Children compete in Hinton triathlon

More than 25 of Jasper’s sprouting athletes splashed, spun and sprinted on the weekend in Hinton’s annual children’s triathlon.

Children of any age who could swim at least two laps in a pool with or without a flotation device could take part in Saturday’s event, said Blaine Aucoin, race director.

Participants chose their level - bronze, with a 50m swim, 1400m bike and 600m run, silver, with a 150m swim, 3.5km bike and 1600m run, or gold with 300m swim, 7km bike, and 3.5km run.

Lourdes Nunes, aquatic centre lifeguard, organized a practice for the young athletes last Wednesday to give the kids a chance to get used to the transition between phases.

Nunes, whose eight-year-old son Hayden Kreizenbeck participated in the triathlon, said parents have the chance to teach children that fitness is a part of life and it can be fun.

“It’s all based on having fun and doing your best,” she said. “We set the framework now for the kinds of lives our children will lead.”

The former triathlon competitor said that even kids who aren’t strong athletes will leave with a feeling of accomplishment.

“At the end of the race it’s an incredible feeling,” Nunes said. “It gives them another means for success.”

Gerrad Lewin, aquatic centre lifeguard and swim coach, said the event is a great way to ease kids into athleticism.

“Endurance sports get easier the more you do them,” he said. “Kids at 13-14, when they jump into an event without any background, it can be hard on their self-esteem and can scare them away.”

Lewin, who raced in the adult triathlon Sunday, added the triathlon is a great confidence booster because all the kids who participate receive a medal.