Challenge Penticton changes ownership
Challenge Penticton, ‘the oldest long-distance triathlon in North America’, has confirmed a change in ownership. The City of Penticton has sold the event to a partnership of experienced race directors Kevin Cutjar and Michael Brown who are already preparing for the 2015 race.
A Penticton resident, Cutjar is an experienced multisport race director and coach and Brown, who has a background in business and marketing runs large-scale sporting events. Both men are experienced long-distance triathletes.
“We are thrilled to be working on this historical event,” said Kevin Cutjar. “Our thanks go to the City of Penticton for guiding the race through its first transition two years ago. Michael and I look forward to taking over at the event’s ‘T2’!”
“This was the first long-distance triathlon in North America – the ongoing story of the event is fascinating,” said Michael Brown. “Many of triathlon’s greats such as Peter Reid, Paula Newby-Fraser and Chris McCormack have all come here to experience the iconic, challenging course and experience the enthusiasm and hospitality of the Penticton’s crowds and volunteers.”
“The change in ownership will be simply amazing for this race,” added locally born Jeff Symonds, two-time winner of Challenge Penticton. “Michael and Kevin are known for producing awesome races and I know they’ll do a great job steering the event to a bright future.”
The Penticton race was welcomed into the Challenge Family series of triathlon events two years ago. The first Challenge Penticton welcomed more than one thousand athletes and this summer’s edition saw increased participation due to the addition of the Challenge Half event.
Preparations, including ‘some well-kept-secret changes’, are already underway for the 33rd edition of the race, which is scheduled for Sunday August 30, 2015. Events include Challenge Full – a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42km run, a shorter Challenge Half and relays over both distances. The course is renowned as both tough and scenic, and is one few events in the world to feature a single loop in each discipline.
Early bird pricing is available for the first 250 registrants in both the Challenge Full and Challenge Half, or until Sunday November 16.
For more info:
From press release.
