You’ll be familiar with their faces; some of you see them every weekend in the four corners of Quebec, and some of you have been seeing them for years. Always there to ensure your safety, often present to remind you of the rules at pre-race meetings and sometimes, to your dismay, also to enforce the rules and impose (very few) penalties, Triathlon Québec officials play a major role in the running of events. Through this series of portraits, we’d like to introduce you to the men and women behind the whistle. Who knows, it might even inspire you to join the team!

Official for Triathlon Québec since 2010 and NTO level since 2017, involved in the Quebec sports world for many years and an expert in bike courses, we are pleased to present Éric Prégent.

Triathlon Québec : Hello Éric, could you introduce yourself?

Éric Prégent: Eric Prégent, I’m 44 years old and assistant director of technical maintenance for a luxury hotel. I’ve been involved in a number of sports for several years. I enjoy running, cycling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking. Another of my passions is photography. Otherwise, I’ve been involved in a number of organizations over the past few years:
– In charge of volunteers on the course of the Scotia Montreal Half Marathon.
– Race director of Défi TRIOLACS and member of the Tri-O-Lacs triathlon club board of directors for 8 years.
– President of the Endurance Circuit.
– Member of the Valleyfield Triathlon organizing committee.
– Bike course director at the Esprit Montréal triathlon.
– Running and cycling coach.

Triathlon Québec: It’s easy to say that you’re very involved in Quebec sport! How many years have you been an official for Triathlon Québec, and what prompted you to become one?

Éric Prégent: I’ve been an official since 2010, I’m one of the former officials in Quebec. I completed my NTO official training in 2017. I had the chance to participate in 4 Quebec Games, the 2013 Canada Games in Magog, the World Championships in Edmonton and several first events such as the Xterra triathlon in Mont Tremblant, the Ironman Tremblant and the international Pentathlons des neiges in Quebec City. I’ve also had the pleasure of touring Quebec as an official at the Gatineau Triathlon and the Gaspé Triathlon!

Triathlon Québec: Can you tell us a little more about what inspired you to become a triathlon official?

Éric Prégent: Honestly, it was pure chance! I became an official because of a lack of officials at the Soulanges triathlon in Côteau-du-Lacs, and I followed my training afterwards.

Triathlon Québec: What a coincidence! After all these years, what motivates you to be an official every weekend?

Éric Prégent: I’ve been less active in recent years because of my job, but when I was more active, my motivation was mainly people. There’s a personal satisfaction in helping race organizers create fair and safe events for participants. We are the eyes of the organizers along with the volunteers.

Triathlon Québec: What qualities do you think make a good Triathlon Québec official?

Éric Prégent: One of the qualities an official needs to have is self-confidence, because we have to make a lot of quick decisions during an event, and every event is different. So you also need to be able to adapt.

Triathlon Québec: As someone who has travelled the length and breadth of la belle province, what’s your favourite triathlon event?

Éric Prégent: I can’t name one event in particular, because all the events are special, organized by passionate and warm people.

Triathlon Québec: Can you give us one or more reasons for becoming a triathlon official?

Éric Prégent: Becoming a triathlon official means being part of a great team and making a difference for participants.

Triathlon Québec: With all these events under your belt, you must have a little anecdote to share with us?

Éric Prégent: In my 11 years as an official, there have been many anecdotes. For example, I’ve had to deal with a number of vehicles that have found their way onto the bike course: a fire truck, a ten-wheeler delivering soil, a tourist bus, a newly-weds’ limousine, a scooter and even wild turkeys!

Triathlon Québec: I know what you mean about adaptability! Thanks Éric for this interview and see you this summer on our beautiful partner events!