For 38 years the Prince George Iceman race has been bringing its northern entertainment to Prince George. Organizers are reaching out to volunteers and participants to help make this year's event a memorable one.
So far 184 people have registered for the Feb. 9 event. Iceman chair Julie Ubdegrove said the last run of the Iceman was spectacular and brought 40 new participants, a number she hopes to break this year.
In addition to new participants, Ubdegrove also said they want to bring up the number of volunteers. The event currently needs 50 more to help with everything from races to banquets.
“We definitely need volunteers," said Ubdegrove."The more the merrier. We need volunteers at all of the different locations. Some are needed out at Caledonia Nordic, along the foothills leading to the oval. We need water stations and people stopping traffic at some of the side roads when runners are coming by. We need volunteers at the Oval and then there's a 5K route in that neighbourhood just behind the Oval where we have people stationed so we don't lose runners or people don't get off track and then we need volunteers at the pool.”
This uniquely northern event was started by Peter Cederlof, Frank Blues and Dave Drysdale during the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Cities across Canada were encouraged to highlight their brand of winter sports and 38 years later, Prince George is still at it.
The event is separated into five races over one day: An eight-kilometre freestyle, a 10-km run, a five-km skate, a five-km run and an 800-metre swim.
Events start at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Centre and end with a finale at the Prince George Aquatic Centre.
Participants can join up as a team or run the events as soloists. This year includes teams from schools like Prince George Secondary School, D.P. Todd Secondary School and Dutchess Park Secondary School.
The weather has in the past been an issue that has affected the oval skate. Last year's iceman saw the ice oval at Exhibition Park melt, but 100 volunteers worked tirelessly at the last minute to flood and scrape ice to be usable.
“The weather is huge,” said Ubdegrove. “Luckily this year, it's been cold enough that the oval has had ice leading up to this and they've been able to make ice and they've babied it up to this point. So hopefully we get some cold weather and then get a couple more layers on there. Last year, the oval was so amazing. The week leading up to the Iceman, there was nothing but gravel at the oval. They went in there and we got cold weather and they pumped out, five shifts a day and all through the night making ice.”
If you are interested in volunteering or registering to participate in events, visit the Iceman's website at www.pgiceman.ca or email [email protected].
