Image Credit: Contributed
August 20, 2015 - 4:30 PM
KELOWNA – Athletes from around the world will be in Kelowna this weekend for the Okanagan’s largest annual triathlon.
The 33rd Kelowna Apple Triathlon is B.C.’s only world triathlon championship qualifier with top finishers in each category eligible to enter the 2016 championships in Mexico.
The race includes ia 10 kilometre run, 40 km bike and 1.5 km swim event which takes athletes along Lake Okanagan, up Knox Mountain and back down through Glenmore.
Previous winners include Olympic gold and silver medalist Simon Whitfield who calls the Apple Triathlon one of his favourites.
“The Apple Triathlon was my first Olympic distance race back in 1992. (It’s) held in a wonderful city, with great people, incredible scenery and with the generous support of the city," Whitfield says. "The National Team along with triathletes from all across Canada can’t wait to get to Kelowna.”
Leading up to and during the event, there will be a number of road closures and transit changes throughout downtown, North Kelowna and Glenmore.
The Dolphins parking lot will be closed Thursday, Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. until Monday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m. and Water Street from Sunset Drive to Cawston Avenue will be closed from Saturday at 4 a.m. until Sunday at 6 p.m. Parking along the race route will also be restricted starting at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Vehicles left in restricted areas will be courtesy towed to the City Hall parking lot, Memorial Arena lot or behind the Boys and Girls Club on Richter Street. Vehicles parked in residential areas will be relocated around the corner or across the street to keep the race course clear.
Parking will be available at the Library parkade, Lawrence Avenue parkade and in other downtown locations.
Race maps are available at the Apple Triathlon website.
Transit service will also be impacted Saturday and Sunday with daily detours in effect from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Route 7 Glenmore and Route 3 North End will be re-routed while stops along Graham Street, Water Street and Ellis Street to Bay Street will be closed.
On Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., Route 2 North End will operate north and southbound on Richter Street turning back via Bay Street, Kingsway, and Cambridge Avenue with no service to any stops on Water Street or Ellis Street. The Route 5 stop on Clement Avenue and first two stops south of Clement on Gordon Drive will be closed. Route 7 Glenmore will have significant stop closures along Graham Street, Clifton Road and High Road. Stops on Glenmore southbound will have to cross the race course to load on east lane of southbound Glenmore. Route 10 stop closures east of Burtch Road on Bernard Avenue will be closed.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015