Families have a new sporting option for the annual holiday named in their honour every February.
Actually, if they plan it right, they could make it three options and all proceeds are going to help Okotoks area families.
The inaugural Natural High Winter Triathlon is scheduled for Family Day (Feb. 20) at the Okotoks Recreation Centre and the Crystal Ridge Nordic Ski Centre at Crystal Ridge Golf Course.
The triathlon will consist of a 500m swim (20 lengths), followed by a 5km run and ending with an 8km cross-country ski.
“I first heard of the idea because they do one in Canmore, where they actually truck snow in and ski down Main Street,” said Andrew Gustafson, owner of Natural High Fitness in Okotoks. “We thought it would be a great idea to have one in the winter to complement our summer triathlon.”
Some winter triathlons include biking, which is done in a typical summer triathlon, but Natural High has opted not to have cycling.
“We thought it would be logistically too difficult in the winter because of the ice and the conditions,” he said.
The first portion of the triathlon will consist of the 500m swim. The organizers are heeding the warnings of their mothers: “don’t go out with your hair wet, or you will catch your
death of cold!”
“We have a mandatory minimum 10-minute transition from the swim to the bike to get yourself dry and bundled up,” Gustafson said. “You also have to wear a swim cap. We want the people to come out of the water with their hair somewhat dry.”
The athletes will get out of the pool and go for a 5km run which will end up at the Crystal Ridge Golf Course.
Gustafson said some people have indicated they may be uncomfortable doing the full 8km ski because of their lack of experience in the sport. He said as a result, organizers are considering a 4km portion of the race if a competitor doesn’t want to do the whole thing.
“There are a lot of people who are saying: ‘Hey, I have never cross-country skied before, how can I do that?’” Gustafson said. “If someone wants to stop after 4km or 1km, who cares? This is just for fun and to support a good cause.”
The organizers aren’t leaving you at the course after the ski. A bus will be provided to give athletes a ride back to the recreation centre.
Although weather forecasters have predicted the worst winter in Alberta since Jackrabbit Johannsen was on skis, it hasn’t quite panned out that way.
The Crystal Ridge Nordic Ski Centre hasn’t opened this season due to a lack of snow but that could change in the near future thanks to last week’s snowfall.
Gustafson said if there is no snow on Family Day, the triathlon will be reduced to a duothon, consisting of the run and the swim).
Crystal Ridge Nordic Ski Club has approximately 8km of trails.
Anyone interested in registering for the Natural High Winter Triathlon may register at www.naturaltri.ca Participants can either enter as an individual or as a team.
The proceeds from the Okotoks Natural High Winter triathlon will go towards the Okotoks Healthy Family Resource Centre.
