38th annual Iceman sees highest post-Covid registration numbers

Some Prince George roads and streets will be busy with athletes as the 38th Annual Prince George Iceman takes place Sunday starting at 10 AM at Otway.

The popular event consists of an 8km ski, 10km run, 5km skate, 5km run and 800m swim.

“It’s going to be a really great event, our numbers are looking even bigger than last year, the weather’s looking great, there’s a lot of buzz I think in the air,” said the Iceman’s Aquatic Centre Coordinator Jessica Telizyn.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Environment Canada is calling for a daytime high temperature of minus 15.

“I think at minus 15, it should make for pretty good skiing and skating conditions, nice weather for a run, not too cold, not too hot to risk any sort of melting or anything like that,” Telizyn explained.

448 people are registered in the event, the highest total they’ve seen post-Covid.

That number includes 47 soloists.

There will be traffic impacts between 5:00 am and 4:00 pm along Foothills Boulevard from Otway Road to 18th Avenue throughout race day:

• There will be two stoppages on Otway Road where traffic will be held briefly while runners cross the road. One near the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club and one near Foothills Boulevard.
• Southbound Foothills Boulevard will be reduced to a single lane between Otway Road and 18^th Avenue.
• Two signalized intersections (Foothills Boulevard – University Way/15th Avenue intersection and the Ospika Boulevard – 22nd Avenue intersection) will be placed in red-flash during the event, which means they become a 4-way stop.
• Starting at the Ice Oval, a 5-kilometer run will take place along most roads in the Pinewood subdivision and proceed to Ospika Boulevard via Massey Drive.
• The bike lane along the north side of Massey Drive from Foot Street to Ospika Boulevard, and along the west side of Ospika Blvd from Massey Drive to the Exhibition Park access will be closed. The sidewalk will still be useable by pedestrians.
• There will be one stoppage on 18^th Avenue where traffic will be held briefly while runners cross the road from Exhibition Park to the Aquatic Centre.