The 2014 Winter Challenge – the first winter multisport event for Boise, Idaho, is being held at the Bogus Basin Nordic Lodge on Saturday 8 March 2014. The event will consist of a 4K run on snow followed by a 12K bike on snow and finally an 8K skate/freestyle ski. The race will be held on the trails around the Nordic Lodge in a multi-lap format that will be fun for racers and spectators.
The event is being pushed by Tri Town, a Boise-based triathlon store, and World Cycles & XC, a bike and Nordic ski store, also in Boise.
‘Vinter Utfordring’ translates in Norwegian as ‘Winter Challenge’ and the organisers have taken inspiration from Nordic sport to create a fun and unique winter multisport event. Norway is seen by many as the birthplace of competitive winter sports and the organisers feel it is a fitting theme for the race.
As the Winter Challenge website points out… ‘Whether it is called winter triathlon, winter multi-sport, winter challenger or Vinter Utfordring we think it is a great way for our Nordic community to get together for a fun community event.’
- What: 4K snow run; 12K snow bike; 8K skate/freestyle cross country ski
- Who: Undertaken as an individual or a team relay (rumour has it that the organisers might have a costume category up their sleeves!)
- Where: Bogus Basin Nordic Lodge
- When: Saturday 8 March 2014. 09:00 race start, local time
Antonio Gonzalez of Tri Town said, “We’re excited to help organize this first-time event with the help of World Cycles, professional triathlete Adam Wirth, and of course the great people at Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area.”
Back in September this year, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) announced its support of a new winter triathlon format made up of snowshoeing, speed skating and skiing. ITU, in association with Pentathlon des neiges, will host the Quebec ITU Winter Triathlon Event on 8-9 March 2014. While the race marks the 10th anniversary of the event, it will serve as ITU’s first involvement with the sport.
In tandem, the new winter triathlon 2014 Winter Challenge event in Boise, Idaho, is helping to further build momentum for this niche aspect of all things multisport in the key market of North America. Triathletes like to try new challenges; and a tie-up with skiing (and keeping training and competing a year round venture) could see this area build momentum in the months and years ahead.
