Kawika Tarayao and Kayla Kobelin completed last year's inaugural Swimrun Whistler with different teammates, but elected to join forces on Sunday for their second attempt.
That proved to be an enlightened decision, as Tarayao and Kobelin (known collectively as Team Pannben) reached the finish line in four hours and 17 minutes: quicker than any other duo in the World Series Team category.
"I actually think I liked this year's course more," said Kobelin in a press release. "I loved the variety of the lakes and the temperatures. It really is super fun and makes each swim super exciting."
Amanda Martin and Fiona Larsen notched an impressive second overall result (4:35:35.17), as third went to Matt and Blaire Kniaziew Gervais (4:44:29.13). Michael Chastain and Ramses Peroza were the fastest men-only unit in 12th (5:27:55).
Adrian Cameron struck gold among World Series soloists after finishing as runner-up in 2024. The 45-year old former collegiate swimmer and University of Florida alum led wire to wire in a powerhouse outing (4:01:01.24) as Tim Raschle netted silver (4:26:53.27) and Jack Fairfield earned bronze (4:27:14.98).
Maria Tupayachi captured the World Series ladies' solo victory (5:06:23.66).
In the Sprint discipline, Annie Molsberry and Chris Douglas proved to be top team (2:43:59.23) in front of Charlotte and Jason Bell (3:02:51.2) as well as Anne Maletta and Matthew Boin (3:06:41.73).
Moana Chinson emerged as the fastest Sprint solo athlete (2:31:35.89). Andrew Leach (2:34:38.38) and Alex Currie (2:39:56.6) rounded out the top three, with Lena Hottner as quickest woman (11th overall in 3:06:13.2).
Kezzia and Matthew Ness won the Experience team division (1:02:40.17), and Olivier Jumeau placed first among soloists (55:27.82). An honourable mention goes to Whistler's own Heather Parlour, who finished second overall behind Jumeau (1:01:56.94).
The "Experience" setup involves a total distance of approximately 6.4 kilometres and 56 metres of elevation gain, while "Sprint" ups the ante to 17 kilometres and 175 metres of elevation. Last but not least, the "World Series" benchmark features a demanding 38.3 kilometres and 868 metres of elevation change.
'Whistler is an endurance mecca, and this showed'
This year, Swimrun's Sea to Sky course began and finished at the Whistler Mountain Ski Club in Creekside. Approximately half of the field of 150 racers originated from Canada, with the remainder representing Hong Kong, French Polynesia, Belgium, Spain, Czech Republic, Great Britain and the United States.
Sunday's weather conditions were favourable, with warm air temperatures and cold water swims in each of Whistler's five lakes: Alpha, Nita, Green, Lost and Alta. Competitors had the option of racing as a two-person team (in which both athletes tackle both swimming and running legs together) or as an individual.
ÖTILLÖ North America race director Lars Finanger said that his event organization is thrilled to see the hybrid sport of Swimrun continue to gain popularity in Canada.
"Whistler is an endurance mecca, and this showed as we had athletes fly in from all over the world to test themselves on this unrelenting course," Finanger commented in a release. "We're not supposed to pick favourites, but those 12 athletes who joined us from Hong Kong really embodied that positive can-do spirit we can't get enough of.
"Even with teeth chattering and hands shaking from that last cold swim crossing in Nita Lake, they stayed at the finish cheering until the last athlete arrived."
For complete results from Swimrun Whistler 2025, visit runsignup.com/Race/Results/158401/#resultSetId-564450;perpage:100.
