THUNDER BAY -- Upcoming construction on the Boulevard Lake damn has put one city sporting event on a one-year hiatus.
Thunder Bay Triathlon organizers announced the 2015 edition of the event would likely have to be cancelled due to the work on the dam which might involve dredging the lake, which had been used for the swimming component of the race.
The triathlon was previously a long-running tradition in the city which had been held for more than 20 years before being cancelled about seven years ago. It was revived it in 2013 and it was held again in 2014, attracting nearly 200 participants each year.
Co-race director Phil Major said other locations were explored but it was concluded Boulevard Lake was the only site with the proper capability to hold the event.
“Lake Superior is an option and we did look at it but the problem is the cold. It tends to restrict a lot of the athletes who would have to have a wetsuit,” he said.
“You also have to have a body of water where there are some good roads nearby where you can get out of the water in the triathlon, finish your swim and get on the bike and get going. Not only do they have to be good roads but they have to be in an area where we can do road closures and not tremendously impact residents of that area.”
In the past couple of years the triathlon had drawn competitors from across Northwestern Ontario as well as the United States.
Major said organizers had been in communication with the city about the upcoming construction work. Registration had not yet opened and organizers wanted to make the announcement now to give athletes time to find other events.
He acknowledged the cancellation of the triathlon in the same year the Miles with the Giant marathon is shut down is disappointing to local athletes but said organizers are looking at a replacement event to fill the summer calendar.
“We want to keep the momentum of the triathlon going and let people know we’re not going away,” Major said. “We’ll be back in 2016 and want to give athletes in Thunder Bay an event they can partake in during the summer time.”
The triathlon had been scheduled for July 26.
