 days, we’ll all want to get from the airport to the swim start, so that we can get started without delay. The group will start together.
Q. Will there be a “finish line” and timing mats?
A. There will not be timing mats at the beginning, end or along the route, however there will be tracker devices which are required. We will have an official timer on course to track times reported to USAT. There will be no first, second or third place winners, only finishers and participants. This is a challenge, not a race and, as such, we want you to pace yourself for endurance and finish the event vs. race each day as fast as you can and not be able to finish.
At the end of day 5, there is a finish line banner for all those who completed all 5 days. This is yours to keep & take home.
Q. What is the course like and what does the elevation profile look like?
A. We have both OWS and pool swims.
The bike elevation is approximately 3,000 – 5,000 feet gained each day though this is just an estimate.
The run is generally <1000 feet gained each day, though can be more on day 1 depending which course we do. The course we do is dependent on when the last flight out is and whether we are able to do a traditional SBR format or if we have to switch to RSB.
Q. What will the weather be like on the islands?
A. Though we try to start early in the morning, days can get quite warm (expect as high as mid-80s). The humidity of the islands can make it feel much warmer. If skies are clear, expect blazing heat but if we’re lucky with cloudy skies, it can be pleasant. Because the islands include a number of microclimates, there will be a variety of temperatures. Overall, plan for wind, rain, sun & humidity. Nothing is guaranteed!
Other Questions
Q. Why are there so few athletes involved?
A. This is a very special event in a very special location. Because the event takes place on roads that are not closed for the event and are on pathways where we want to tread lightly, we keep the numbers low in order to have as light of an impact on the communities we visit as possible. There are also limitations on some of our interisland flights, both number of people and cargo space (bikes & luggage).
Q. Why is travel/medical insurance so important?
A. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We realize you are making a large financial investment and large commitment of time to join us in Hawaii. Having travel insurance (including “cancel for any reason” insurance) helps protect that investment. Separately, having medical/evacuation insurance, ensures that if something happens to you during the event, you can get the medical attention you need without breaking your bank! Many travel insurance options include activities such as this. Select the full amount you want to insure for when getting setup.
If your ACTIVE.com purchase is <$2400, you can add ACTIVE refund insurance through the registration portal.
Q. When is final payment due?
A. Final payment for the Epic5 Classic event is due 6 months prior to the start of the event. We need this amount of time to confirm inter-island flights & private charters on your behalf as well as swag, permits, accommodation blocks and the Epic5 staff.
Q. Do I need to have my own personal crew and what is their role?
A. Yes, for the EPIC5 Classic event, a crew team is required. Most athletes bring 3 people: Crew Chief, Driver & Logistics Manager. Some athletes choose to bring a 4th crew. Anything more than that will not fit in the minivan.
The Crew Chief is ultimately in-charge of all crew activities and, as a result, has the ultimate authority for all decisions within his/her respective crew.
The Driver is responsible for the safe operation of the athlete/crew vehicle, including:
Adherence to all applicable traffic laws and customs;
Ensure operators of the vehicle are alert and rest routinely;
Safe exit and entry of the vehicle by crew members and athlete on the course;
Display of applicable safety/informational signage on the vehicle; and
Proper fueling and any necessary maintenance of the vehicle.
The Logistics Manager is responsible for procuring, organizing, and dispensing all supplies for his/her athlete and crew, including:
Procurement of water and ice at the start of each day either before or during the athlete’s swim;
Planning, preparing, and dispensing of nutrition and fluid to the athlete, in accordance with the expressed needs and wants of the athlete; and
Planning, preparing, and dispensing of nutrition and fluid to each member of the crew in order for the crew to remain well-nourished throughout the event.
Organizing all supplies and luggage in the vehicle at the start and throughout each day.
Bike build & breakdown coordination with event bike staff.
Keeping track of all luggage and materials belonging to his/her athlete and crew while in-transit.