No more Ironman in Penticton

If you had been thinking about entering the Ironman competition in Penticton next year, you missed your shot.

The grueling triathlon will not be returning to the South Okanagan after the race this Sunday.

Challenge Family, a long distance triathlon, will be replacing the event.

The Ironman was scrapped after the license holder of the race gave it up earlier this month; it is the only Ironman in Canada. Challenge Family approached the City of Penticton after hearing that the Ironman was in limbo.

The first Challenge race in Penticton will take place on August 25, 2013. It is the only Challenge triathlon to be held in North America. Other countries that also hold Challenge races are in France, New Zealand and Denmark.

Professional triathletes participating in the Challenge will get a pay-out of more than $60,000. Athletes will also be paid out to the tenth place.

The race will differ from the Ironman in that athletes will be sent out in waves rather than having all competitors start at the same time.

It Should also mean more money for the City of Penticton. With the Ironman, the city did not receive any money from the registration fees, whereas a cut of the registration fees from the Challenge should go to the city.