Photographing the 2026 World Triathlon Cup in Edmonton

There are sporting events where the action comes to you, and then there are events like the 2026 World Triathlon Cup in Edmonton, where you spend the entire day chasing it.

Held in the newly reopened William Hawrelak Park, the World Triathlon Cup brought elite athletes from around the world back to Edmonton for a weekend of incredible competition. The sprint-distance course featured a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre bike ride, and a 5-kilometre run, with the Mixed Relay following on the second day. It was fantastic to see international triathlon racing return to one of Edmonton's most iconic parks the recently renovated Hawrlak Park.

From a photographer's perspective, triathlon is one of the most demanding sports to cover. You're photographing three completely different events in one race. The swim requires anticipation and patience as athletes burst from the water. The cycling leg is all about speed, timing, and finding clean backgrounds while riders fly past at incredible pace. Then comes the run, where fatigue sets in and the emotion becomes impossible to hide. Those are often my favourite moments because that's when determination shows on an athlete's face.

World Triathlon Cup Edmonton 2026 photographed by Edmonton Photographer Curtis Comeau

One of the biggest challenges is simply moving around the course. While the athletes are racing, photographers are constantly planning where to be next, trying to capture every discipline without missing a key moment. Every decision matters, because once an athlete has passed, that opportunity is gone.

Edmonton's river valley provided a spectacular backdrop for the 2-day event. The combination of tree-lined pathways, open parkland, and enthusiastic spectators created images that showcased not only world-class competition but also one of the city's most beautiful locations.

The World Triathlon Para event brings together elite para-athletes from around the globe to compete in swimming, cycling, and running, showcasing extraordinary determination, athleticism, and resilience on the international stage.

What I enjoy most about photographing endurance sports is the storytelling. Every competitor has invested months—often years—of training to reach the start line. By the finish, every athlete has a story written across their face, whether it's triumph, exhaustion, relief, or pure joy. Those authentic moments are what sports photography is all about.

As an Edmonton event photographer, I enjoy capturing the energy, emotion, and defining moments of world-class sporting events, creating authentic images that tell the story of every competition. Assignments like the World Triathlon Cup remind me of preparation, technical skill, and a little bit of instinct to capture moments that last only a fraction of a second—but tell a story that athletes will remember for a lifetime.