When Jackie Lai signed up to coach triathlon for the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games, she was surprised by how few young people had tried to secure a spot on the team. Lai, who didn’t discover triathlon until she was in her 20s, knew from experience the sport could be intimidating and wondered if there was a way to help more young people feel like they could tackle the event.
Lai reached out to some of her contacts who coach adult triathlon, but didn’t find anyone with bandwidth to do youth programming. So she decided to take on the challenge herself.
“I thought, OK, if no one else has time to do it, I’ll do it. I do really enjoy hanging out with kids and my time at the Sask. Summer Games showed me that Saskatoon needs this,” Lai says.
So, this spring, Lai launched NextGen Youth Triathlon Club. The Saskatoon-based organization will offer its first training class — a six-week program for kids aged 6 to 15 — starting April 24 and finishing ahead of the Saskatoon Kids of Steel Triathlon in early June.
While some participants may go on to represent the province at the 2028 Saskatchewan Summer Games, Lai says that is not the primary goal of NextGen.
“As an adult, I have learned a lot from triathlon. I have learned different skills and have just developed confidence,” Lai says. “If I can bring some of that to the next generation, that would be fantastic. Not every kid who signs up is going to become a triathlete, but maybe they build a relationship with sport or with another kid. We want it to be fun.”
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming six-week training program:
What: NextGen’s inaugural training camp is coached by Lai and Saskatoon triathlete Jeff Hrynchyshyn. Training is offered for two age groups: ages 6 to 10 and 11 to 15.
When and where: The six-week camp begins April 24 and includes two days a week of programming on Thursday afternoons (biking and running starting from Meewasin Park or Prairieland Park) and Saturday mornings (swimming at the YMCA).
Participants need to provide their own gear (swimsuit, goggles, bike, helmet, running shoes) and be comfortable in the water.
How to sign up: Register online through the NextGen Youth Triathlon Club website. Cost to register is $150 plus $22 for membership in the NextGen Youth Triathlon Club and Triathlon Saskatchewan. The number of spots for each age group is capped at 20 participants.
