26.08.05

Ironman Canada

Posted in Canada, Triathlon at 1:16 pm by AB

Hello from Penticton, British Columbia, home of the Ironman Canada triathlon. It’s a quaint town situated between Lake Okanagan and Lake Skaha, in the Okanagan Valley. It’s a big summer holiday town as lots of Canadians come here and bask in the sunshine. Today (Friday) it is about 30 degrees celcius. Hopefully it’s not quite so warm for the racers on Sunday, but for us spectators 30 would be sweet.

The whole town has started to become busier over the last few days as more and more athletes and there entourage arrive in town. With close to 2000 competitors competiting in the race and each on average probably having 3-4 others in tow it makes for a busy place.

The town is awash with banners and signs welcoming the athletes and trying to cash in on all the visitors. (A photo of one of the better signs is attached below.)

I am here to watch Karl Heiden a fellow Triathlete from Canberra race. I have been staying with Karl and family while in Vancouver. Karl’s brother Derek is also racing. My job for race day is Heiden family official photographer. So hopefully i’ll pull out a few happy snaps. The Canadian Ironman is a one lap of everything course so it makes it hard for spectating. Especially on the bike as they are gone for the full 180kms and thats 5 hours without anyone around. Also the run is 21.1kms out to the turn around and the same back so viewing oppurtunities are limited, which is a shame for spectators but also the athletes as it can get lonely out there, or so i have been told.

Another thing about Ironman is the Expo. For all you bike people out there, Cervello have several of the P3 Carbon’s for test riding. Better get down there soon and have a ride.

I’ll have more from Penticton in the next few days as well as photos later.

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