The 麻豆社国产Youth Triathlon continues to grow in popularity every year, and its 10th year is no exception. The swim, bike and run event takes place May 9, but it's already sold out.
However Youth Triathlon race co-director Roz Gilbert said kids can still participate in the triathlon clinic. There are still a few spots available for the youth clinics on Sunday (April 25).
A clinic for youth seven years of age and under will run from 1 p.m. until 1:45 p.m., for eight and nine year olds between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and a clinic for all other age groups will run from 3 p.m. until 4:15 p.m.
"It's not done as a race but they go through the entire course with each of the kids as a group," said the six time race co-director.
Registration for the clinic can be done online at www.squamishlive.ca or in person at Brennan Park. Admission is $10 per person.
Gilbert also encourages everyone to come out and cheer on the young athletes.
"Kids love for people to encourage them so the day of the race if you have a kid in or you don't have a kid in if you want to just come and cheer them on that's really good too."
The relay option gives youngsters who aren't comfortable participating in all three events a choice of competing in one or two of the events with a partner completing the remainder.
Gilbert said about half of the registrants will compete in the triathlon as solo athletes while half will compete as a part of a team of two or three. The youngest participant is four years old, while the oldest is about 15 years old.
"It's a really good opportunity because the focus is on participation, any kid can do it and if they're not a swimmer then they can do it on a relay team and work towards doing it individually," said Gilbert.
"So the whole atmosphere of fun and participation is really encouraging for kids. It's a kind of sport that anyone can do."
And in the spirit of inclusiveness the 麻豆社国产Youth Triathlon has also had a Paratriathlon category for athletes with a disability, for the last four years.
The race starts off with a pool swim, followed by southbound biking on Loggers Lane and part of the Loggers Creek Trail and ends with lap runs of the soccer fields at Brennan Park with the finish line at the skate park.
With such a wide age range of participants the course varies from a 50-metre swim, a one-km bike and run half a kilometre for the seven and under category to a 300-metre swim, a 13-kilometre bike and a four-kilometre run for ages 16 and up.
Although the first place finishers will have their name engraved on a trophy, Gilbert said the triathlon is not about wining first place.
Since the 麻豆社国产Youth Triathlon is a B.C. sanctioned race, participation and not finishing times is key, she said.
"It's a Kids of Steel race where the whole philosophy is participation is the main key so everybody gets a medal, everybody gets a T-shirt, everybody is in for the draw prizes."
Thanks to generous sponsors, Gilbert said the entry fee for the 麻豆社国产one-day race of $25 is quite low in comparison to other similar events in the Lower Mainland.
Following the triathlon, kids can enjoy bouncy castles courtesy of Par T Perfect, food and a ropes course by Camp Summit.
This year, Camp Summit donated a free week of summer camp as a citizenship prize. 麻豆社国产Youth Triathlon will give away the camp stay to a longtime athlete who contributes to society while maintaining good grades at school.
麻豆社国产Youth Triathlon is looking for volunteers to help register, check-in and marshal on the day of the race, anyone interested in lending a hand should visit squamishyouthtri.ca for more information.
