Race the Prairies Series Kicks Off with a Chilly Start in Edmonton
The first Race the Prairies event of the year took place a few days after 2025 started at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton. With over 50 athletes competing in a variety of races including triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and mixed relays, Alberta proved that triathlon can happen even when the temperature outside is at a bone-chilling -30c.
With representation from various triathlon clubs including the Edmonton Triathlon Academy, Kronos Triathlon Club (Calgary), the St. Albert Gators, and TRI-CHAMPS (Edmonton), athletes from across the province joined together to fight for first after the Winter Holiday break.
The indoor portion of the Race the Prairies Series during the winter was developed to give Alberta athletes a way to be involved in the sport year-round as well as to have something to train for over the winter. “We want to give youth and adults the chance to have that competitive outlet, especially over the lengthy Alberta winter,” says Sebastian Porten, Triathlon Alberta’s Executive Director.
For some, such as Mack Buchanan, the youngest first-place finisher, it was their first race while participating in a new club, the TRI-CHAMPS which formed in late 2024. "Tri-CHAMPS is a not-for-profit club that is focused on building the triathlon community in Edmonton." says Doug Wickware, the President of the club. "Participating in small grass roots events like Race the Prairies lets Tri-CHAMPS athletes perform the skills they learned in training, helping them gain confidence to race larger events in the summer."
Then there are athletes such as Aubrey Kennedy of the St. Albert Gators who is a regular at Edmonton-area triathlons, even participating in the most triathlons in the 2024 season! She came in first in the Age 16-19 Female category of the triathlon.
The event is not only for youth however, but also for the young at heart! No one proves that better than Edmonton's Ed Cook, who at 79 years old, participated in all five events over the weekend: the triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon, and both the mixed relay heat and finals. Ed proved that not only should all adults be participating in this fun event, but that he can keep up with many of the kids as well!
The most exciting events of the weekend to many however were the mixed-team relays, with teams being created by the coaches that morning, the teams of all ages, each athlete on a team of four competed in all three disciplines before the next one could start. Many athletes commented on this being their favorite event and the event continues to grow with new athletes trying it each race.
How does this all work? The races take place using the facilities of local recreation centres with the pool being used for the swim portion, spin-bikes on the pool deck for the cycling portion, and a dash to the running track to complete the run. The event is also timed using professional timing equipment from Zone4, allowing athletes to see how they progress throughout the season.
The next event in the Race the Prairies series will take place on March 8-9, 2025, at the Kinsmen Centre in Edmonton. Athletes and enthusiasts are encouraged to register at racetheprairies.ca.
Stay warm and keep training! 🏅❄️
