The Squamish Off-Road Triathlon, which began in honour of the late Squamish triathlete Bob McIntosh, is set to return after a three-year hiatus.
The swim, mountain bike and trail run at Alice Lake park is set for Father's Day, June 18.
There is the Sport version of the race, which is a 750-metre swim, 12.5-kilometre mountain bike and 5.5-kilometre trail run.
Or, for those who want to take it to the next level, there's the Championship course, which is a 1,500-metre swim, 25-kilometre mountain bike ride and 10-kilometre trail run.
To protect the sensitive habitat of the provincial park, BC Parks limits the event to 200 participants.
Registration opens on Feb. 22 at 9 a.m.
Like almost every other event, the triathlon was paused during the pandemic.
Jessica Walker is the new race director for the tri.
She has been swimming with Squamish's Titans for two years and is an event producer for a living, so when she heard last year that the event needed a race director to get the race back up and running, she couldn't resist.
"I did the Xterra Whistler Off-Road triathlon sport distance last summer and had so much fun. Knowing how amazing our trails are right behind the beautiful Alice Lake, it almost felt like our duty to share this with the triathlon community as an adventure capital," she told The Squamish Chief.
With the break for COVID-19, she said the excitement for this upcoming race is palpable in the triathlon community.
"There's energy behind it for volunteers and participants," she said, acknowledging one of the challenges is that supplier costs have increased by about 20% since the last race.
"We know there's enough support and passion behind it, that we're going to be able to pull it off."
Athletes can enter as an individual for the Sport or Championship courses or join as a two or three-person team for the Championship course.
Walker said what sets this race apart from other triathlons is the location.
"You're jumping into that crisp Alice Lake for a swim. And then you follow it up with a mountain bike and trail run on world-class trails. There's nothing comparable."
In terms of organizing the event's revival, Walker said, thankfully, previous race director Joanne Stoner is mentoring her through this year, and many of the previous organizing committee members are back as mentors to help get this race back up and running, she said. That said, the event needs more sponsors and fresh leaders to join the organizing team. (If interested, email Walker: [email protected].)
It also needs about 90 volunteers to help it run smoothly. (Go to the event website to sign up to volunteer.)
The event donates annually to the Robert W. McIntosh Memorial Scholarship Fund.
McIntosh, who was killed in December of 1997, was community-minded and a passionate triathlete who dreamed of hosting a triathlon in Squamish.
Walker thanked BC Parks and Triathlon BC for their support, which allowed the race to resume this year.
To register or find out more, at www.squamishtriathlon.org.
