Challenge Penticton, ‘the oldest long-distance triathlon in North America’, has confirmed a change in ownership. The City of Penticton has sold the event to a partnership of experienced race directors Kevin Cutjar and Michael Brown. The transaction has now been confirmed as completed; and the new owners are already preparing for the 2015 race.
Kevin is a Penticton resident and an experienced multisport race director and coach. Michael runs large-scale sporting events, from a background in business ownership and marketing. As noted by Challenge Family, both men are experienced long-distance triathletes and have each raced the Penticton event multiple times.
“We are thrilled to be working on this historical event,” said Kevin Cutjar. “Our thanks go to the City of Penticton for guiding the race through its first transition two years ago. Michael and I look forward to taking over at the event’s ‘T2’!”
“This was the first long-distance triathlon in North America – the ongoing story of the event is fascinating,” said Michael Brown. “Many of triathlon’s greats such as Peter Reid, Paula Newby-Fraser and Chris McCormack have all come here to experience the iconic, challenging course and experience the enthusiasm and hospitality of the Penticton’s crowds and volunteers.”
“The change in ownership will be simply amazing for this race,” added locally born Jeff Symonds, two-time winner of Challenge Penticton. “Michael and Kevin are known for producing awesome races and I know they’ll do a great job steering the event to a bright future.”
The Penticton race was welcomed into the Challenge Family series of triathlon events two years ago. The first Challenge Penticton welcomed more than one thousand athletes and this summer’s edition saw increased participation due to the addition of the Challenge Half event.
Preparations, including ‘some well-kept-secret changes’, are already underway for the 33rd edition of the race, which is scheduled for Sunday 30 August 2015.
Events include Challenge Full – a 3.8K swim, 180K bike and 42K run, a shorter Challenge Half and relays over both distances. The course is renowned as both tough and scenic, and is one few events in the world to feature a single loop in each discipline.
Early bird pricing is available for the first 250 registrants in both the Challenge Full and Challenge Half, or until Sunday 16 November.
