Ironman Canada in Whistler | August 25, 2013

World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) has announced Whistler, British Columbia as the new venue of the IRONMAN® Canada triathlon. IRONMAN Canada in Whistler builds on the legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympics, while offering athletes a beautiful, challenging experience in a world-class venue. The event will be the 31st running of IRONMAN Canada.

The race will start with a two-loop, 2.4-mile swim in Alta Lake at Rainbow Park. Athletes will enjoy a lakeside transition before starting a one-loop 112-mile bike course that is comparable in difficulty to the bike route at IRONMAN Lake Placid, IRONMAN Coeur d'Alene, and the previous IRONMAN Canada. Athletes will travel south on the Sea-to-Sky Highway before climbing into the Callaghan Valley, site of the Nordic skiing events during the 2010 Winter Olympics. After descending back to the highway, athletes pass through Whistler on their way north to Pemberton. An out-and-back section allows athletes breathtakingly beautiful views of glaciated peaks, while racing on a completely flat section of road. Athletes return to Whistler via the Sea-to-Sky Highway over rolling terrain. The two-loop run course follows the meandering Valley Trail past Lost Lake and Green Lake allowing spectators to reinvigorate athletes with a return through Whistler Village at the halfway point of the run before finishing adjacent to Whistler Olympic Plaza.

"We are absolutely thrilled, and honoured, that Whistler has been chosen from among some of the country's most spectacular destinations to host IRONMAN Canada," said Breton Murphy, Tourism Whistler's Director of Partnerships and lead for the Whistler Organizing Committee, which responded to the request for proposals by WTC.