Why organisers switch their timing to Barefoot
Integrated, local timing with a self-service option for remote events, and no second vendor pointing fingers on race day.
Recognised bodies our race timing system has supported
If your timing is a separate contractor whose data doesn’t line up with your registration, who charges crew travel to reach a remote course, or who leaves you exposed when something breaks, Barefoot gives you integrated, local timing, with a self-service option no one else offers.
Built by event organisers.
Trusted by race directors.
450+
Events delivered every year across Australia and New Zealand
50,000
Participants supported at a single event
75+
years
Combined event experience
2
countries
Australian and New Zealand owned, operated and on the ground
Why organisers switch
Timing is where the two-vendor model hurts most. When registration and timing are separate, entrant data gets re-keyed, errors creep into race-day results, and if something breaks the two vendors point at each other while your event waits. Regional timing contractors also rely on crew-dependent, disposable-tag setups, so timing a remote or trail event means paying for flights, vehicles and accommodation, or going without. Switching to integrated timing removes the vendor gap, and Barefoot Lite removes the crew cost for the events that need it most.
What you gain by
switching your timing
One accountable team, because registration and timing share one system, so no data is re-keyed and no vendor points fingers.
Barefoot Lite times remote and trail events yourself, without crew travel, the timing no competitor offers.
RFID proven at events up to 50,000, with reusable tags that cut cost and waste.
A local crew that has stood on the start line, on the ground on race day.
Why Barefoot Sport is different
(nothing is re-keyed between systems, and nobody points at the other vendor when a read is missing)
✅
❌
(Barefoot Lite runs on the same platform as your crewed rounds, so remote events skip flights, vehicles and accommodation)
✅
❌
(a fixed equipment cost rather than a line item that lands on your budget again at every edition)
✅
❌
(you know where a runner was last seen, which matters for safety before it matters for spectators)
✅
❌
(people who have stood on a start line and solved the problem before, not a distant call centre)
✅
❌
(move the part that is costing you and leave the other where it is, rather than one bundled decision)
✅
❌
(some established timing companies publish their own app with splits and predicted finish times. We publish live results and tracking on the web instead.)
✅
❌
(some app-based timing products list their costs openly. We quote per event, which is slower for you.)
✅
❌
Comparison reflects timing providers commonly used by Australian and New Zealand event organisers, as published at September 2026.
Who it’s for?
Organisers using a separate timing contractor.
Trail, ultra and remote-event organisers paying for crew travel.
Anyone tired of two vendors and re-keyed data.
Features
One team, no finger-pointing
Registration and timing on one system, so there’s no gap between vendors on race day.
Timing you can run yourself
Barefoot Lite is self-deployable, reusable-tag timing with live tracking, for remote events others can’t reach affordably.
Proven and sustainable
RFID proven at up to 50,000, with reusable tags that cut cost and single-use waste.
Local crew, real support
People who’ve run events, on the ground, not a distant call centre.
Registration and timing, connected
Run precision timing on its own, or take entries with Barefoot too so results tie to the right athlete automatically. Connect it to Race Registration Software whenever you want.
Broadcast-ready results and sponsor placement
Precise, verifiable results suit events with media and sponsors watching. Finish-line screens and results pages carry sponsor branding, so a marquee event looks the part and rewards its partners.
Ready to Elevate
Your Event?
Let's connect and see how Barefoot Sport simplifies registrations and maximises participant experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not keep my separate timer?
A separate timer means re-keyed data and two vendors who blame each other when something breaks. One system removes that.
What if my event is remote?
Barefoot Lite lets you self-deploy timing without paying crew travel, so remote events get proper timing.
Is Barefoot proven at scale?
Yes. Barefoot RFID is proven at events up to 50,000 participants.
What's the difference between reusable and disposable timing chips?
Disposable chips are single-use tags stuck to the back of a race bib and thrown away afterwards. Reusable chips are rugged ankle or shoe tags that get collected, reprogrammed and used again. Disposable inlays can cost under 10 cents each in bulk but recur at every edition, while reusable tags typically run $3 to $8 each and behave more like a one-off equipment cost. Reusable tags also survive water, mud and multisport formats that would destroy a paper-faced disposable.
How big does my event need to be before chip timing is worth it?
There’s no rule requiring chip timing at any size. Manual and app-based timing works well up to roughly 200 finishers, where a single mass start and one finish line keep the data manageable. Chip timing earns its cost once you add wave starts, multiple distances, split points or age-group awards announced on the day, because those are the things manual timing gets wrong under pressure. Participant expectation matters too — many runners now assume a race is chip timed.
Can registration and timing systems actually talk to each other?
Yes, though how well varies, and the difference shows up on race day. A live API connection between registration and timing pushes entries, bib changes and withdrawals straight through, so registration can stay open for late entries. A CSV export is only a snapshot, and anything that changes after the export has to be re-keyed by hand. Ask whether the connection is live or a one-time file, and who fixes it when registration fields don’t map cleanly into the timing software.
Do I have to change my registration platform if I switch timing providers?
Not necessarily, but check before you commit. Timing providers fall into two groups: those that time your event on whatever registration platform you already use, and those that bundle registration and timing and expect you to move both. Bundling removes the data handoff between systems and usually prices better, though it makes it one decision instead of two. If you want to keep your current registration platform, get written confirmation that a new timing provider supports it.
Am I locked into a contract with my timing provider?
That depends entirely on what you signed. Arrangements in the endurance industry range from a per-event agreement signed a few weeks out to annual or multi-year contracts covering a whole series. Before you look elsewhere, check your agreement for the term, any notice period, whether it claims exclusivity over your registration, and who holds your historical results and participant records. Per-event terms are common enough that many organisers can change provider between editions without penalty.
Let’s make your next event your easiest yet.
Work with people who get the pace, pressure, and precision of endurance events and build platforms that match it.