Joey Payeur
Jeff Tilbury is banking on a big walk-up crowd.
The Rainy Lake Triathlon Club member expects most of those taking part in the second-annual “Splash and Dash” aquathlon, set for this Sunday at 9 a.m. at Point Park, will throw their hat into the ring just prior to the start.
“We’ve had a few pre-registrants already,” noted Tilbury.
“We were hoping for a few more but I’m happy with the turnout so far.
“With all that’s going on down at the Point, it’s probably held some people back,” Tilbury added.
“But with the water levels going down and the beaches opening up, people will probably just wait to see what the weather is like on Sunday before coming down,” he reasoned.
Tilbury said the club also is hoping to draw some people from the U.S. side since the Backus Triathlon in International Falls was cancelled last month.
“Maybe they’ll come out and try our event,” he remarked.
“Splash and Dash” gained some valuable credibility last week when it became an officially-sanctioned event by Triathlon Ontario.
Being held three weeks earlier this year to hopefully attract more young adults before they head off for university, “Splash and Dash” also features a new component brought in to strengthen the grassroots of the sport locally.
Along with the adult division (age 16 and over), there also will be a category for kids aged 12-15.
While the adults will do a 750m swim in open water and then a 5K run, the youths will tackle a 300m swim and a 3K run.
“The swim for the youth will be from the campground beach to the Rendez-Vous beach, so it will be closer to shore and more sheltered,” Tilbury explained.
“It’s a great vantage point for parents to see the whole swim course before they get out of the water to run along the river,” he noted.
Tilbury conceded the success of a youth division might be one of those wait-and-see things.
“There hasn’t been as much feedback on it as I would like,” he admitted.
But Tilbury said those, especially younger ones, thinking about taking the plunge should do so.
“It’s definitely a good feeling of accomplishment,” he remarked.
“I know we have a lot of young swimmers in the community and I’m sure they could handle a three-km run.
“It’s a great opportunity to get a taste of what triathlon is all about—even though we don’t have a bike portion,” he added.
Tilbury is hopeful that scenario will change come next year.
“We certainly would like to add a bike portion and make it a full triathlon,” he said.
“But that depends if the roadwork east of town [on the Noden Causeway] is finished,” he noted.
“That construction is the only thing holding us back.”
Registration forms for “Splash and Dash” can be picked up at the Memorial Sports Centre until Friday.
They also can be downloaded from the club’s website at rainylaketriclub.com
For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page entitled “Rainy Lake Triathlon Club.”
