Deaf-blind skater, Kevin Frost, participates in the 30th edition of the Winterlude Triatholon. (Photo: Provided)

The triathlon is a unique event as it consists of an 8 km skate on the Rideau Canal, followed by a 6 km ski and finally a 5 km run along Queen Elizabeth Dr.   Frost’s relay team was affectionately titled “Nemo’s Nordic Racers” in memory of Frost’s guide dog. The team consisted of deaf and blind speed skater, Frost, who performed the 8 km skate on the Rideau Canal. Fellow blind athlete, Leona Emberson, completed the ski portion and the run was completed by sighted runner, Sean Maddox. Frost and Emberson’s guides were also on hand to help the team along.

The race, organized by Zone 3 Sports and race director Rick Hellard, was subject to some last minute changes due to unforeseen weather conditions. The order of the triathlon ended up being a skate, run, ski.

The race started at 8 a.m. sharp, but due to poor ice conditions, Hellard decided to give Frost a one minute head start. Frost was in the lead at the turnaround point and he finished the skate in 19:37.

“We started with the skate and it was a very tough because the ice was nasty. Every stride we were hitting cracks and uneven bumps,” explained Frost of his first ever experience in the Winterlude Triathlon.  Frost, who is more familiar with indoor rink skating, fell twice during the race. “But I got back up and kept racing. Many able bodied skaters were falling down too.”

By the time Maddox finished the run, it was quite snowy and very cold, which made for a tough ski for Leona and her guide Bill.

“The end result was that we finished the race and I was very touched because I was the first deaf blind skater ever to do this event. I just wanted all blind, deaf and disabled people to try something new, to expand their experiences.”

This season, in speed skating, Frost has won two silver and two bronze medals against able-bodied skaters. Kevin is now preparing to compete in the World Blind Long and Short track Championships in Russia and Scotland.  “I hope to defend my titles for both events and hopefully break my world records.”