A half-distance race first introduced in Whistler last decade will debut at Penticton鈥檚 Ironman this summer.
Event organizers said the 70.3 Ironman race has been added to this year鈥檚 event, set for Aug. 25.
The triathlon begins with a 1.9-km swim in Okanagan Lake, before challenging athletes to a 91.5-km bike ride through the valley and 21.1-km run along the KVR Trail and Penticton lakeside. That totals about 113 kilometres, or 70.3 miles, hence the name of the event.
鈥淧enticton has played a prominent role in the history of Ironman, and we know athletes will enjoy getting the opportunity to race an Ironman 70.3 triathlon through the stunning landscapes and challenging terrain that the Okanagan Valley has to offer,鈥� said Tim Brosious, regional director at the Ironman Group.
The 70.3-mile event first debuted at Whistler鈥檚 Ironman in 2016 but hadn鈥檛 been featured at any triathlon since 2019.
This year鈥檚 70.3 race in Penticton will offer qualifying spots for the 2025 VinFast Ironman 70.3 World Championship, set to be hosted by Marbella, Spain.
With the half-distance race set to open the field for more athletes, Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said he looks forward to welcoming the event to the city.
鈥淔or athletes, it鈥檚 a chance to accomplish an incredible feat in one of the competition鈥檚 most iconic settings,鈥� Bloomfield said. 鈥淔or the community, it鈥檚 an opportunity to welcome more athletes, more support team members and more spectators to town so we can show off everything Penticton has to offer. This is a win-win for all involved.鈥�
Penticton鈥檚 Ironman was cancelled in 2023, amid concerns over wildfires and travel restrictions last August.
Registration for the 70.3 Ironman will open on Feb. 21, and be accessed here.
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