2012 January Outback Events Newsletter 2012-01-26

Registration is now open and if you register before February 15th, you can take advantage of the current registration price.

In its ninth year the Oliver Half Iron has sold out each year as athletes come to Oliver, BC to race in the “Wine Capital of Canada” the first Sunday in June. The race is highlighted by a one loop swim in the spring-few waters of Tucelnuit Lake off Rotary Beach and then a short run around the corner to transition at Tucelnuit Elementary.

The 93Km bike course consists of two loops past Oliver wineries on a scenic journey through some of the nicest riding in Canada. Off the bike, runners head out on a two loop course through quiet residential streets as they make their way out on to the Hike and Bike pathway alongside the Okanagan River and back to the finish at Rotary Beach.

The race also features the “voice of Ironman Canada” Steve King announcing, a post-race BBQ for athletes and their families and is again slated to be a qualifier for Ironman Canada 2012. This is a great race for athletes competing at IMCDA and IMC. Past winners of the event include Tom Evans, Michellie Jones, Linsey Corbin, Scott Neyedli and Jonathon Caron.

While most of us are wallowing in a state of rest in the ‘Off Season’, a lot of BPR members have been aiming for great results at numerous events around the world. Ironman World Championships, X-Terra World Championships, Okanagan Trail Race series, BMO Okanagan Marathon are just a few of the events where we had BPR athletes competing.

Time is crawling along towards next Spring/Summer and the full gambit of events that we are so lucky to have in the valley, so all of our Winter programs are starting in earnest November 1st – check out the training schedule below. We have an addition to the coaching team who will be present in the valley full time, and he brings additional bike fitting experience with him too – this will heighten this aspect of our services here within BPR and ensure that all of our cyclists and triathletes are comfortable and powerful throughout the season.

All of our camp dates are confirmed for 2012, along with some additional ways to prepare EVERY athlete for their goals in 2012 and beyond. Check things out and do not hesitate to contact us for any additional information.

It is our pleasure to announce that Luke Way (formerly of TriWay) will be joining our coaching team as of January 2012. Luke brings a host of coaching experience, bike fitting prowess and athletic super-powers to the team, and he is looking forward to living in paradise in the OK Valley. With some lofty athletic goals for 2012 both on the mountain bike and triathlon scene, it will prove to be a busy but fruitful season for Luke.

Registration for the 8th Annual Desert Half Iron is now open. Race in Osoyoos and test yourself with the most challenging Half in Canada. Doing an Ironman in the future? If so, this race is for you. Come race on one of the most scenic and challenging courses in North America, in Canada’s only desert.

We are excited to be working with both Triathlon BC and the Alberta Triathlon association as our sanctioning partners this season. Trained officials and technical delegates will be at our events again for 2012.

Membership in Triathlon BC or ATA helps further the growth, development and improvement of the sport throughout your province. Your membership helps foster regional growth, youth development, coaching seminars, athlete development, training of officials, and the provincial race series.

Randy Wilson is a triathlete, a race volunteer and tri club member in Vernon. He has supported us since we started in 2002 and has been a big help with our personal planning for the future.

Contact Randy today to discuss your financial planning and personal insurance needs.

Runner's Den Sylvan Lake Half Iron Triathlon Weekend - New 1KM/60KM/10KM Race Added

Returning to Sylvan Lake this past July we knew that we had some work to do. With a one year hiatus and no race in 2010 due to construction along Lakeshore Drive and in Centennial Park it was good to be able to again host an event in 2011. The community support in this Town of 15,000 is truly amazing. The redevelopment of Lakeshore Drive and Centennial Park will be completed for 2012 and we’re very excited as we truly feel that it is the nicest venue for triathlon in the province of Alberta. We’re pleased to tell you that the Runners Den Sylvan Lake Half will be back on Sunday, July 22nd 2012.

We are even more excited to announce that another distance will be offered next year for our athletes. The race will be a 1Km swim, 60Km bike and a 10Km run. The 1/60/10 race will provide athletes another choice if the Half Iron event doesn’t fit their schedule, their current fitness level in July or for those athletes moving up from the Sprint distance looking for a new challenge. Registration for these races is now open.

The 1/60/10 race will consist of a one loop swim. Transition will be in the newly renovated Centennial Park across Lakeshore drive from the Lake. The bike will exit and follow the Half Iron course and basically cur the Half Iron course in half when just after the second aid station 1k/60K/10K cyclists ride past the Half Iron turnaround point and will keep going east on Township Road 400 until they reach Hwy 20. Cyclists for the shorter course now turn right on Hwy 20 and follow the same route as the Half Iron course back to transition.

2011 Race Photos

Your race day photos are still available online at Brightroom Photography. Click on the logo above to view your 2011 race photos or purchase some as a gift for a friend!!

2012 Wine Capital of Canada Tri

Sunday June 17th, 2012

We are very excited to announce that the Wine Capital of Canada Triathlon is returning for its 10th year in June for 2012. We apologize for the error in our June newsletter.

This will be the 10th Anniversary for this race.
Olympic and Sprint race distances offered.
Start and finish at Rotary Beach
This race is geared for the first time triathlete and hard core racer alike. The race is followed by a BBQ and awards ceremony that we host at Oliver Parks and Recreation.

Click here to register for the race.

2012 Cultus Lake Triathlon

Registration for the 2012 Cultus Lake Triathlon is slated to open on February 15th.

Come join us for the last triathlon of our season in Cultus Lake on Sunday September 9, 2012. The lake has had all summer to warm up and last year it was a beautiful 20 degrees on race day and 25 degrees outside with beautiful sunshine.

Sunday morning package pickup is available from 6:30am-7:45am just outside transition
Race will again host a Sprint and Olympic Distance with a beautiful ride through Abbotsford farmland and run along the lake and through the quiet cottage community
Jordan Back and Mick Maguire will be announcing the race and hosting the awards for us and we are very excited to have them returning

Post-race pizza will be provided by the Lower Mainland's best pizzeria J. Beethoven's Pizza. If you have done this race before you know how amazing the pizza is, and if you haven't, then you definitely have to come out and try it.

The Mission Classic Gran Fondo brings cycling to the Fraser Valley’s north side. The inaugural Mission Classic Gran Fondo is set to take place on May 27, 2012. The 120Km and 70Km professionally managed courses will start and finish in Mission and feature beautiful scenery, timed climbs, well paved roads, supported aid stations, professional on-course support and the camaraderie of group cycling.

The undulating terrain of the course will challenge participants’ strength and stamina. The event is a great opportunity for competitive as well as recreational cyclists, with each participant choosing their own speed at which to complete the event. The feature hill climb will be the 1.75Km section on Tyler Avenue that will be timed and closed to traffic with overall course results available to riders after the event.

After the ride, prizes will be awarded across age groups and team categories. The ride will be finished off with a post-ride meal and a free community concert slated to take place in Fraser River Heritage Park. Throughout the awards ceremony, draw prizes will be distributed. Also included in the entry fee will be an event garment and various gifts from the sponsors of the event.

We would also like to say a special thank you to the following sponsors and supporters of our 2012/2013 Events:

Outback Events Ltd. has been in operation since 2002 and is owned and operated by Joe and Sarah Dixon. Outback Events is one of Canada's largest and most experienced event management specialists, with over 2500 athletes participating each year in their race series. For more information please go to