End of an era — Nelson Cyswog'n' Fun has run its last race
By Nelson Daily Sports
For the past three decades during the August BC Day weekend, Nelsonites have witnessed people jumping into Kootenay Lake by the hundreds, biking on the North Shore's Highway 3A before running across and back the Nelson's BOB (Big Orange Bridge).
However after 34 years of the Nelson Cyswog'n'Fun, the race committee has decided to cancel the race.
"We would like to thank every volunteer who ever came out early on the long weekend some for all 34 years," said the message on the trinelson.com website.
"We from the bottom of our heart thank all the sponsors past and present and urge you to keep supporting them."
The message continued to thank all the athletes who every raced in the event, scheduled for the Sunday of the BC Day weekend.
"Thanks to every athlete who ever raced, all of you, first to last who left it on the course we saw your faces during the race and the smiles after, thanks for giving that to us."
The Nelson Cyswog'n'Fun got its start in the early 1980's when Nelson sports enthusiasts Jennifer Stanger and Sandy and Danny Babin came up with the idea during a holiday trip to Spokane.
The group thought this race would be great idea to bring people to Nelson.
Since then, athletes from throughout the world would mark the first Sunday in August as a date to be in Nelson for the annual event that saw participants compete on the Olympic Distance of 1.5 kilometer swim, 39 km bike and 10 km run.
Short course enthusiasts distance was 500 meter swim, 22km bike and 5 km run.
However, that has all come to an end as the Nelson Athletic Association has run out of energy to organize the annual event.
"While all things come to an end the Nelson Athletic Association plans to keep on organizing races with an emphasis on inclusion for all ages and promoting healthy choices," the message closed.
"Thanks again."