Without needing to take a frosty step outside, they race all three stages.
Turned loose in heats, competitors stroke their way through the pool’s open water, pedal on nearby bike trainers, then dash around the facility track.
Welcome to the world of indoor triathlons, which offers a fine way to stay sharp during Alberta’s frigid months.
A past participant in these kinds of winter events, Owen Turner appreciates the opportunity to compete once the snow flies.
“It’s a very good format and very well done,” says Turner, 16, a member of the Kronos Triathlon Club in Calgary. “They are pretty enjoyable. It’s a different experience, but not in a bad way. They’re very good for anyone who wants to keep racing triathlons (year-round).”
Which means Triathlon Alberta has great news for multi-sport keeners of all ages and abilities. The provincial body is introducing the 2025 Race The Prairies Series – six events, including four indoor weekends, starting Jan. 4 and 5 at the Kinsmen Sports Centre in Edmonton.
A stop in Cochrane – Jan. 25 at the SLS Centre – follows.
As someone who loves to compete, Turner doesn’t plan to skip a single event, especially knowing he is able to spin his own two-wheeler. “It feels like a triathlon with the stationary-bike component,” he says.
Further upside to the winter events? For those itching to get their feet wet in the sport, this presents an appealing starting point.
Lua Perez Hernandez, a 14-year-old from Beaumont, notes that the low-key vibe of indoor triathlons makes them ideally suited for novices.
“It’s a very welcoming environment,” says Perez Hernandez, a member of the Edmonton Triathlon Academy. “For newcomers, it’s a really good idea to have little races like these thrown in there. They’re smaller, so it doesn’t feel as big and intimidating.
“It’s still that same feeling of doing a triathlon – the same fun sport – it just changes the environment.”
Turner agrees, adding that triathletes of all levels can get what they need out of these races.
“It’s a competitive setting for the higher groups,” he says, “but it very much feels like a recreational event, just doing it for fun. It feels like a triathlon, but it doesn’t have the weight of a (traditional) triathlon.”
Indeed, Sebastian Porten, executive director of Triathlon Alberta, says one of the best aspects of indoor events is the scaled-down approach, including the number of hands required.
“Triathlon races typically require a significant number of volunteers, which are very difficult to find these days,” but, according to Porten, indoor events can be staged with three staffers and four volunteers.
In other words, winter triathlons serve as a low-maintenance, no-fuss way to bulk up the itinerary. With a significant drop-off in the number of races in the province, Triathlon Alberta is eager to increase the opportunities, particularly for younger triathletes.
“We want to give youth the chance to have that competitive outlet, especially over the winter,” says Porten. “We wanted to put on the races because the winter in Alberta is pretty long.”
And for clubs attempting to recruit – and retain – kids, it’s beneficial to have actual races on the docket. That opens the door for up-and-comers to test their skills in an official setting, instead of enduring endless blocks of training till May.
In the past, Triathlon Alberta has held aquathlons – swim-run showcases – out of the cold. But a couple of years ago, to increase the variety of its inside offerings, 10 smart bike trainers were purchased. Now racers can tick all three stages. “So, it’s a full triathlon experience,” says Porten. “The events can be (set up) easily and it’s very replicable. The idea is, we show the clubs that it can be done, so, in the future, they are able to run these events as well.”
And a beefed-up racing schedule, no matter who’s at the helm, is something that gives everyone a boost.
“It’s basically sport development,” says Sebastian. “We’ve taken steps to introduce these races to ensure that there’s club development, to ensure that there’s athlete development, to ensure that there’s coaches’ development, and there are things for athletes to target, even the age-groupers.”
As part of the Race The Prairies Series, an indoor triathlon is set for March 8 and 9 in Edmonton, plus an April 13 aquathlon, all at the Kinsmen Sports Centre.
The six-race slate concludes with outdoor affairs in Beaumont, July 19 and 20, and Stony Plain, August 9. A couple of the winter races (January 4-5 and March 8-9) will feature speakers delivering seminars on nutrition and mental preparation
“We’re trying to build out this nice pyramid,” says Porten, “where kids have the ability to participate in club activities year-round, race over the wintertime, and move to the competitive summer schedule in a seamless way, which can include the Youth and Junior Cup Series, the Western Canada series and/or the National Development Series of events.”
Stamps of approval come from the likes of Perez Hernandez — and that’s meaningful. These youngsters, after all, understand the triathlon landscape as well as anyone.
The former has been racing since he was five. The latter? Since she was three.
“Both of my parents (Sergio and Elisabeth) have been doing triathlons since before I was born. Watching them made me want to do it, too,” says Perez Hernandez. “Now I love triathlon because it’s a really active sport and it’s very engaging.
“It’s really fun to meet other people who also have a love for the sport.”
And it all starts with a willingness to simply give it a try, no matter the time of year.