If you haven’t yet, it’s time to get off the couch and start training for the sixth annual Jasper Winter Pentathlon at Pyramid Lake.
There are only two weeks left to get into tip-top shape—and to perfect your award-winning costume—before the Jan. 31 event.
“This is a good continuation of the December Project,” said Jocelyn Nadeau, one of the event organizers, referring to the community-wide initiative that had Jasperites working out every day during the month of December. “It’s good motivation to train in January.”
The pentathlon includes five activities—biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating and running—and is modelled after the famous Pentathlon des Neiges in Quebec City, Nadeau’s hometown.
Nadeau organized Jasper’s first pentathlon with his partner Caroline Roy in 2010 and last year, for the first time, he competed as a solo athlete, taking the top spot as the fastest solo male after completing the course in one hour, 42 minutes and 28 seconds.
And this year, he said, he’ll be back to defend his title.
“This event kind of motivates me to diversify what I do and get out. It forces me to get on my skis and my snowshoes and out on the trails for a run.”
There are only a few hearty souls who take on the challenge alone: six men and one woman in 2014, while the rest of the racers join together to form a team of five athletes.
Those teams vary from Jasper’s toughest endurance athletes to families with young kids, as well as groups of friends who just want an excuse to put on a silly costume and breathe the fresh mountain air.
In the past six years, costumes have ranged from super hero leotards and capes to business attire, doctor’s scrubs and hockey jerseys.
The costumes are Jasper’s twist on a competitive pentathlon. It’s a way of making the event fun for everyone, no matter their fitness level, and it also provides an opportunity to hand out people’s choice awards.
During the event, bystanders are encouraged to vote for the team with the best costume, as well as best team spirit, and the winners, as determined by the crowd, receive prizes, just like the fastest athletes in the race.
And to make the event family friendly, there is also a kids pentathlon that takes place alongside the event.
“So while mom and dad are participating, they can put their kids with the pentathlon coordinator,” said Roy, noting that there are five kid-friendly obstacles planned to keep the little ones busy.
“We just want everyone to participate and have fun.”
Race details
The competition begins in the Jasper Activity Centre parking lot, where the bikers begin their 5.5 km ride up Pyramid Lake Road at 11 a.m. sharp.
After the ride, there is a 5 km cross-country ski that will take skiers twice around the lake. Snowshoeing is next, with one 2.5 km sprint around the lake. Then it’s 12 laps around the oval skating rink, before heading out for a 6 km run to the stables and back.
The fun event usually attracts upwards of 150 competitors.
Roy encourages teams and soloists to register in advance. That can be done by visiting Totem Ski Shop or by contacting the ACFA in Jasper at 780-852-7476 or by email at [email protected].
To learn more about the event, check out the Jasper Winter Pentathlon Hivernal Facebook page or the ACFA’s brand new website.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
