The 2004 Canadian National Triathlon Championships was to be held in Kelowna BC on Sunday. NRG PT athlete Sylvie Dansereau was looking to extend her undefeated summer of racing. With 30+C almost everyday in Kelowna this summer, the biggest concern was the heat after a summer of cool and wet temperatures in Southern Ontario. Well, that concern was quickly ended at 4:30am race morning when the skies opened and the rain came down. The rain came down on and off for the next few hours as Sylvie, Nigel and Andrew Mugford (who just happened to be in Kelowna on vacation) tried to stay warm and dry. Eventually the rain lead to a delay in the start of the race from 7am to 9:15am. The combination of thunder and lightning caused the race organizers to change the triathlon into a duathlon, then it was discovered that a section of the bike course was flooded and to everyone’s frustration the race was cancelled. This marks the first time a race in the Okanagan Valley (known for being like a desert) has been cancelled due to rain.
Next weekend Ironman Canada is taking place only a short drive south of Kelowna in Penticton. And with NRG PT athletes Marian Ollila, Maurice Harapiak, Seanna Robinson and Nigel Gray racing everyone is hoping the cold wet weather will be long gone by next Sunday!!