About Cowichan Challenge Triathlon

June 28, 2026

Swim in the calm waters of Fuller Lake. Ride on freshly paved roads winding through the picturesque Cowichan Valley. Run on trails through the North Cowichan municipal forest.

The Cowichan Challenge has a standard course, a sprint course, and a full slate of youth race distances for kids 6-15. There is also a standard course Aquabike (Swim-Bike).

Race Distances

  • Standard Course – 1500m swim (2 laps( – 40K bike (2 laps) – 10K run (2 laps)
  • Sprint/Junior Course – 750m swim (1 lap) – 20K bike (1 lap) – 5K run (1 lap)
  • Aquabike – 1500m swim (2 laps) – 40K bike (2 laps)
  • Youth 6/7 – 50m swim – 2K bike (1 lap) – 500m run (1 lap)
  • Youth 8/9 – 100m swim – 4K bike (3 laps) – 1K run (2 laps)
  • Youth 10/11 – 150m swim – 6K bike (5 laps) – 2K run (3 laps)
  • Youth 12/13 – 200m swim – 8K bike (7 laps) – 2K run (3 laps)
  • Youth 14/15 – 300m swim – 10K bike (9 laps) – 3K run (4 laps)

Race Categories

Male and Female 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13. 14-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29. 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

Each entry includes a high quality race garment, a custom silicon swim cap, a finisher award, post race refreshments, and medals to 3rd place in each race category.

Race Package Pick-up

There is a race package pick up and youth bike check at Experience Cycles at 482 Trans Canada Hwy in Duncan from 2 to 5 pm on Saturday, June 28th. Adults bike check is optional and participants are responsible to ensure their bicycle is mechanically sound and safe.

Race packages for out of town participants will be available on race morning at Fuller Lake from 5:30 to 6:00 am.

The Cowichan Challenge is sanctioned by Triathlon BC and proudly hosted by Human Powered Racing

Event Schedule

Transition opens race morning at 5:30 am

The standard course and aqua bike swim starts at 7 am.

The sprint course swim starts at 7:30 am.

The youth races start at 8 am and go from oldest to youngest categories. There will be 10 minutes between each youth heat.

  • 14-15 – 8:00
  • 12-13 – 8:10
  • 10-11 – 8:20
  • 8-9 – 8:30
  • 6-7 – 8:40

Each race is a mass start format.

The awards ceremony will start as soon as possible after the last finisher crosses the line.

Cut off Times

Athletes have one hour and fifteen minutes to complete the swim portion of the race.

Standard course athletes have 4 hours to complete the race. Anyone still on course at 4 hours will not receive an official time and cannot rely on course marshals or aid stations.

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