PINAWA — It was a brilliant August morning on a sandy beach in the Whiteshell — an idyllic setting for a triathlon. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * PINAWA — It was a brilliant August morning on a sandy beach in the Whiteshell — an idyllic setting for a triathlon. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? PINAWA — It was a brilliant August morning on a sandy beach in the Whiteshell — an idyllic setting for a triathlon.
A few dozen athletes were chatting nervously as they prepped for the opening 750-metre swim leg of the Free Spirit Triathlon. At the back of the group a pair of newbies, standing with their coach Jonathan Courchene, were about to make their initial foray into the triathlon world. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Jonathan Courchene (right) gives last-minute race instructions to Phoenix (left) and Bradley before the start of the Free Spirit Sprint Triathlon in Pinawa.
They were quieter, perhaps realizing instinctively how tough their morning was going to get. Fifteen-year-old Bradley Courchene (no relation to Jonathan) and 17-year-old Phoenix Abraham, both from the Sagkeeng community, had been training for their first triathlon with Courchene. Once he hit the water, Phoenix soon remembered lake swimming is a different beast compared to his training sessions at Winnipeg’s Cindy Klassen Pool and he needed to stop and refocus before restarting.
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Phoenix .