The XTERRA Conquer the Crater is gaining converts with every passing year.
This past weekend marked the sixth edition of the series of races hosted at Kivi Park, accounting for a pair of altered versions due to the inconvenience that was Covid-19.
And while many of the returning faces strewn across the series of 11 different events, each and every new calendar year brings about a new infusion of disciples, those who will join the masses in singing the praises of the relatively new Sudbury summer tradition.
"I am really happy I came here," stressed 48 year-old Jean-Claude Roberge, the sixth place finisher in the men's full distance off-road triathlon, crossing the line in 2:44.26, just behind Andrew Jeffery of Southampton.
"The organization was amazing. I've never seen a course so well marked. It was impossible to get lost."
A competitive mountain biker in his youth in early adulthood as the native of Montreal moved west to Lake Louise for a period of eight years or so, Roberge was thrilled to tackle the terrain that is somewhat unique to this part of the province.
"The mountain bike course is great," said the man who has now lived in Ontario for nearly 20 years and currently calls Jordan Station (just outside of Niagara Falls) home. "It's pure Canadian Shield riding - that's what I came for."
"You have an amazing trail network here in Sudbury."
Like so many who tackle the off-road triathlons, Roberge is a creature of countless different athletic pursuits, the attraction lying in the range of sporting challenges that he can consume.
"I consider myself a hybrid exerciser," he said with a laugh. "I do a little bit of everything. I find with XTERRA, a lot of people seem to have mountain biking or cycling background - but really, it's all over the place and that's part of what makes it so much fun."
Even in his case, the sense of satisfaction was not limited to his MTB experience.
"I think my race went well," said Roberge. "This was only my sixth swim this year, so I knew it would hurt - but it was a good race for me."
A native of France who moved to Canada at the age of 24, some six years ago, Sudburian Geoffrey Helluin was tackling Conquer the Crater for a second time, having already qualified for the Ironman Canada - Penticton in British Columbia on August 25th.
"I started doing triathlons last year," said Helluin, introduced to the sport via race volunteer and avid distance runner Jeff Paul and placing second only to Calvin Walsh (Morin-Heights, PQ) in the full triathlon.
"I've obviously put a lot of work into it and it's paid off."
Still, there is little doubt that the 30 year-old athlete who also competed in mountain biking in his youth still has plenty of room to grow.
"Swimming is a little more technical, but I enjoy swimming - and it's the first leg so I feel pretty good in the water," said Helluin. "Once I get on the run, it's just survival for me. That's what it was today."
"I was just running away for the guys."
That strategy worked well as he finished a little over a minute ahead of local triathlete Dan Whalen, capitalizing on his background in likely the trickiest section of the course.
"The mountain bike course here is very hard, very technical," said Helluin. "I think everybody can agree on that. You have to be on edge at all times to make sure you don't crash."
With the Penticton race now just a month away, Helluin will alter his training regime, just a little, to ensure that he is as fresh as possible come race day out west.
"The XTERRA race wasn't the main goal of the season so I didn't taper before this," he said. "I still trained hard last week. I usually go three weeks hard and one week a little slower, just to give the body some time to rest."
"That seems to work pretty good for me."
A three year veteran of the Sudbury event, Ryan Hodgins does not classify himself among those who are striving for a top-five finish.
"I will try and keep up to my wife (Barbara Wolczak) and not lose too badly to her; that's my goal," he said, seemingly achieving that as he complete the long-course duathlon in 3:22.12, roughly twelve minutes back of his spouse.
The weekend was a familial undertaking as Cameron (age 9) and Gabby (age 8) both took part in the 3km run on Sunday morning. Embracing fitness as a life choice, Hodgins and crew represent exactly the type of family at the core of the Conquer the Crater offerings.
"It's good for the community to have something active like this so we want to keep it going," suggested the local orthopaedic surgeon. "It's fun. It challenges you, it pushes you, it makes you work out."
"Otherwise, it's hard to exercise unless you have an event coming up."
Avid mountain bikers, the Hodgins' clan were tackling a new destination this week, off to the southern mountains of Vermont as they begin early their preparation for Conquer the Crater - 2025.
Following are top finishers in each of the 11 events:
Full Distance Triathlon - Men1st - Calvin Walsh - 2:22.15
2nd - Geoffrey Helluin - 2:29.39
3rd - Dan Whalen - 2:30.46
4th - Wolfgang Guembel - 2:31.37
5th - Andrew Jeffery - 2:43.44
Full Distance Triathlon - Women
1st - Heather Pady - 2:48.21
2nd - Sara McIlraith - 2:49.52
3rd - Kira Campbell - 3:30.08
Full Distance Duathlon - Men
1st - Adam Akerman - 2:55.17
2nd - Eduardo Benko Campos - 3:08.32
3rd - Frank Boehm - 3:12.33
Full Distance Duathlon - Women
1st - Barbara Wolczak - 3:09.43
2nd - Corey Paul - 3:15.06
3rd - Lisanne Gauld - 3:31.30
Short Distance Triathlon - Men
1st - Chad Walsh - 1:14.12
2nd - Erik Vurma - 1:22.10
3rd - Michael Brown - 1:23.10
4th - Julian Luoma - 1:23.45
5th - Kaeden Ward - 1:24.15
Short Distance Triathlon - Women
1st - Erin Craesor - 1:30.41
2nd - Chantal Kukulka - 1:49.30
3rd - Nicole Kukulka - 1:49.36
4th - Jessica Lonsdale - 1:50.19
5th - Abiguèle Perreault - 1:55.01
Short Distance Duathlon
Men - 1st - Scott McClure - 1:35.51
Women - 1st - Sylvie Heung - 1:42.26
Women - 2nd - Robyn Jones - 1:44.28
42 km race - Men
2nd - Mark von Allmen - 4:29.19
3rd - Derek Ceccarelli - 4:44.08
42 km race - Women
1st - Jodie Liston - 4:47.00
2nd - Heleen De Necker - 4:52.02
3rd - Lisa Zych - 4:55.12
21 km race - Men
1st - Brian Murphy - 1:46.12
2nd - Dalton Moncion - 1:46.29
3rd - Matthew Pickard - 1:46.30
21 km race - Women
1st - Alicia Cutter - 1:42.59
2nd - Romana Benoit - 1:50.44
3rd - Manon Valiquette - 2:06.11
10 km race - Men
1st - Aurel Fox-Recollet - 40:35
2nd - John Kosar - 42:12
3rd - Nick O'Bumsawin - 46:02
10 km race - Women
1st - Sophie Williams - 47:12
2nd - McKenna Mende - 54:02
3rd - Kristen Van Diepen - 55:15
5 km race - Men
1st - Raphael Belzile - 20:02
2nd - Taylor Loughran - 20:33
3rd - Robert Landry 21:42
5 km race - Women
1st - McLaren Gieselman - 27:41
2nd - Camille Landry - 27:41
3rd - Natalie Hiltz - 28:38
3 km race - Boys
1st - Paislee Collin
2nd - Easton Saarinen
3rd - Augustin Gieselman
3 km race - Girls
1st - Marguerite Gieselman
2nd - Palmer Marcotte
3rd - Evelyn Kilgour
