NBC filming wraps up as Irvine heads to South Africa
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.