Gosh, it seems like Edmonton just has too many reasons to get outside in winter.
There’s night skiing on cross-country trails at Goldbar Park. Or running across the bridges to the sound of river ice cracking below. Or slicing long, graceful skate strides around Hawrelak pond.
If we only could combine them all. …
Well, you can with the Edmonton Winter Triathlon. Run, skate, and ski your heart out at Hawrelak Park.
© Marc J Chalifoux 2014
The Edmonton Winter Triathlon is one of the oldest and largest winter triathlons in Canada. It has played a key part in the famous Silver Skate Festival since 1990.
The 2016 event is on February 21, and features two distances:
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entry-level “Short Course” distance: 10km
(2.8km run, 4km skate, 3.5km ski), or
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the “Long Course” distance: 25km
(5.5km run, 12km skate, 7.5km ski).
Seasoned athletes often mix up their winter training by entering the Solo Challenge.
Meanwhile, family and friends sign up for the Team Challenge or Family Challenge to enjoy a fun morning together. Best of all, they can register up to 5 members, together, and they can relay between any lap. So the Team and Family Challenge gets almost everyone involved in each winter sport.
For passionate winter athletes or good times with friends – running, skating and skiing leaves everyone walking off with a smile. Best of all, folks hang around for full day of Silver Skate Festival.
© Marc J Chalifoux 2014
I have done the Edmonton Winter Triathlon four times, so far. Three times as part of teams and once all by myself. I love the uniqueness and beauty of the winter triathlon. Each of the sports – running, skating, and skiing – is filled with power and grace. The distance and combining them all together pushes me to the limit. And I finish the afternoon with a smile and a hot chocolate.
Winter triathlon is a plucky new sport that is growing across Canada. Besides Edmonton, check out races in Grande Prairie (Winter Whiteout), Jasper (Jasper Winter Pentathlon), Elk Island National Park, and Saskatoon (Blizzard Winter Triathlon).
Rodney Al is the Race Director for the Edmonton Winter Triathlon. Always an aspiring athlete, he loves the combination of snow and ice and solid grit.
Visit silverskatefestival.org to learn more or contact info@silverskatefestival.org