Even with all the “major brands” coming into triathlon, sometimes there’s something about a local race that…well, simply can’t be replicated. A kind of magic. A distinct grassroots vibe.

That’s exactly the case with the long-standing Vancouver Triathlon, established in 1999 by Owner and Race Director Trevor Soll. It’s an event that sells out every year, with more people wanting to take part than the race can accommodate. (There are currently 930 participants for this year’s edition, representing four provinces and seven countries.)

We sat down with Soll to learn more about this iconic local event – its history, his family’s connection to it, and the mission behind what they’re looking to provide for the local triathlon community – as the Vancouver Triathlon prepares to celebrate its 24th year.

On Both Sides of the Start Line

Soll shared that he got involved in triathlon just after high school, competing as an age-grouper for “fun and fitness,” as he put it. Yet what we found particularly interesting about his story is that the role of “race director” – or contributing to the sport more broadly, beyond his own participation – seems almost to be part of who he is.

After discovering the sport in 1992, as a student at the University of Regina, Soll organized his first triathlon in 1995.

“I saw that there was a pool, great roads, great running, the perfect place for an event!” he said.

(We don’t know many people who already have that kind of innate entrepreneurial and opportunistic spirit in their university years!)

And it seems Soll’s passion for triathlon continued on both sides of the start line. As an athlete, he raced for Canada at three world championships over the standard/olympic distance. At the same time, he continued putting on events in his home province of Saskatchewan and became a member of the provincial triathlon board.

That involvement eventually led to Soll serving as Vice-President of Triathlon Canada’s board for four years (2001-2005) and travelling the world as an athlete manager (1998-2008), looking after elite athletes, all while continuing to host and grow local races in Canada.

Building a Race in Stanley Park

When it comes to the Vancouver Triathlon specifically, Soll shared that the city was previously home to the Vancouver International Triathlon in the 1980s, but the event had since been discontinued. Soll saw a gap and set out to fill it, fully aware of the iconic nature of the Stanley Park location.

“I connected with the Park Board and took all the steps necessary to secure a closed-road race in Stanley Park,” he said. “There were learnings in those first years, like understanding the changing tides for the swim course, but each year we aim to make it better.”

As the race grew, so did my family,” he added with a smile. “This has truly been a family affair. My wife Cheryl and I have four kids who have literally grown up around the event, from being carried around in baby carriers and pushed in strollers, to hanging out on the beach race morning, to now having actual race-weekend roles and responsibilities!”

Soll highlighted how much that family presence – getting to know the athletes, making sure they have a good experience, and simply being there on race day – has become part of the way they do things.

A Way for People to Get Into Triathlon

“Of course we welcome and celebrate athletes of all levels,” Soll said, “but one of my primary motivators is creating a truly beginner-friendly experience that gets more athletes into the sport.”

Perhaps it’s a way of passing his own love for the sport forward.

To help make that happen, the Vancouver Triathlon offers not only sprint and Olympic-distance races, but also a shorter Tri It option (375m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run), as well as additional events including the Second Beach Open Water Swim and the Vancouver Aquathlon. (Both are still open for registration!)

“We also put on two transition seminars the day before the race,” Soll added. “Last year we had over 200 attendees at each! We really want people to be comfortable knowing where they’ll come out of the water, how to transition, where they can mount their bikes, and so on. We’re looking to reduce barriers as much as we can.”

And even as bigger international brands come to town, including the recent addition of T100 Vancouver, there remains something distinct about what the Vancouver Triathlon offers. For a first-timer, it’s an accessible introduction to the sport with the support to make that first start line a little less intimidating. For returning athletes, it’s an opportunity to keep that love of racing alive. And, for those at the sharp end of the field, there’s still the chance to race for a competitive placing on one of the most stunning courses you’ll find anywhere.

Perhaps that’s the magic of it. 24 years later, the Vancouver Triathlon remains a distinctly Canadian gem of a race, put on by a family that has grown alongside it, with the same fundamental goal Soll seems to have had since organizing his first event back in university: giving people a way into the sport and a reason to stay in it.