The pro field is heating up as Challenge Penticton Canada is about to make history with the Challenge Family's debut in North America.
Chris McCormack (AUS) has always had Penticton on his bucket list and is thrilled to be competing in the inaugural race. The four-time world champion has more long distance victories to his name than any other male – and is the only person to have won both Olympic and long distance world championships. He is a five-time International Triathlete of the Year, four-time Competitor of the Year and was named ESPN's World's Fittest Man.
The calibre of international competition is impressive. Jamie Whyte is a consistent performer with multiple podium finishes, including winning Challenge Wanaka, New Zealand, in 2011, second place in 2012 and 2013 and seventh at the inaugural Challenge Taiwan. Lothar Leder (GER) is a three-time champion for Germany in Olympic distance triathlon and five-time winner of Challenge Roth and iron-distance races in Germany. He captured third at Kona twice and posted a best time, and made history in 1996 as the world's first triathlete to complete an iron-distance race in under eight hours.
North American athletes are bringing their A-game as well. Scott Defillippis (USA) has prepared for race day with a top-three finish at IM Florida and top-five at IM Switzerland. Chris Bagg (USA) returns Penticton to improve on his 4th place finish from 2011, bringing his Portland counterpart Andrew Langfield (USA).
The Canadian contingent is eager to hoist the maple leaf as well. Anthony Toth (CDN) returns to the race of his best time, having achieved a personal best in 2012 in Penticton and fourth overall.
In the women's field, Australian Carrie Lester will look to crack the North American code, after scooping the 2012 championship in IM Cairns and Rev 3 Cedar Point in 2012, and coming out on top in 2010 Ironman Australia and the long-course championships in 2010.
Erin Furness from New Zealand will also bring international level competition to the course. Her top-10 finish at IM New Zealand this year and age group winner will give her a mental edge leading into Challenge Penticton, Canada. Trish Deim (USA) is having a breakout season in her sophomore year of pro racing, with top-10 finishes in Wildflower and Coeur d'Alene and a top-15 in Los Cabos while Janelle Morrison (CDN) will be looking to improve on her last year's third place.
Professional triathletes will benefit from a prize purse more than 54,000 Euro ($75,000 CA) prize purse paying down to 10th place.
The launch of Challenge Penticton sees it as the exclusive long distance Challenge race in Canada, and marks the long-distance race returning to its roots with community support and ownership.
Taking place on August 25, 2013, Challenge Penticton is planning a new race experience to a time-honoured course, which has travelled through the heart of B.C. wine country and along stunning lakes for 30 years – the longest running triathlon in North America.
The course itself is technically challenging due to its geography and climate, and is known the world over for its single loop through mountainous B.C. geography. The swim takes place in the pristine Okanagan Lake, which records warm water temperatures throughout the summer. The bike course features two significant climbs at Richter Pass and Yellow Lake with elevation ascents over 210 metres high. The run includes an out-and-back along the gorgeous Skaha Lake to the south.
The Okanagan region also bucks the national trend by being blistering hot in the summer – the only desert region in Canada – that can see temperatures averaging 27 Celsius (80 Fahrenheith) and reaching highs of 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) during August.
