Select GFNY are offering the U18 and U16 categories for youth athletes. Please check your race’s website to see whether the race is offering these categories. 

U18 riders can race the competitive distance or ride the non-competitive distance. U18 means 16-17 year racing age, which is determined by age on December 31. For example, an athlete whose birthday is on December 30 and is 15 years old on race day, will be considered racing as a 16 year old and be eligible to take part in the long or medium route. An athlete who turns 18 by December 31, will be racing in the 18-34 age group.

U16 riders can only ride the non-competitive distance and must have a parent or legal guardian always ride with them on the course. The parent or legal guardian must be registered for the event as well.

Every athlete must complete the race check-in process online. Follow instructions in the check-in process in your gfny.cc account.

For both U18 and U16 a parent or legal guardian must come in person to pick up the race packet with their youth athlete. The parent or legal guardian will have to bring a photo copy of their government-issued photo ID (passport or driver license or identity document) to hand to GFNY. 

At the race, please follow these steps to collect the race numbers from the GFNY registration team:

1. Show the green Race Pass of the youth athlete.
2. Present the photo ID of the youth athlete.
3. Present their own (parent / legal guardian) photo ID.
4. Provide a photo copy of the parent / legal guardian photo ID.
5. Sign the paper waiver.
6. Hand in the photo copy of the parent / legal guardian photo ID and signed waiver to the GFNY registration team.

You can download, review and print the waiver from the buttons below. GFNY will have blank copies of waivers if you forget to bring it. GFNY will accept waivers only signed in person at the time of packet pickup.

Note: Coming prepared with an ID photo copy and printed waiver will save you time at registration.

Once U18 athletes cross the finish line, they are considered official finishers and will be listed in the medium route or long route results, based on the distance they completed. Medium distance finishers are listed alphabetically by last name and are provided their finish time. Long distance finishers are ranked overall and in their age group, U18.

U18 athletes earn GFNY Rankings points following the same points awards formula as all GFNY athletes. U18 athletes will be earning Overall Rankings points as well as age group points for the U18 category for Age Group Rankings.

Please visit the Rankings page to learn more about how GFNY Rankings are calculated.

U18 athletes are eligible to earn Qualification status. Qualification is for athletes who finish the long course. For U18 who earned Qualifier status, this Qualifier status is valid for 380 days from the date of earning the status at every GFNY race that offers the U18 category. 

Please visit the Qualification page to learn more about how GFNY Qualification is calculated.

If you have any questions, contact your race organizer.