Prince George, B.C. – The late-week snowfall couldn’t have come at a better time for organizers and those competing in Sunday’s Prince George Iceman.

Spokesperson Jim Van Bakel says “we’re really happy to see the snow.  The weather is looking like it’s going to be really co-operative and we’re looking forward to getting in all the events this year for the first time in three years.”

Van Bakel doesn’t think the forecast warming of temperatures this weekend should be a problem for the Iceman, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.  “No, I think it’ll be fantastic,” he says “it should be good for everybody.”

Had we not received the snowfall of Thursday night and Friday he says “we still would have been ok.  The ski wouldn’t have been quite as nice as its going to be now but we would have been fine other than that.  The ice is in fantastic shape, they’ve done a good job with the oval and even the warm-up (in temperature) I don’t believe will affect anything.  So everything’s just looking really good.”

The Iceman competition, Prince George’s winter multi-sport event, consists of an 8km ski at the Otway Nordic Centre, a 10km run to the Outdoor Ice Oval, a 5km skate, 5 km run and an 800m swim at the Aquatic Centre.

Van Bakel says 470 athletes have registered for the event.  Total number of teams is 102, with teams comprised of anywhere from 2 to six members depending on whether its an adult or a junior team.

Van Bakel says in honour of the 30th anniversary of the Iceman organizers made available to order a Retro T-shirt which is an exact replica of the original T-shirt.  The order date was the end of January, although he says they’re thinking about doing a second order if there’s enough interest, but that’s up in the air right now.

The Prince George Iceman competition runs from 10 am to 3 pm Sunday.