Somersault is the nerdiest series around!

You might think that the organizers of local sporting events are a bunch of jocks, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

We're self-proclaimed nerds, and if you're curious about what happens behind the scenes of race organization, or if you simply enjoy data, this newsletter is for you.

We also have some exciting updates, including the launch of the new Somersault Championship Series. But first, here's a look at the steps we've taken over the past few years to get us where we are today.

Step 1: Timing Data, Now In-House! 

In early 2025, we made a major change: we brought race timing in-house.

We invested in top-of-the-line timing equipment and hired a talented event timer with a passion for sports.

That timer is Sultan (pictured above). If you've attended a Somersault race over the past few years, you've almost certainly crossed paths with him. You'll often find him at the finish line, laptop open, making sure every athlete's results are accurate.

When he's not doing that, he's usually doing whatever else needs to be done, like checking in on volunteers, loading equipment, helping on course, or solving problems before anyone notices they exist.

Thanks to Sultan's leadership, our race results now include detailed splits for every discipline. In a triathlon, for example, you can see your swim, T1, bike, T2, run, and overall rankings. You can also filter results by gender, age group, or compare yourself against the entire field.

You can see the results of his work at Results.Somersault.ca. Browse any event we've timed ourselves, click on your name, and you'll even find your tagged race photos embedded directly into your results.

Next time you're at an event, be sure to come give Sultan a high-five for the success of this multi-year project! 

Step 2: The Somersault Championship Series

With all of this data available, we (mostly Sultan) created a new way to enjoy your Somersault experience.

Visit Results.Somersault.ca and click on the "2026 Championship" tab to see what we've built.

For the first time ever, you can see all of your 2026 races combined into a single leaderboard and compare yourself with athletes across the entire season. As always, you can filter by gender, age group, or overall standings.

You'll also find statistics such as:

• Total events completed

• Total kilometres completed in each sport

• Total time spent doing each sport

What we love most about this Championship Series is that it values participation just as much as performance.

On race day, only the fastest person gets to stand on the top step of the podium. But categories like "Most Events Completed" and "Most Run Kilometres" are open to everyone.

We often joke that the put so much effort into our events, only to have everyone trying to get off the course as fast as possible (it IS a race, after all). With the Championship Series, we're even rewarding athletes who spend the most time on Somersault courses throughout the year. You can spend more time on our courses by doing more races, or by simply being on a course longer than other. At season's end, we'll find out who spent the most time enjoying race day. It might be you.

Step 3: Planning Athlete Flow

One of the most delicate balances in race organizing is creating the right amount of "busi-ness".

You don't want a race that's overcrowded, but you also don't want athletes feeling like they're alone out on course.

We've spent countless hours analyzing our timing data to better manage athlete flow, adjust start times, and improve the overall race experience. We began applying these principles at the Flower Fun Run a few weeks ago, and you'll continue to see them at future events.

One of the best examples is Fall Colours 2026.

For decades, Fall Colours was one of our smaller events, so we designed it to feel compact. We even started the Marathon and Half Marathon together so athletes wouldn't spend long stretches of the race alone.

Fast forward to today, and the event has grown beyond what the venue was originally designed to accommodate.

Using our timing data, we were able to model athlete movement throughout the event and identify opportunities for improvement. The result was a series of changes, including:

• Expanding to a two-day event

• Adjusting start times

• Adding challenge or "combo" events, where you can do more than one race in a day. 

• Separating race starts

Take a look at the chart above.

The lighter background colour shows the actual athlete flow from 2025. The darker foreground colour shows our projected athlete flow for 2026, assuming athletes post similar times and we implement the changes outlined above.

In 2025, we had more than 30 athletes crossing the finish line every minute for over an hour straight.

With the new format, we still peak at approximately 30 athletes per minute, but only for about five minutes.

The result will be less congestion on course, at the finish line, in parking areas, and throughout the event venue.

This is the type of planning and data analysis commonly seen at world-class events with tens of thousands of participants. We're proud to be bringing the same level of attention and detail to our races here at home.

We're applying these lessons across all of our events, and we're confident they'll help make every race safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.

Step 4: The Future 

With this foundation now in place, we're just getting started.

The better our data becomes, the better decisions we can make. It allows us to predict the impact of changes before race day, identify opportunities for improvement, and continue creating the best possible athlete experience.

Stay tuned for more updates, innovations, and improvements, thanks largely to the work that Sultan has put into building these systems.

Seriously - be sure to come tell him how great he's doing, next time you're at a finish line. 

What's Next?

It's race season! 

Take a look at the calendar, think about what challenges excite you, and head over to Somersault.ca to find your next event.

Our next race is the SuperKids Tri, a pool-swim triathlon exclusively for athletes under 13 years old. It's our first time hosting the event, and it's already sold out. All are welcome to come spectate and cheer! 

The Meech Lake Triathlon follows in early July. Registration is now closed, but it's never too late to come spectate or volunteer at Quebec's oldest triathlon.

After that comes the heart of the season: KTown, Thousand Islands, The Canadian, and Camp Tri, all within an eight-week span.

Each event offers something unique, so if you're unsure which race is right for you, don't hesitate to reach out. We'd be happy to help.

In Case You Missed It:

• We're looking for two more paddlers to join our water safety team at the KTown Triathlon. If you're interested in getting paid to help keep athletes safe, email Adam@Somersault.ca.

• Want to get involved without racing?Come volunteer. You'll get a front-row seat to the action while helping make race day special for hundreds of athletes. It's a great way to learn about the sport, earn volunteer hours, stay involved when you're unable to race, and become part of an incredible community.

Let's Keep in Touch:

Stay connected with us! Follow us on social media to keep up with all the latest news, race updates, and fun content.

Join us on Facebook and Instagram for insider updates, exciting announcements, and a behind-the-scenes look at our events. Or, visit our website to see what else we have in store for you!

That’s all for now!

The Somersault Team