Kelowna’s 2014 Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon will again have some of Canada’s youngest and most enthusiastic triathletes participating in the Kids of Steel (KOS) event during the weekend of August 15 to 17.
KOS triathlons are designed to offer youth 15 years and younger the opportunity to experience the sport of triathlon in a positive environment. The distances are much shorter than those in adult triathlons, and increase as participants mature.
In preparation of the KOS events, the Apple Triathlon offers the Sunrype Youth (ages 8-11) and Teen (ages 12-15) Camps the week before race weekend at Strathcona Park in Kelowna. Certified coaches cover the basic skills of swimming, biking, running, and transition; teaching triathlon rules, and enabling each camper to complete the Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon on Saturday, following the camp. Participation of the camps is limited to 30 Youth and 15 Teen triathletes.
Triathlon B.C. is offering a drafting clinic for the Teen Camp on Monday, Aug. 11. This clinic will qualify eligible triathletes for the Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon U16 event on Saturday, Aug. 16.
More information on the camps is available at www.appletriathlon.com
Kelowna has two youth triathlon clubs, the H2O Junior Tri Club and the Ogopogo Triathlon Club. The Ogopogo Triathlon Club utilizes 11 coaches, specializing in various disciplines and ages, and continues to grow with currently more than 60 kids involved. Leading the coaching team is Gord McInnes, supported by Rene Unser, Kari Bailey, Brent Hobbs, Jason Brescacin, Chris Andruchow, Martin Courtenay, Quinn Middleton, Cordell Dickie, Trevor Haaheim and Taylor Lick. Many of the coaches are parents of tri-kids.
“Our first priority as coaches is safety in the water, on the bike and while running on the road or trail,” said McInnes. “I have worked as a physician at Kelowna General Hospital’s emergency department for the last 13 years and have seen many tragedies that in some cases could have been avoided if attention was paid to basic safety.”
