The 18th installment of the Quality Foods Qualicum Beach Triathlon is starting to take shape ahead of the June 22 event.
Registration has already begun (online at qualicumbeachtriathlon.com) and positions are filling up fast.
One of the most anticipated, and participated, triathlon events on Vancouver Island, the Qualicum Beach Triathlon will look to once again have a full field to go along with plenty of volunteers for the event.
“The spots usually fill up fast, so the sooner that people can sign up for the event, the better the chance to get a spot,” David Kazakoff of the Tri–Athletic Society said.
“Plus, the earlier people are signed up the easier it is to make sure their orders come in for shirts as well.”
The Quality Foods Qualicum Beach Triathlon is put on with help from the Town of Qualicum Beach, who supply necessary safety for those competing, from safety barricades to town staff helping flag for the event.
“We owe a big thanks to all of our sponsors and the Town of Qualicum Beach for helping us out each year,” Kazakoff said.
“They’re always going above and beyond with helping out for this event so it’s great to have them help out like that.”
There are three different groups that will be running, biking and swimming in the triathlon.
The Tiny Tri and Minor division will see kids as young as 3, and up to the age of 11, competing in mini triathlons. The youth category runs from the age of 12 to 17 and is a longer course than the Tiny Tri but shorter than the adult division.
Anyone from the age of 18 and up will swim 400 meters, bike 18 kilometers and run another 5 kilometers.
“It’s great to see the age difference from the Tiny Tri division, where we had a couple of three year olds last year, to the adult division, where we had two competitors over the age of 70,” Kazakoff said.
“There’s a wide range of age that come out for this event and it’s great to see everyone sharing the same passion for taking part in this triathlon.”
The field is already a quarter of the way filled and registration just opened a little over a week ago.
The triathlon has been taking place since 1996, when Don and Kathy Henderson, along with Ann Marie and Barb Ashmead came up with the idea to start a triathlon in the Qualicum Beach area.
After bringing the event to life, Quality Foods jumped on as a sponsor in the first ever Qualicum Beach Triathlon and they have been a sponsor for all 18 events since.
“We’re very fortunate to be able to have them as a major sponsor. They’ve been with us since the very first triathlon back in 1996 and have supported us each year we’ve had the triathlon.”
Anyone looking to sign up, volunteer, or become a sponsor for the triathlon can go to qualicumbeachtriathlon.com and click on the links provided at the top of the page.
