TREASURE CAY, Abaco -- The 2013 Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend was a great success, and in the second year managed to more than double the participation from the inaugural year.  This year 185 persons participated in the athletic events - including a 1-mile open water swim, a Sprint triathlon, an Olympic triathlon, a kid's 1-mile run, and a 5k/10k fun run/walk.  
The weekend opened on Friday afternoon with a 1-mile open water swim, sponsored by BTC, in which 25 participants entered the water at the beautiful Treasure Cay beach in Abaco.  The out and back course attracted athletes as young as 8 and old as 76, and all skill levels from competitive swimmers to recreational snorkelers.  The gorgeous Abaco weather allowed for a fast course, with Peter Wagner being the first swimmer to finish, defending his 2012 title with a time of 25:32.  The first female was Abaco local Christina Pyfrom, just thirteen years old, in a time of 28:01.  A young competitor, Ryan Knowles, managed to complete the swim in full clothing after forgetting her swimsuit, proving that determination and effort can overcome adversity.
The opening ceremonies and swim awards were held immediately following the swim.  The Member of Parliament for North Abaco, Renardo Curry, was present along with Ministry of Tourism representative Wynsome Ferguson.  The notable growth of the event was evident, as the Coco Beach Club was packed with participants, volunteers, spectators, and sponsors.  Sands Beer and Cocozona provided refreshments while Treasure Cay provided appetizers for the event.
Saturday morning brought overcast weather, a blessing for the athletes preparing to enter the challenging Sprint and Olympic triathlons presented by Carlo Milano.  The Sprint triathlon consisted of a 500m swim, a 20km (12.4 mile) bike ride, and a 5k (3.1 mile) run.  The Olympic triathlon was approximately double the distance, with a 1500m swim, a 40km (24.8 mile) bike ride, and a 10k (6.2 mile) run.  With 60 athletes entered into the events, including individuals and relays, the excitement and camaraderie could be felt well before the sun came up.  Entrants included 5 Olympic individuals, 34 Sprint individuals, and 7 Sprint relays consisting of 21 athletes.

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