Smoke forces cancellation of another Okanagan sporting event

KELOWNA – Abnormally high particulate levels caused by forest fire smoke continue to take their toll on athletic events in the Okanagan Valley with the cancellation of this weekend’s Dragon Boat races in Kelowna.

Organizers say on the event website that smoke levels were reason for the cancellation. The move follows the abrupt cancellation last weekend of the Kelowna Apple Triathlon and some races of the Penticton Super League triathlon for the same reason; an air quality health index reading of over 10, considered a very high health risk by the Interior Health Authority.

Fortunately, with the summer race season coming to a close, there aren’t too many events left where smoke levels could pose a challenge.

“There is the Steamer Mountain Challenge next weekend in Revelstoke but I know the organizer said it was go rain or shine, smoke or not,” Dalton Fayad said.

The sales associate at Fresh Air Concept says staff at the store have heard “remarkably few” complaints from local cyclists and athletes although some have definitely dropped their training volume amidst the persistent smoke that has seen particulate levels over ten several times in the last two weeks.

“Whens it’s a four or five that’s one thing but when it’s seven, eight, nine, that’s another,” he added. “That’s when I take it inside, put it on the trainer or get on a treadmill.”

The air quality index for the Okanagan on Thursday, Aug. at 10 a.m. was 10 plus, the highest level measured on the index.

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