The COVID-19 pandemic has forced cancellation of next year's Prince George Iceman.
The decision was made by the organizing committee this week, chair Jim Van Bakel said Wednesday, largely because physical distancing would be difficult to maintain for the multisport event, which typically draws 400-550 participants plus supporters.
Held every February, it starts at the Otway Nordic Centre with an eight-kilometre ski, followed by a 10-kilometre run to the Prince George Ice Oval for a five-kilometre skate, then a five-kilometre run before ending with an 800-metre swim at the Prince George Aquatic Centre.
"Almost every event presents some challenges there but the pool especially," Van Bakel said. "We felt that pool wouldn't allowed us to have an event of that size go on there...and then the banquet was a factor. There certainly wasn't going to be a banquet happening."
It would have been the 34th running of the Iceman. Van Bakel called the move both disappointing and a relief "because it saves anybody paying the registration and putting in all the effort to get ready and then having the rug pulled out from under them."
Depending on how the pandemic plays out, Van Bakel remained hopeful the Iceman will be back for 2022.
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