Ironman adds 70.3 race to Ironman Canada weekend in Penticton
Race to be run in conjunction with full-distance Ironman Canada event
Photo by:
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images for Ironman
Yesterday we offered up some options for where the new Canadian Ironman 70.3 race might take place – today we got the answer. After being held from 2016 to 2019 in Whistler (in conjunction with the Ironman race) Ironman 70.3 Canada returns and will be held in Penticton on the same day as Ironman Canada.
“We are thrilled to bring the Ironman 70.3 Canada triathlon back and have it join the iconic Ironman Canada event for an unforgettable weekend of racing in Penticton. This venue has become one of the most thrilling destinations and sought after experiences on the global Ironman circuit in part due to the amazing support from the community and volunteers,” said Tim Brosious, Regional Director at The Ironman Group. “Penticton has played a prominent role in 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.”
The new event will share parts of the Ironman Canada course, starting with a 1.9-km (1.2-mile) swim in Okanagan Lake, a 91.5-km (56.85-mile) bike through the Okanagan Valley, followed by a 21.1-km (13.1-mile) run along the Kettle Valley Trail and Okanagan Lake.
The race will offer qualifying slots for the 2025 Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
Entry levels
The addition of the 70.3 race in Penticton might not be great news for the long-term future of the race in Penticton. The half-distance race was added to the Whistler event when entry numbers started to decrease, and a few years later Ironman made the move back to Penticton. Last year’s race in Penticton was cancelled due to forest fires, and the 2020 and 2021 races were cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. In 2022 there were just under 1,600 athletes who competed in the race.
Ironman appears to be adding the 70.3 to the race weekend to pad the race numbers, which is good news for the community.
“The addition of the Ironman 70.3 event to Penticton is great news for athletes and the community,” said Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “For athletes, it’s a chance to accomplish an incredible feat in one of the competition’s most iconic settings. For the community, it’s 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.”
Success stories
There’s lots of evidence that the addition of a 70.3 race to an Ironman weekend provides some long-term stability for various events. Ironman has a number of races that include both a full-distance and a 70.3 race on the same day or on the same weekend, including one of the company’s most popular races, the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns, Australia. (In fact all the full-distance races in Australia and New Zealand offer a 70.3 event in conjunction with the Ironman race.)
The 70.3/ Ironman strategy has also worked in Wisconsin, which hosts the Ironman 70.3 race on the Saturday, with the Ironman taking place on Sunday. Ironman Italy reverses the days, with the Ironman taking place on Saturday and the 70.3 on Sunday. Ironman Barcelona used to offer a 70.3 race along with the Ironman event, but that race was discontinued after last year.
Penticton is one of the sport’s most storied venues, hosting one of the first Ironman Qualifying races (yes, we know Ironman New Zealand was the first!) until the race moved to Whistler in 2013.
Hopefully the addition of the new 70.3 race in Penticton will continue the city’s long history with the sport.
You can find out more about Ironman 70.3 Canada here.
