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NBC filming wraps up as Irvine heads to South Africa

Aug 22, 2018 | 2:00 PM

He didn’t qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as he hoped for, but La Ronge’s James Irvine feels honoured to have placed a positive spotlight on his hometown.

Irvine was followed to the Subaru IRONMAN Canada event in Whistler, B.C., last month by an American camera crew with NBC filming a TV show called ‘IRONMAN: Quest for Kona.’ Set to air this fall, Irvine said they trailed him along the courses on motorcycles and scooters, as well as did several interviews during the day. Overall, he came in fourth place being the sixth athlete out of the water, sixth on the bikes and second on the run.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t reach my goal of being first place in my age group,” he said. “I have room for improvement and my goal will still be to make it to Kona for next year.”

As part of the show, filming also took place in La Ronge and nearby communities at the beginning of August. Irvine said they were trying to capture his training regiment and showcase the boreal forest at the same time. He also travelled to Pinehouse Lake with the crew to film activities with youth and culture, as well as spoke with Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson about youth development and being physically active.

While some of the footage will be included in a IRONMAN Canada TV program, the main NBC show will consist of about 12 episodes with one focusing solely on Irvine.

“It’s rather humbling in terms of all the other people who are involved in northern Saskatchewan doing remarkable things,” he said of the attention he’s receiving. “I’m hoping it really will portray the beauty of northern Saskatchewan and the positive things it holds for us.”

As part of Irvine’s efforts to make it to Kona, he did qualify for the Half-Ironman World Championships, which is based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He’ll be travelling there with his son, Jeff, who also qualified, along with other family members. The competition occurs Sept. 2 and Irvine believes the trip will be rather special considering his birthday comes the next day.

 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno