Penticton and South Okanagan

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Participants in last year's Elevator race

The Penticton Ramada Elevator Race will go ahead as planned on Saturday, according to organizers.

Lyndie Hill, with Hoodoo Adventures, said she received two calls from the city Friday saying the area where the event starts would be cleaned up.

The city started cutting down trees and doing other work along the Okanagan Lake waterfront this week, in preparation for the waterfront revitalization project.

“It was brought to my attention Thursday by one of my staff workers who was running on the waterfront and said did you know the beach is all ripped up. There was also a hole on the bike path on Riverside Drive,” said Hill. “I was stressed, but  doing this you always have to expect the unexpected.”

City communications officer Simone Blais confirmed that the city did touch bases with the organizers and any remaining work around the S.S. Sicamous  was made a priority on Friday.

“We anticipated work to be completed by then, but we want to make absolutely sure the area they need is clear,” she said.

The race starts with the paddle stage from the S.S. Sicamous at 8:30 a.m., followed  by a road bike, snowshoe, mountain bike and Nordic ski up 6,000 feet in elevation. It finishes at  Apex Mountain Resort with a downhill ski in front of the Gunbarrel Saloon.

Currently the race has 175 athletes expected to participate, along with spectators.