CANADIAN RACE
Subaru Triathlon Series
The very popular Subaru Triathlon Series will host an estimated 6,000 participants in Ontario this year. There are plenty of race options to choose from.
The five different events and beautiful rural settings throughout the province provide the perfect rationale for an extended road trip this summer.
The big city race venues are deliberately avoided for these competitions in order to have roads that are quieter and environments that are cleaner. The 2019 season begins in early June in Milton, and takes in Guelph Lake 1, Niagara, Orillia and then back to Guelph Lake 2 at the end of August.
“Guelph Lake 1 is the largest race in the series, with 1,700 to 1,800 participants over the weekend,” says Nick Stoehr of Trisport Events. “Orillia is the smallest
and we will have 700 to 800 participants there. This year, Orillia will be the Subaru Triathlon Series (STS) Club Championship, and there are qualifying spots for the World Championship sprint distance.”
Trisport Events has produced and run the competitions since the first race in Niagara back in 1987, before new locations were added to meet demand.
“Subaru has been a proud sponsor since the mid-1990s,” says Stoehr. “We have a great relationship, with similar goals, and our athletes are the perfect demographic for Subaru Canada.”
While all locations have a Try-a-Tri category, each also offers a blend of other choices such as triathlon, duathlon, swim/bike and the options for relay or sprint. Stoehr says that the sprint events are the most highly attended.
The Milton race kicks off the series on June 2 at Kelso
Conservation Area, where the water can still be chilly, so wetsuits are common. The Niagara Escarpment is close by, so there are some big hills and the sprint course is quite challenging.
The weekend of June 15 and 16 is booked for the Guelph Lake 1 event, featuring Olympic distances on the first day and many other options on day two. Guelph Lake Conservation Area is just northeast of the city and the swimming courses are in the large reservoir.
On July 28, Niagara competitors will find themselves in Grimsby. The Try-a-Tri folks can choose to swim along the shoreline and they also get a flat bike course. But the sprinters will have a tougher go up the Niagara Escarpment in a shorter, but steeper, climb than in Milton.
Orillia’s turn is on August 18 at the beautiful Couchiching Beach Park right on the shore of Lake Couchiching. The neighbourhood streets are mostly flat with a few small hills, and runners and cyclists will appreciate the shady segments. There is a beach and wave start to the swim course with some categories being separated by age groups.
Wrapping up the 2019 series, Guelph Lake 2 is booked for August 31, and by then the water will likely be warmer than it was in June. The run course stays within the park on mostly flat, paved roads with some rolling hills. Cyclists leave the park on an out-and-back course that is considered fast and a bit exposed on windy days.
It might surprise people to know that there are just four Trisport Events staff working on the many details for the whole series. On race days, they are helped by an army of volunteers.
“Each race is different,” says Stoehr, “but typically anywhere from 60 to 100 volunteers help to get athletes from registration to the finish line.”
There are two other races operated by Trisport Events also sponsored by Subaru Canada, but they are separate from the Ontario series. The classic Ironman 70.3 in Muskoka happens on July 7 and is a much-loved event known as “the beauty and the beast” for its rugged course through the scenic area of Huntsville. The Iron Girl Canada Women’s Triathlon in Grimsby on August 11 is a fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. The money raised goes to research, education and advocacy for women and families who have experienced breast cancer.
Having the races in these beautiful tourist destinations is a great opportunity to enjoy vacation time while you’re on the road in pursuit of triathlon challenges. Whether you race or cheer, the positive vibes and high energy that this series is known for will no doubt boost your spirits and provide a great getaway.