The 26th annual race, which is one of the few triathlons in the United States that combines cross country skiing with the traditional biking and running events, summons all those fit enough to face 27 combined miles of physical endurance.
The Abajo Winter Festival, sponsored by the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, will add a host of things to do to those who may not be up to a grueling athletic event. The winter festival will include sledding, snowmobiling, ice sculpting, and cross country skiing at a more pedestrian pace.
A race meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday marks the beginning of the triathlon event, with the actual racing starting at 10 a.m.
Competitors will start at the Dalton Springs Campground and embark on a 4-mile cross-country ski, followed by an 18-mile bike ride, and a 5-mile run to the finish at Montezuma Canyon. Lunch will be prepared and served by the Lion’s Club for triathlon participants.
One can register online, at the Monticello City Office, or by mail order. A $45 per person entry fee includes a shirt, the lunch, and a duffle bag. Contestants can register as a team or as an individual in a single event.
Or, if they really want to impress the neighbors, they can compete individually in all the events. Contestants must provide their own equipment, including skis, bikes, and helmets. Awards for the triathlon will be given out at 1:30 p.m.
In an effort to increase the triathlon’s exposure, the City of Monticello has secured the financial support of several sponsors, including Granite Construction, Countywide Realty, Empire Electric, Jones & Demille Engineering, Lamplight Restaurant, LeGrand Johnson Construction, Blue Mountain Foods, Questar Gas, Tri-Hurst Construction, and Getgo Signs and Graphics.
About 80 contestants are expected to participate. Go to bluemountaintriathlon.com to register or find more information.