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Magical Mont-Tremblant celebrates a 10th and final Ironman race

A look back at race day at the final Ironman Mont-Tremblant race

Photo by: Kevin Mackinnon
August 25, 2023
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For a decade now Ironman Mont-Tremblant has been considered one of the world’s premier Ironman races. It burst onto the Ironman calendar in 2012 with a challenging, but fair course that featured newly-paved roads and spectacular scenery. There was an enthusiastic community that seemed determined to ensure that the athletes would have the experience of a lifetime.

Rachel Zilinskas masters Mont-Tremblant for first pro win

It was such a successful sight that in 2014 Ironman chose to host its first world championship outside the United States there, beginning a world-wide rotation for the 70.3 worlds at the picturesque ski resort in the heart of the Laurentians.

As we reported earlier this month, the resort and Ironman have agreed to discontinue the full-distance race in Mont-Tremblant, but will continue the 70.3 race. We were on hand to capture the day in pictures:

The water safety crew were on the water bright and early. The Ironman race went off at 6 AM, with the 70.3 race starting at 8 AM.
Ironman Mont-Tremblant was a pro women’s race – the men were to have competed at Ironman Canada in Penticton, but that race has been cancelled due to the forest fires in the region.
The age-group racers left in a rolling start a few minutes after the pros.
Water conditions were near perfect.
Rachel Zilinskas led the women out of the water.
It doesn’t happen without the volunteers. Over 1,000 were on hand to help the athletes through race day.
Australian Sarah Crowley led for much of the bike …
… but would eventually be caught by Rachel Zilinskas and Meredith Kessler. (Dede Griesbauer would be first off the bike, but she would eventually drop out of the race.)
Things would get busy on the highway with a combined 70.3 and full-distance race taking place.
The top of one of the big climbs on the highway.
Zed Roy would take the win in 70.3 race.
Jessica Cullen won the women’s 70.3 event.
Enjoying the crowd in the village on the way to the finish line.
Meredith Kessler was first out on to the run course and would lead for over half the race …
… but swim leader Rachel Zilinskas would run her way to her first Ironman win.
The enthusiastic spectators ensured the athletes pushed to the finish line.
Her last race had been in Mont-Tremblant a year ago. Rachel Zilinskas returns from a year of injury to take the win and earn her spot for Kona.
Elliot-Olivier Pellerin wins the men’s race in 9:06:43.
A good time was had by all!