PORT HOOD, N.S. - The 26th Annual Port Hood TD Wealth Triathlon in Port Hood is ready to challenge competitors for another year.
The event takes place Aug. 12 with an 8 a.m. start for Olympic and 8:30 a.m. for the sprint event.
“Besides individual Olympic and sprint events, we also offer team events,” organizers note in promotional material for the event. “The swimming portion takes place at one of Port Hood’s five pristine beaches; biking is on the picturesque Route 19 and running on the scenic Collingdale Road.”
Jon Kommes and Stephen Malick are co-chairs for the triathlon and Kommes, speaking with the Casket Aug. 1, said preparations are coming along “really well.”
“Everything seems to be falling into place,” Kommes said, adding registrations typically build as the date draws closer.
“We have this problem every year, dealing with low numbers and then, about a week to 10 days before, everyone starts registering. At the last minute, we just seem to get good numbers … last year we had almost 100.”
This year, the triathlon has been selected to host the Nova Scotia Provincial Championship Sprint event. Kommes said he expects more numbers with that distinction.
“I’m quite sure it will,” he said, adding the triathlon is sanctioned by Triathlon Nova Scotia.
“We applied and we’re fortunate to get it,” he said.
Kommes said he has been involved with the triathlon for about a dozen years, first as a competitor, continuing as a volunteering and now an organizer. As for what he has noticed from year-to-year, he talked about how the Port Hood community has come to embrace the event.
“What I’ve found personally is, the people of Port Hood really back it,” he said. “I received a comment yesterday; a guy stopped me and said, ‘by the way Jon, when is our triathlon?’ I was thinking, OK, great, Port Hood has taken ownership of this. A lot of our sponsors are local people and so forth.”
One of those sponsors is Galloping Cows who will be catering the lunch enjoyed by participants. Kommes noted feedback mentioned to him recently was about the Port Hood event having the “best meal” of any triathlon. A meal is part of the registration fee and can be purchased by non-competitors for $10.
Kommes noted one piece of information he was asked to stress was in regards to safety. It’s a reminder to drivers, on Route 19 in the morning hours (especially between 9 and 11 a.m.) on triathlon day, to be aware and respectful of cyclists competing.
“Please by careful because there will be bikers on the road,” he said.
He also noted the tremendous support the event receives from Port Hood volunteer firefighters.
“We could not do this triathlon without the fire department and they have a busy weekend with Chestico Days and then they come out again for our road race,” he said. “They do a terrific job and I never hear any complaints from them.”
Registration can be done online at www.raceroster.com and race kits can be picked Saturday (Aug. 11) at 4:30 to 7 p.m., or Sunday (6 to 8 a.m.) at the Al MacInnis Arena in Port Hood.
Prizes and awards will be presented following the competition along with the meal.
