Annual tourney gone up in smoke

The annual Peach City Classic youth soccer tournament has gone up in smoke for this year, but the inaugural Super League Triathlon will go ahead as planned this weekend.

The soccer tournament, which was to feature close to 50 teams from all over B.C. and parts of Alberta, was cancelled due to the forest and wildfire smoke that has enveloped the South Okanagan in recent weeks.

“We held on as long as we could in hopes (the smoke) would blow away,” said Pinnacles FC director and coach Manuel Borba.

Borba said Pinnacles FC head coach Yann Calmets notified him the tourney had been cancelled early Thursday morning.

BC Soccer Association has a protocol in place for air quality and with the head index sitting at 9-plus (very high risk), organizers had little choice but to cancel the tourney.

Borba said there is no opportunity of staging the tourney at a later date.

“Everyone had planned for this weekend, had accommodations in place and everything,” he said. “It’s a big undertaking for all involved.”

Borba said it’s a big blow for the local soccer association, but also for the local economy, primarily in the hospitality industry.

He noted the three-day tourney would have drawn more than 1,000 players, coaches and family members to Penticton and the surrounding area.

Borba said a big tournament last summer in West Kelowna also had to be cancelled due to the smoke.

“If this becomes the norm, you have to look at whether it’s worth the risk, especially later on in the summer,” said Borba.

Valley soccer leagues have also been impacted by air quality this week as the Capri Okanagan Oldtimers’ Soccer League had to postpone a full slate of over-45 games on Monday and over-55 games on Thursday.

The Penticton men’s slo-pitch league cancelled a full slate of games on Monday, but were able to play on Tuesday and Wednesday.

League president Tony Orioli said the air quality rating on Monday was 10, but improved the next two days.

“We have and will continue to monitor the situation each day,” said Orioli.

League games are held in the evening Monday to Thursday, while the Penticton women’s slo-pitch league runs Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Meanwhile, the Super League Triathlon has 1,000 registrations across three races today to Sunday in the South Okanagan. One stage of the race today — a 15 km time trial — will be held in Oliver, with much of the remaining racing slated for Penticton.

Communication director Darren Hailes said triathlon officials are closely monitoring conditions for the series of races.

He said staff are consulting with Triathlon BC and Triathlon Canada officials to help ensure the health and safety of the athletes.

“These races are shorter sprint and super-sprint distances so we don’t get to the same length of race that the precautions are outlined for,” said Hailes.

He said everything will go ahead as planned unless the smoke was to get “significantly” worse.

Hailes said several athletes have called to inquire about the conditions, but noted most of them have arrived for the racing already.

“Many of the elite athletes have invested a month or more to prepare for this weekend,” said Hailes. “Some are coming from a long ways away and they want to ensure they can perform safely and at their best. I think they realize we are doing our due diligence where their health and safety is concerned.”