Cumberland to host Canadian cross triathlon championship

Canada’s first ever standalone cross triathlon national championship will be held this September in the Vancouver Island community of Cumberland, BC.

Triathlon Canada has chosen Frontrunners Fit Chiropractic Dodge City X, an annual off-road triathlon held in the island village, to host the championship, a responsibility that race organizers describe as “a huge honour.” The event takes place on September 10 and represents the first time a cross, or off-road, triathlon national championship has been held on its own rather than as a “sideshow” to the long-course or Olympic distance triathlon championships.

“It’s testament to the amazing volunteer community we’ve got here in Cumberland and the broader Comox Valley,” says Ryan Parton, the event’s race director. “Hosting the national championship is a great opportunity for those of us on the Island, because the race is still just as accessible to anyone who wants to participate, but the championship allure will also draw athletes from across the country, making it a great chance to see how we measure up against the best amateurs in Canada.”

Frontrunners Fit Chiropractic Dodge City X features a 1.5-km swim in glacier-fed Comox Lake, a 23-km mountain bike through Cumberland’s “legendary” singletrack network of more than 200 trails and a 9.5-km trail run through that same world-class trail system. A roughly half-distance sprint and relay options are also available.

The top three finishers in each age/gender category of the Standard event will earn national championship medals and will also qualify for the 2023 World Championships in Ibiza, Spain.

“It’s a tough course,” says Parton,” but it’s one that most participants will absolutely love.”

Parton adds that the bike course doesn’t feature any extreme downhills or hazards and is more than accessible to anyone who’s comfortable riding intermediate trails.

“Most of our participants aren’t vying to be national champions, they’re just out for the personal challenge,” he says. “There’s nothing quite like the camaraderie of Cumberland’s trail community; we certainly punch above our weight class when it comes to hospitality.”

Frontrunners Fit Chiropractic Dodge City X is organized by local nonprofit Steam Donkey Racing and supported by sponsors such as Dodge City Cycles, Comox Physiotherapy Clinic, BodyNetix, Thomas Dargie and others. The event’s official accommodations partner is the Old House Hotel and Spa in Courtenay.

Click here to register.