For the first time in a long time, West Lake Provincial Park will be the setting for swimming, cycling and running.
More than 40 young athletes from across the province will converge on the park's centrepiece - Nadsilnich Lake - to participate in any of five triathlon-style events as part of the B.C. Summer Games this coming weekend.
Not since 2016 has a triathlon of any shape or size has been held there after the old Prince George Swamp Stomper was put to rest due to a lack of people willing to organize the event.
Race director Clayton Wilkinson, who has been a key organizer of Kids of Steel events centred on the Four Seasons Pool and Prince George Aquatic Centre in the years since, hopes the Games will mark a resurgence of the sport for which he has long held a passion.
But for the time being, Wilkinson and a small crew of volunteers are focused on putting on a successful event.
The racing begins on Friday at 8:30 a.m. with a super sprint triathlon consisting of a 400-metre swim, 10-kilometre cycle and three-kilometre run, followed by a duathlon, 1 p.m. start, made up of a one-kilometre run, six-kilometre cycle and another one-kilometre run.
On Saturday, events begin at 8:30 a.m. with an F1, or "super short sprint" made up of a 100-metre swim, two-kilometre cycle, 500-metre run and then another round of 100 metre swim, two kilometre cycle and a 500-metre run.
A mixed team relay with a twist will follow in the afternoon as the coaches will form one team and compete against athletes assigned to teams based on names pulled out of a hat rather than according to their zones with each entrant going through a 200 metre swim, three-kilometre bike and one-kilometre run, 1 p.m. start.
"What we're really trying to do with triathlon is to keep it fun and not really to ramp up the competitive side of it," Wikinson said.
Events will be rounded off on Sunday morning, 8:30 a.m. start, with an aquathlon, made up of a one-kilometre run, 300-metre swim and a one-kilometre run.
In all, 11 Prince George youth and one from Quesnel will be participating - and for most it will be their first ever triathlon. But they're far from newcomers to similar types of competitive sports.
Wilkinson credited Tuppy Hoehn, head coach of the girls side of the team, for rounding up most of the squad as she was able to convince eight members of the Caledonia Nordics cross-country ski team to give it a try. And four of the 12 have backgrounds in competitive swimming with local clubs
"We really have a mixed bag of triathletes, I'm going to say," Wilkinson said.
In the lead up, they have gone through some crash coaching on transitions, open-water swimming skills, strategies for the different types of races and course safety.
Getting the team properly equipped has also been a bit of a scramble with most borrowing suitable bikes from parents, neighbours and friends. Wilkinson gave a shout out to Nicole Calloway for gathering up some triathlon-specific wetsuits.
"Our community has really come together in helping these kids get ready for triathlon," Wilkinson said.
Competitors representing Prince George are Isaac Bennett, Sebastian Botten, Iona Cadell, Garnet Ditto, Artemis Douglas, Ewan Hawes, Gabby Hoehn, Lukas Nolli, Josiah Wilkinson, Odin Witso, Bailey Yearley.
"I'm excited, I'm nervous," Wilkinson said. "I'm excited to see these kids rip it up out there."
