XTR Worlds PG Rough:XTERRA USA PRESS GUIDE.qxd.qxd

Transcription

XTR Worlds PG Rough:XTERRA USA PRESS GUIDE.qxd.qxd
2
0
0
8
P
R
E
S
S
G
U
I
D
E
THE SPONSOR TEAM
The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is presented by Paul Mitchell, Hawaiian Airlines, Outrigger Hotels and
Resorts, and GU Energy Gel. Sponsors include Gatorade, XTERRAGear.com, Kona Brewing Company, Tiki’s Grill and
Bar, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, XTERRA.TV, and Runner’s World Magazine.
2
2008 XTERRA TRAIL RUN WORLDS
Since October of last year, thousands have taken
part in the global XTERRA Trail Run Series and
through the trials of these 50 races, spanning 15
U.S. states and seven countries, some of the
world’s top trail runners have emerged and are
headed to Oahu to race for the inaugural
XTERRA Trail Running World Championship.
The main event is an off-road half-marathon
(13.1 mile/21km) that starts at the base of
Kaaawa Valley at Kualoa Ranch. While the
Series’ best runners have already proven their
worth in rollicking races around the world,
one-and-all are welcome to take them on and
race for the championship as no qualification is
necessary.
Held just a week before the Honolulu
Marathon, the two events combine to
create one of the “greatest weeks of
running on Earth”.
T A B L E
O F
C O N T E N T S
Media Information, Venue Overviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Directions to Waikiki Beach Walk, Kualoa Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Schedule of Events and Weekend Activities Description . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7
Course Description and Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9
Race preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Runner Bios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-18
XTERRA Trail Running Series Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
XTERRA Trail Run Series Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
XTERRAGear.Com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
XTERRA Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
All about XTERRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
TEAM Unlimited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
In additon to the main event, XTERRA will host
5km and 10km trail runs, an adventure walk past
all the old movie sights in the valley, a free kids
sprint, live music, bbq and shave ice. More than
600 runners will compete in this first-ever event
and $10 of every entry goes to the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation, Hawaii Chapter.
The race will be filmed and edited into a segment
for a 2009 XTERRA Adventures TV show that will
be seen by millions of viewers across the country
via national syndication and on the brand-new
XTERRA.TV. You can check out the promo piece
for worlds at www.XTERRA.TV right now.
FEES, REGISTRATION & PACKET PICK-UP
The 5km and 10km runs are $25 and the championship
is $35.Runners can sign-up online at xterratrailrun.com
or by calling toll-free to 877-XTERRA-1. There is no
race day registration. Packet pick-up is Friday, Dec.5
from noon-to-9pm and Saturday from 10a-6pm at the
Waikiki Beach Walk on Lewers Street, or on race
morning at Kualoa Ranch starting at 7 a.m.
For further information contact Trey Garman at 808-216-8606 or [email protected]
3
MEDIA INFORMATION
The XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Press Guide is designed to provide the media with useful information
about the 2008 race, the athletes competing in it, and XTERRA in general. Below are additional items of interest:
- Complete race coverage can be found online at xterratrailrun.com
- TEAM Unlimited will record and post full race results on the web, and will email results upon request.
- During the championship race a media van will escort interested press members to key strategic locations
throughout the course to track leaders and course happenings, and get the best possible images.
Please arrange a seat on the van in advance.
- TEAM Unlimited will not operate a press room; however, we will accommodate any specific requests.
- Professional, high-resolution, full-color images from the race will be available to the media after the event.
DIRECT MEDIA INQUIRIES AND PHOTO REQUESTS TO:
Trey Garman - 808-216-8606 (cell) or [email protected]
TEAM Unlimited - 720 Iwilei Road, Suite 290, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
FROM THE WAIKIKI BEACH WALK TO KUALOA RANCH
Registration and packet pick-up will take place in the heart of Waikiki at the
Waikiki Beach Walk on Lewers Street on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, and the
race site is Kualoa Ranch - a sacred place untouched by development.
The Waikiki Beach Walk is the largest development project in Waikiki's history.
Nearly eight acres along well traversed Lewers Street has been completely rebuilt
-- transformed into a colorful and spirited showcase; the gathering place for the
new Waikiki. Energetic and inviting, eclectic and exciting, Waikiki Beach Walk is
an impressive, new leisure destination to play and to stay. Benefiting from the
island's cooling trade winds and year-round excellent weather, an outdoor
entertainment plaza, nearly fifty new retailers, sixteen dining establishments, and
five hotels welcome visitors and island residents alike; redefining the Waikiki
experience. Learn more at waikikibeachwalk.com.
Established in 1850, Kualoa Ranch is a family owned and operated 4,000 acre
working cattle ranch, spread from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling sea.
Located on the northeastern side of Oahu in the Hawaiian countryside, it is less
than an hour from Honolulu. The ranch terrain varies from dense rainforest to
broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand beaches to awesome verdant
cliff faces. It is truly a paradise for outdoor recreation with many places accessible
only by horseback, on an all terrain vehicle or by hiking. There are two major
areas of the ranch: the northern half of the ranch including Ka'a'awa Valley which
contains most of the movie locations sites, and the southern half that includes
Hakipu`u Valley, the 800 year-old Moli'i fishpond, and Secret Island. If the ranch's
views look familiar, that's because Kualoa Ranch has been the site of many
television shows and Hollywood films such as Jurassic park, Windtalkers, Pearl
Harbor, Godzilla, Tears of the Sun and 50 First Dates. TV shows include Hawaii
Five-O, Magnun P.I. and most recently the hit show LOST. Learn more at
kualoa.com.
4
DIRECTIONS TO WAIKIKI BEACH WALK & KUALOA RANCH
Join Hawaii’s premier community
of outdoor adventurers at ...
ActiveHawaii.com
5
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, December 5
12-9pm
Registration and packet pick-up at the Waikiki Beach Walk
Saturday, December 6
10-6pm
Registration and packet pick-up at the Waikiki Beach Walk
1pm
XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – XTERRA
Professional Danelle Kabush provides tips on trail running
Sunday, December 7
7:00am
Packet pickup at Kualoa Ranch
8:00am
Expo Open
9am-2pm
XTERRA Kids Zone challenge stations open
9:00am
XTERRA Trail Running World Championship start
9:05am
XTERRA 5km/10km trail run and 5km fun walk start
9:30/45am
Projected 5km/10km winners
10am-2pm
Paul Mitchell Cut-A-Thon 4 Challenged Athletes Foundation
10:30am
XTERRA Kids Sprint (free)
10:20am
Projected World Championship winner
11:30am
XTERRA 5km and 10km Awards ceremony
12:00pm
XTERRA World Championship race awards ceremony
12:30-2pm
XTERRA Rocks - Live music with Jeff Kloetzel
2pm
Expo Close
6pm
XTERRA After Party at Tiki’s Grill & Bar in Waikiki
(Drink specials, live music, and video highlights at 7pm)
Guitarist-Singer-Songwriter Jeff Kloetzel has been strumming guitar strings
from a young age and performing regularly around Honolulu for many years.
Kloetzel's original songs are fueled by his rhythmic guitar work and soulful
vocals. Influenced by many musical genres including pop, rock, folk, blues and
contemporary island, there should be something for everyone in Jeff's set list.
Stick around and enjoy the sounds in the valley from 12:30-2pm.
XTERRA UNIVERSITY
Presented by Paul Mitchell
Danelle Kabush is one of the fastest off-road
triathletes on the planet, evident in her 2nd
place finish at the XTERRA World Champs in
Maui last month, but her real strength is
running. In Maui, she had the fastest run split
and when she was at the University of
Washington she ran her way into the NCAA I
1500-meter finals. Despite taking last year off
to have a baby, the 33-year-old from Canada
has to be considered the race favorite in pursuit
of XTERRA’s first Trail Run World Champ title,
and she’ll share some of her knowledge and
provide trail running tips at 1pm on Saturday.
6
XTERRA KIDS ZONE
The XTERRA Kids Zone provides
youngsters with the chance to
participate like their parents in a
positive and fun environment.
Zone activities include the free Kids
sprint and a variety of challenge
stations.
Entry is free and all participants
receive fun prizes and awards!
XTERRA SPORTS FESTIVAL
More than just a race, the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship is filled with festivities for the entire family.
THE XTERRA VILLAGE
The gathering place and headquarters for all the
outdoor action is at the base of Kaaawa Valley. There
you'll find big white tents filled with everything from the
latest in XTERRA Gear to Paul Mitchell stylists cutting
hair. It's where athletes ready themselves to run and
kids play games. There's music playing, prize giveaways, shave ice and bbq. The Expo is free to everyone (parking is $5) and open from 8am-to-2pm.
XTERRA 5km/10km TRAIL RUNS
Although not considered world championship races,
both the 5km and 10km runs will head out the same
way as the 21km event (see map) and run past all the
classic movie sets. There’s also a 1.5-mile adventure
walk for those just wanting a taste of the valley or looking for a way to support JDRF. 40% of the entry fee
from the 5k/10k’s will go to the JDRF Hawaii Chapter.
JDRF HAWAII
Founded to help physically challenged athletes reach their
athletic goals, the non-profit Challenged Athletes Foundation is
the official charity of the Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon at each
XTERRA Championship race. Stylists will cut hair from
10am-2pm and all proceeds will go to the CAF.
$10 of every entry for the 5km,
10km, and 21km runs will go to
the Juvenile Diabetes Reserach
Foundation, Hawaii Chapter, to
help in their ongoing efforts to
find a cure. Read more about
JDRF at jdrfhawaii.org.
AFTER PARTY @ TIKI’S
The official post-race gathering
place is Tiki’s Grill and Bar at
2570 Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki.
Runners who show their race
bib or wear their race shirt get
specially priced Kona Beer and
“Xduro Punch” drinks, plus XTERRA will show a highlight video and slideshow, and dance the night away
starting at 6pm. The Ka’ala Boys are playing from
6-to-8 and “Beach 5” is on at 8:30pm. Tiki’s is located
on the second floor of the newly renovated
ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel with magnificent
views of Waikiki Beach, and has free valet parking for
three hours. For more info visit tikisgrill.com.
MASSAGE: Steven Frame of the American Massage
Therapy Association will be onsite before and after the
event for those interested in a massage.
7
THE XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
Length
Starting Elevation
Lowest point
Highest point
Total climbing
Trails
21km/13.1 miles
50’
27’
741’
approx 2,900’
No Paved sections, open dirt road,
dual track dirt road, single track
Starting from the base of Kaaawa Valley, just around the
corner from the main Kualoa Ranch house, the XTERRA
Trail Running World Championship will start easy enough taking runners on hard packed dirt roads uphill into the western side of the valley (the right side if you’re looking mauka).
After the first mile runners descend through a pasture and
head back towards the ocean and just after mile two they’ll
pop out at an elevation of 200’ just above the Pacific with
views forever. The temptation running along the ledge overlooking the turquoise water will be to jump in and call it a
day, but the real fun is just beginning.
8
Runners quickly drop back down on pasture roads and at
mile three come into the petting zoo at the main Kualoa
Ranch area. The next few miles head into heavy rainforest
umbrella with green all around and several stream crossings
(a few inches to ankle deep depending on recent rainfall)
along rolling, twisting double track.
At about mile eight the trail gets narrow and steep on a path
leading straight up the mountain that separates Hakipu’u
Valley from Kaaawa Valley. Here runners get a rare chance
to be on the very narrow spine of a volcanic peak, again –
with incredible views of the valley and ocean beyond. Once
at the top, a very neat trail winds its way sharply down into
the back of Kaaawa Valley. At the bottom runners will find
rocky dual track and twisting trails that traverse a few more
stream crossings before a hard right turn takes them up to a
long stretch of single track originally created by wild pigs.
Passing is possible, but competitors will want to watch their
step as the trail is narrow and on a slanted slope. Sections
of rocky, ankle bending chasms formed by the molten lave
tens of thousands of years ago will test tired legs, but inspiration is soon to follow. Arising from the cover of green
forested trails runners will find the wide open unusual light
green fields of Hawaii. Many will think they’ve got déjà vu,
as their memories recall the original Jurassic Park scene
where the professor and the kids run and hide from the
dinosaur stampede – because that’s exactly where they are.
The true adventure of this run lies in the fact that no one on
the planet has run it before as there is no pre-running
allowed.
Near the end, the course cuts through the main start/finish
area to the cheers of friends, family and spectators before
heading out on a final loop in the valley before the sprint to
the finish.
Above is a rough outline of the course. If you can see the
directional arrows you’ll notice that runners head into the
valley for the first small loop (3 miles), then around the
ridgeline and back into the valley from the far side.
9
THE CONTENDERS
From near and far, for fun or fame, this race has attracted
an eclectic group of runners representing 25 states and
seven countries. They are college students, doctors,
teachers and firefighters – all united by a love for the outdoors, the search for a great place to run away from cars
and busy city streets, and the sense of peace, exploration,
and discovery that running trails provides. Kualoa Ranch
is the perfect spot for such pursuits, and will provide a truly
unique Hawaiian experience for all involved.
Some of the big names racing in the championship include
Max King (the current XTERRA Trail Run National
Champion), and Ben Bruce (the runner-up at Nationals)
from Oregon. King is a two-time member of the Team USA
World Cross Country team and both he and Bruce ran in
the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Olympic Trials.
Professional triathlete Logan Wealing from Colorado, who
is also a member of the national snowshoe team, and
Doug Mitarotonda, who ran track and XC at Cornell,
expect to be in the mix. There are also a number of great
endurance athletes in Hawaii ready to defend their home
turf, including triathlete stars Chad Seymour, Mark
Speck, and Tai Bletcha.
Max King at XTERRA Trail Run Nationals in Bend
In the women’s race Danelle Kabush appears to be the
clear cut favorite, but Germany’s Marion Summerer (an
XTERRA professional that resides in Hawaii), and local
cross country stand-out Elin Soto-Thompson should be
in contention. Plus, with registration open until Friday,
Sept. 26 at 8pm, it’s anyone’s guess as to what other
ringers will show up on the start line.
PRIZE MONEY AND AWARDS
To the winners go the spoils! The fastest runners will be
racing for $10,000 in prize money – awarded to the top five
men and women as follows: $2,000, $1,000, $750, $500,
$300, $250, $200. XTERRA will also be crowning world
champs in age groups starting at 9 & under, then every five
years (ex. 10-14, 15-19, etc) up to 80+ and a physically
challenged category. Champs in each division win a
commemorative long sleeve tech tee shirt.
In addition to the other loot, the overall men’s and women’s
winners get a pair of brand new XTERRA Trail Running
Shoes, second place man and woman get an XTERRA
Duffle, and third place m/w an XTERRA Makena Watch.
Marion Summerer at XTERRA Worlds in Maui
10
MEET THE RUNNERS
Amy Bennett
Kailua, Hawaii
Born: March 5, 1978
Hawaii resident Amy Bennett works as both a port engineer and a certified personal trainer
at her very own Camp Bennett. A former Marine Corps fitness leader, her racing resume
includes numerous triathlons, roughwater swims and running events. She was the only
female from Hawaii to attempt the “Double” in 2007 competing in both the Ironman World
Championship and the XTERRA World Championship just two weeks apart.
As if this wasn’t accomplishment enough, she actually completed the XTERRA section with
a full cast after breaking her arm.
Richard Burgunder
New York, New York
Born: November 14, 1979
Richard Burgunder qualified for this event at the XTERRA Trail Run Nationals in Bend,
Oregon in September. A marketing analyst during the week and an elite athlete by weekend,
Rich won his age group at the 2008 USA Trail Marathon National Championships and took
first place in the 20-29 division at the USA 50-Mile Championship held in October. He is also
a 13-time Boston Marathon Qualifier, and a member of the PowerBar Team Elite.
KC Carlberg
Honolulu, Hawaii
Born: July 9, 1963
KC has been racing in the triathlon world for 19 years. She has won several age group
awards from cycling to triathlon, completed the 70.3 Ironman on the Big Island in 2007, and
can recently add cancer survivor to her list of accomplishments. She is the owner of Try
Fitness, operating programs designed for women’s fitness, a motivational counselor, and the
race director for events such as the Na Wahine Sprint Triathlon, Hawaii’s largest all-women’s
triathlon. This will be her first XTERRA experience, and KC is excited about being part of such
an international event.
Ed Carter
Portland, Oregon
Born: July 7, 1976
Ed was the 2008 XTERRA Oregon Trail Run Series 30-34 Regional Champion by coming in
first in his age group in all three series events. He qualified for Worlds with his time of 1:29:51
at the XTERRA Trail Run Nationals in Bend, Oregon. On October 5th of this year, Ed beat his
previous personal record by 11 minutes at the Portland Marathon which qualified him for
Boston.
11
MEET THE RUNNERS
Matt Copeland
San Diego, California
Born: December 5, 1968
In his first year with XTERRA, Matt Copeland covered a lot of miles. He ran the XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Run,
qualified for Trail Run Worlds at the XTERRA Boney Mountain Xduro, and won his age group at the XTERRA Vail Lake
Xduro. Other racing accomplishments include the World of Hurt 25km event, and running a 1:30 half marathon.
Shannon Cutting
Honolulu, Hawaii
Born: March 22, 1964
Dr. Shannon Cutting is a licensed chiropractor who has been racing on the XTERRA circuit
for 2 years. She has raced in the XTERRA Guam off-road triathlon for the past two years and
placed 2nd overall woman in 2008. While living in Guam, she decided to run the Perimeter
Relay (48.3 miles around the island) by herself and was only the second person to attempt
this and now holds the record in 8 hours and 27 minutes. Other accomplishments include
placing top 5 in each of her three Hawaii Ironman Championships, winning overall female at
the Great Floridian Long-distance triathlon, taking overall female amateur 2nd at the 2007
Ironman Japan and being the fastest overall female at the Silverman Long-distance triathlon.
Jimmy Davis
Honolulu, Hawaii
Born: September 17, 1977
Jimmy raced with XTERRA for 7 years and was a professional triathlete from 2004-2006.
Over the years, he has competed in the XTERRA USA Championship (best finish 17th), the
Jamba Juice XTERRA Mountainman Triathlon (3rd in 2007) and the XTERRA World
Championship (best finish 26th). Now working as a real estate developer, he is excited to
push himself and to compete in this brand new event.
Jakob DeWald - Mililani, Hawaii - Born: July 19, 1997
Just like his dad Stephen, Jakob DeWald has an impressive running resume. In 2008, He competed in the HURT Trail
Series, the USAT Nationals, the Haleiwa Triathlon, the North Shore Triathlon, and the Honolulu Triathlon. He was the
Hawaii State Tri Age Group Champion in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and was the first record holder for the Kilauea 10-mile Trail
Run for the 14 & under division which he set in 2006. A student at Kipapa Elementary, his favorite things about trail
running are getting dirty and beating adults.
Stephen DeWald - Mililani, Hawaii - Born: February 9, 1968
This landscape contractor is certainly not new to the trail running scene. This year alone, his schedule included the HURT
100K, the HONU Tri, the MIWOK 100K, the Ultraman, and the XTERRA World Championship off-road tri. Racing with
XTERRA for 6 years, he is XTERRA Double Finisher where an athlete competes in the Ironman World Championship in
Kona and the XTERRA World Championship in Maui back to back. He can also claim 3 top 10 finishes in the HURT 100mile race and that he is a Western States 100 finisher.
12
MEET THE RUNNERS
Tracy Ellis
Temecula, California
Born: April 12, 1957
Tracy has been racing with XTERRA for the past 2 years, and has placed in her age group
at the 4 off-road triathlons and trail run she has done. This volunteer dog trainer and former
counter intelligence agent with the Army focuses on performing against all the women in a
competition, not just the ones in her age group. Tracy finished third in her division at the
XTERRA West Championship and came in 47th out of 546 females at the Mission Bay Sprint
Triathlon in October.
Cathleen Equale
Houston, Texas
Born: November 4, 1969
In her first year racing with XTERRA, Cathleen competed at the XTERRA Malibu Creek
Xduro and qualified for Worlds at the XTERRA Oak Mountain Xduro in Alabama. This
mother of 3-year old twins also completed the Rocky Raccoon 25km Trail Run in Huntsville,
TX on November 8 and enjoys trail running because it is new and an incredible challenge.
Steven and Nicki Humphrey
Reno, Nevada
Born: February 20, 1943 / October 31, 1952
After running 55 road marathons, Steven decided it was time for a new challenge and came into the sport of trail running.
He qualified for XTERRA Trail Run Worlds at the XTERRA Trail Running National Championship in Bend, Oregon with his
time of 1:57:48. With the fastest time in his age group, he also earned the title of XTERRA National Champion. Nicki has
been racing with XTERRA for 5 years winning her age group at her first triathlon at the 2003 XTERRA Nevada. She also
qualified for this race at Nationals with her time of 2:25: 12. The Humphreys love trail running because it is a sport they
can enjoy together.
Todd Isreal
Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Born: July 21, 1966
Todd Isreal is an army officer and one of the people running in both the XTERRA Trail
Running World Championship and the Honolulu Marathon. He was a pacer for the Hawaiian
Ultra Running Team for the 2007-08 season and did the Camp Buehring Marathon in March
of this year while he was stationed in the Kuwait Desert (pictured).
13
MEET THE RUNNERS
Danelle Kabush
Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Born: April 26, 1975
After taking last year off to have a baby, it is hard to believe the incredible year Danelle has
had. She placed 4th at the XTERRA West Champs, 7th at the Southeast Champs, 5th at the
East Champs, 4th in the Mountain Championship, and 6th at the XTERRA USA
Championship. She also took second place at the XTERRA World Championship in Maui
having the day’s fastest run split for the women.
Max King
Bend, Oregon
February 24, 1980
2008 XTERRA Trail Running National Champion
Max is the current XTERRA Trail Running National Champion after winning the 21km event
in Bend, Oregon on September 27. This chemical engineer came in second at this year’s
Northwest Mountain Running Championship and won a six-day 125 mile race through the
Rockies in early September. He was also a finalist in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at
the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
The Kukui
Honolulu, Hawaii
The Coast Guard Cutter Kukui’s wardroom will be taking on the challenge of the XTERRA
Trail Running World Championship together. Kukui is finishing a month-long deployment, so
training has been difficult, but seven of the eight officers and several enlisted personnel on
board are signed up for the event. Lieutenant Commander Stephen Matadobra, the
Commanding Officer of Kukui, strongly encourages personal fitness, so training for this has
been a team effort. Here are the crew members involved: Lieutenant Commander Stephen
Matadobra; Lieutenant Whitney Houck; Lieutenant Junior Grade Christopher Klein;
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mark Upingco; Ensign Tim Dolan; Ensign Matthew Romano; Chief
Warrant Officer James Shelton; Petty Officer Lucas Spencer; Petty Officer Isaac Medina
Judy Maguire
Idyllwild, California
Born: November 24, 1958
Judy Maguire, who just turned 50, won the XTERRA Vail Lake 21km Xduro trail run in
Temecula, CA in May. Not only did this qualify her for the XTERRA Trail Running World
Championship, but she also won a free round trip flight courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines. Using
her reward, this grocer and gym instructor is on her way to Hawaii on her quest to be crowned
an XTERRA World Champion.
14
MEET THE RUNNERS
Christopher Miller
Honolulu, Hawaii
Born: August 29, 1974
This Honolulu firefighter will be experiencing XTERRA for the first time at the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship.
His biggest motivation to experiencing new things is his brother Cory, who passed away 7 years ago. Cory introduced
Chris to the trails, and he has been running ever since. He finished the Kilauea Wilderness Marathon in 3 hours and 40
minutes and has run in the past two Honolulu Marathons. He also took 2nd place in the Hustle-Up-The-Hyatt, a 41 floor
stair running event in Honolulu that qualified him for the 86-story Empire State Building Run-Up.
Kevin O’Grattan
Winter Garden, Florida
January 6, 1982
Finishing 25th overall at the XTERRA Nottingham Xduro on July 20 in Pennsylvania, Kevin
earned his spot for Worlds. Other racing accomplishments include finishing this year’s Florida
70.3 Half-Ironman Triathlon, being part of the 2007 Team Snickers Marathon, and being an
age group champion in the 2007-08 Track Shack Grand Prix. Coming from flat Florida, he is
looking forward to the challenge of the terrain and being part of this first-ever event.
Randy Pierce
Rayville, Louisiana
Born: July 30, 1955
In 2008, Dennis “Randy” Pierce won his age group at the XTERRA Southeast Duathlon. He
also competed in the Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica and the Dallas White Rock Marathon.
This Director of Extreme Missionary Adventures has led over 100 volunteer teams in 24
countries, specializing in helping people in very remote locations.
Francisco Rodriguez
Bayonne, New Jersey
Born: March 14, 1951
Originally from Madrid, Spain, Francisco Rodriguez has run 155 marathons and more than 200 half marathons during his
racing career. He has run a marathon in every state and is now focusing on completing a half-marathon in every state as
well. This is his first year running with XTERRA, but he is excited to experience something different to help him stay
motivated to reaching his goal.
15
MEET THE RUNNERS
Michela Rossi
L’Aquila, Italy
Born: April 27, 1971
Michela Rossi qualified for Worlds at the XTERRA Italy Xduro in Sardinia with her time of
2:02:11. This year she completed the Italian Marathon in Carpi, the Nice-Cannes Marathon
in France, and will also be taking on the Honolulu Marathon the week after the XTERRA Trail
Running World Championship.
Dave Ruby
La Verne, California
Born: November 11, 1959
Dave qualified for the XTERRA Trail Run Worlds by running the Nationals 21km in 1:34:31.
He has been racing with XTERRA for ten years and was crowned an XTERRA World
Champion in the 2001 off-road triathlon for the 40-44 division. His favorite things about
XTERRA trail runs are the simplicity, the beauty and the challenge.
Rosiland Selbach
Honolulu, Hawaii
Born: April 14, 1976
This will be the first XTERRA race for Roz, but her 2008 racing resume is quite impressive.
She won her age group at the Honolulu Triathlon, placed 2nd in her division at the Lavaman
Triathlon and took 3rd in the Iroquois Point Triathlon’s 30-34 category. This environmental
consultant also competed in the Hawaii 70.3, the Hibiscus Half Marathon, the Lake Stevens
70.3 and the North Shore Swim Series.
Jeremy Strom
Logan, Utah
Born: April 21, 1970
Jeremy qualified for the XTERRA Trail Running World Championship at the Wheeler Canyon
Xduro in Ogden, Utah. He is returning from a 20-year hiatus from running and is using this
event as a jump start to his racing plan. His biggest motivation is to be an example to his 2
children that anything is possible.
16
MEET THE RUNNERS
Albert Su
Mililani, Hawaii
Born: March 27, 1969
For the past three years, Albert has been racing with XTERRA. This year he completed the
Jamba Juice XTERRA Mountain Man off-road triathlon in Hawaii and came in 15th overall in
the XTERRA Makena Beach 10km Trail Run in Maui on October 25. He will also be running
in the Honolulu Marathon on December 14 and is a member of the Hash House Harriers
running team. He works as a web designer but is also an All-American gymnast, rock climber
and action adventure racer.
Hunter Todd
Roseville, California
Born: October 21, 1992
This 15-year old 2007 XTERRA Trail Run Nationals age group silver medalist qualified for
XTERRA Trail Run Worlds at the XTERRA Point Mugu Xduro in Oxnard, CA. If his young
age weren’t impressive enough, Hunter was also born with a congenital heart condition called
Tetralogy of Fallot which consists of four distinct and serious malfunctions of the heart. With
the help of his father Terry and a heart rate monitor, Hunter’s goal is to be crowned an
XTERRA World Champion. He will be running to raise money for a local pediatric cardiac
support group for parents called Kardiac Kids, of the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women &
Children in Honolulu.
Lorenn Walker
Waialua, Hawaii
Born: March 19, 1952
Lorenn Walker has been racing in the XTERRA triathlon scene for 10 years. This year she
competed in the XTERRA New Zealand and Bali International Triathlon winning her age
group in both. She celebrated her 10th year competing at the XTERRA World Championship
off-road triathlon this year and can brag that she has won her division five times and finished
in the top 3 of her age group every year since 1999.
Devon Webb
Mililani, Hawaii
Born: March 21, 1981
Devon is a member Hawaiian Ultra Running Team (H.U.R.T) and is currently training for his
fourth attempt at the H.U.R.T. 100-Mile Endurance Run in January. He has also completed
the Tantalus Triple Trek 50K three times, the Honolulu Marathon twice and is a 3-time
finisher of the Volcano Wilderness Marathon. This husband and father of two daughters is a
disabled veteran who loves being with nature and cannot wait for his first opportunity to race
XTERRA.
17
MEET THE RUNNERS
Don Wesley
Bremerton, Washington
Born: September 15, 1970
Even after being injured for a month prior to the XTERRA Trail Run Nationals, Don Wesley
qualified for Worlds with his time of 1:31:38. This artist and designer has never been to
Hawaii and can’t wait to get the chance to improve on his Nationals performance now that he
is back to 100%.
Peter Wood
La Jolla, California
Born: September 21, 1943
Peter Wood is a 5-time off-road triathlon XTERRA World Champion and has been racing with
XTERRA for 9 years. This year, in addition to being an XTERRA World Champion, Peter was
also crowned an ITU World Champion and competed at the 70.3 Worlds event.
Denton Woodward
Richmond, Virginia
Born: December 22, 1968
An 8-year veteran of XTERRA, Denton has competed in the XTERRA James River 10km
Trail Run every year since 2001. This year, he also competed in the Monument Avenue 10km,
the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll Half Marathon and the Richmond Half Marathon.
This will be his first trip to Hawaii, and he will be celebrating his 40th birthday with his wife
and kids while on Oahu.
Scott Zidbeck
Laguna Niguel, California
Born: May 27, 1965
Scott has been racing with XTERRA for 6 years and qualified for Worlds at the Vail Lake
Xduro in Temecula, CA on May 17. This Senior Deputy District Attorney will be coming to
Hawaii for vacation with his wife and 4 kids which include 20-month old twins. Scott has put
up 7 consecutive top ten age group triathlon finishes, has completed a full Vineman, 4
half-Vinemans, and is an 8-time marathon finisher.
18
XTERRA TRAIL RUNNING OVERVIEW
At the heart of XTERRA is the fundamental idea of putting
on great races in epic places with friendly faces. Pretty
simple, really, but it’s a formula that has proven successful
over the years and that same philosophy is being used to
grow the XTERRA Trail Run Series.
Now in its fourth year as a stand-alone set of races outside
of the off-road triathlon circuit, the XTERRA Trail Run Series
boasts 50 runs in 16 states and 8 countries, giving runners
the opportunity to race their way around the worldliterally.
New in 2008 is the focus on the off-road half-marathon
distance, what XTERRA calls an “Xduro”. When asked
about the paradigm shift (XTERRA Trail Runs used to be
mostly 5k and 10k runs) Tom Kiely, CEO of XTERRA,
explained that “after 12 years of producing trail runs alongside our XTERRA off-road triathlons we’ve learned that our
audience wanted a bigger challenge than a 10k. What the
market told us was to create a series of half-marathons that
have a physical challenge parallel to that of a road
marathon, but with Mother Nature along for the ride.”
Two new big-time races, in truly stunning adventure
destinations, have been added to this year’s line up with the
XTERRA Trail Running National Championship in Bend,
Oregon on September 27 and the first-ever XTERRA
Trail Running World Championship on the Hawaiian
Island of Oahu on December 7.
Not long ago Bend was named “America’s Best Trail
Running Town” by Outside Magazine, and with its wide variety of terrain, mild fall climate, endless miles of pristine trails
and a local community full of enthusiasm and support for the
race, runners can expect a one-of-a-kind experience at
Nationals.
“The U.S. Trail Run Series is the fastest-growing segment
of XTERRA and the National Championship race is turning
into a really big deal,” said Kiely. “We think Bend is an
amazing place to visit and explore, and an ideal venue for
the last race in the series.”
There are 10 regional series in the U.S. - Oregon, Utah,
Georgia, New York, New England, Chicago, Tennessee,
Philadelphia, Southern California and the Chesapeake Area
– and each hosts between 3 and 7 races through the course
of the year. The winner of each age group in each series
earns free entry into the XTERRA Trail Running National
Championship race.
In Bend the championship event is an Xduro (21k/13.1
mile), but the day-long running celebration will also feature
races of 10k and 5k distances, a festival/expo center for
participants and spectators, K9 Challenge, and Paul
Mitchell cut-a-thon. While the race field will include
19
competitors who have qualified for Nationals at other
events, participation is still open to the general public.
Following Nationals, say Aloha! Held the weekend prior
to the Honolulu Marathon, the XTERRA Trail Running World
Championship will kick off the “greatest week of running on
Earth” for athletes from around the globe. For competitive
runners, $10,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top
male and female finishers and racers from Xduro events in
Brazil, New Zealand, Italy, France, Austria, and Japan are
expected to come join in the adventure.
The site at Kualoa Ranch on the northeastern side of Oahu
is nothing short of magical. Arguably the most stunning
landscape in Hawaii, the 4,000 acre working cattle ranch
has been the setting for major motion productions such as
Jurassic Park, Godzilla and LOST. From the steep mountain
cliffs to the sparkling sea, the terrain varies from dense rainforest to broad open valleys and from beautiful white sand
beaches to awesome verdant cliff faces.
This inaugural gathering of international trail runners is
highlighted by the 21k Xduro but is accompanied by numerous events ranging from shorter distance trail runs and kids’
races to a walk-a-thon for charity and family entertainment.
“XTERRA is thrilled with the growth of its Trail Running
Series” said Janet Clark, President of TEAM
Unlimited/XTERRA. “XTERRA Trail Runs give runners an
opportunity to explore some wildly natural environments
and challenge Mother Nature’s diverse and unique offerings
from roots to rocks, to stream crossings and unexpected
scenic vistas.”
For more details visit www.xterratrailrun.com.
2008
Schedule
Date
2/2
2/3
3/1
3/22
3/29
3/30
4/12
5/7
5/10
5/11
5/17
5/17
5/18
5/21
5/24
5/31
5/31
6/1
6/4
6/7
6/7
6/7
6/7
6/14
6/14
6/18
6/28
7/6
7/12
7/19
7/20
8/2
8/9
8/9
8/10
8/16
8/16
8/17
8/23
8/31
9/27
9/28
10/4
10/4
10/12
10/18
10/25
11/8
11/10
11/29
12/6
Race
XTERRA Runnin’ the Rocks Trail Run
XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Run
XTERRA Thrill in the Hills Xduro
XTERRA Seven Islands Trail Run
XTERRA Chanoko Trail Run
XTERRA Dirt Dash Trail Run
XTERRA Merrimack River Trail Run
XTERRA Warwick Park Revenge Trail Run
XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Challenge Xduro
XTERRA Muddy Moose Xduro
XTERRA Havoc at the Hideout Trail Run
XTERRA Vail Lake Xduro
XTERRA Forks of the River Trail Run
XTERRA Hibernia Park Blast Trail Run
XTERRA Black Bear Hollow Trail Run
XTERRA Deep South Trail Run
XTERRA Italy Xduro
XTERRA France Xduro
XTERRA Warwick Park Ruckus Trail Run
XTERRA X-Country Trail Run
XTERRA Wolf Mountain Trail Run
XTERRA Gwynns Falls Trail Run
XTERRA Oak Mountain Xduro
XTERRA James River Scramble
XTERRA Richmond Xduro
XTERRA Hibernia Park Challenge Trail Run
XTERRA Snowbird Challenge Trail Run
XTERRA Twin Lakes Trail Run
XTERRA Renegade Trail Run
XTERRA Antelope Island Trail Run
XTERRA Nottingham Xduro
XTERRA Panther Creek Trail Run
XTERRA STOAKED Trail Run
XTERRA XTREME Trail Run
XTERRA Boordy Vineyards Trail Run
XTERRA Mohonk Preserve Xduro
XTERRA Wheeler Canyon Xduro
XTERRA Tillamook Burn Trail Run
XTERRA River Valley Ranch Trail Run
XTERRA Japan Xduro
XTERRA Trail Running National Championship Xduro
XTERRA Point Mugu Xduro
XTERRA Nevada Trail Run
XTERRA Fall Fitness
XTERRA Haw Ridge Xduro
XTERRA Camp Edge Trail Run
XTERRA Makena Beach Trail Run
XTERRA Battle at Big Creek
XTERRA Boney Mountain Xduro
XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot
XTERRA Trail Challenge
Location
Conyers, GA
San Diego, CA
Winder, GA
Knoxville, TN
Folsom, CA
Forest Grove, OR
Andover, MA
Pottstown, PA
Malibu, CA
Wolfeboro, NH
North Plains, OR
Temecula, CA
Knoxville, TN
Coatesville, PA
Hurley, NY
Dauset, GA
Berchida, Sardinia
Gerardmer, France
Pottstown, PA
Palatine, IL
Huntsville, UT
Baltimore, MD
Pelham, AL
Richmond, VA
Richmond, VA
Coatesville, PA
Snowbird, UT
Hurley, NY
Palatine, IL
Antelope Island, UT
Nottingham, PA
Morristown, TN
Hanover, NH
Palatine, IL
Hydes, MD
New Paltz, NY
Ogden, UT
Pacific City, OR
Manchester, MD
Marunuma, Japan
Bend, OR
Oxnard, CA
Incline Village, NV
Buford, GA
Oak Ridge, TN
Alloway, NJ
Makena, Maui
Roswell, GA
Thousand Oaks, CA
Topanga, CA
Rotorua
Distances - Series Descriptor
10k - Georgia Series #3
5k/15k - SoCal Series #5
21k - Georgia Series #4
10k – Tennessee Series #1
16k
8k – Oregon Series #1
16k- New England Series # 1
5k – Philly Series #1
6k/22k - SoCal Series #6
6k/22k- New England Series #2
8k – Oregon Series #2
5k/10k/21k - SoCal Series #7
10k – Tennessee Series #2
5k – Philly Series #2
8k- New York Series #1
15k - Georgia Series #5
5k/10k/21k – Global Tour
11k/53k – Global Tour
5k – Philly Series #3
8k - Chicago Series #1
10k - Utah Series #1
6k- Chesapeake Series # 1
5k/10k/21k - America Tour
10k - America Tour
21k- Chesapeake Series #2
8k – Philly Series #4
8k - Utah Series #2
12k- New York Series # 2
10k - Chicago Series #2
12k - Utah Series #3
10k/21k – Philly Series #5
10k – Tennessee Series #3
16k- New England Series # 3
12k - Chicago Series #3
5k - Chesapeake Series #3
21k- New York Series #3
21k - Utah Series #4
10k – Oregon Series #3
5k/10k - Chesapeake Series #4
27k – Global Tour
21k - America Tour
11k/18k - SoCal Series #1 for ‘09
5k/10k - America Tour
5k- Georgia Series #1 for ‘09
20k- Tennessee Series #1 for ‘09
5k- Chesapeake Series #1 for ‘09
5k/10k
5k/10k- Georgia Series #2 for ‘09
6k/21k - SoCal Series #2 for ‘09
5k/10k/15k - SoCal Series #3 for ‘09
5k/10k/21k - Global Tour
12/7
XTERRA Trail Running World Championship Xduro
Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, HI 21k Xduro
12/14
XTERRA Crystal Cove Trail Run
Newport Beach, CA
5k/15k - SoCal Series #4 for ‘09
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN-UP FOR THE XTERRA TRAIL MIX NEWSLETTER VISIT …XTERRATRAILRUN.COM
20
XTERRAGEAR.COM
Lightweight XTERRA Shoes Designed to Help Athletes
Stalk Their On-Course Prey
TJ Gray and Ashley Brown — designers of XTERRA’s new
line of footwear and apparel — stood at the finish line of the
XTERRA World Championship in Maui last October. While
many of the competitors lay in bed the night before counting
sheep in anticipation of the race, that afternoon Gray and
Brown were counting shoes.
Road shoe, road shoe, road shoe. As athletes poured
down from the lower slopes of Mount Haleakala from their
nearly seven-mile trail run over roots, rocks and ravines,
Gray and Brown couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Maybe one in 100 was a trail runner,” said Brown, who
along with partner Gray have also developed shoes for
Nike, adidas and Salomon. “They were all sacrificing stability for less weight.”
They returned to the drawing board, determined to make
XTERRA the lightest — but still, most stable — trail running
shoe on the market. With four months until the launch of the
shoes at the Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City,
designs were tweaked, materials tested — including a
unique combination of lighter blown rubber in the forefoot
and a heavier high-abrasion carbon rubber in the heel.
But their biggest scientific sport discovery was yet to come.
After much trial and error in their New Hampshire lab, a
molding model never before seen in the category was
created. Gone was a traditional glued-together midsole,
replaced by a dual-injected, dual-density EVA made of two
layers — the top soft, the bottom harder — giving comfort
and stability while taking away weight.
The result: an eco-friendly design that’s one of the lightest
trail runner ever, weighing in at less than 10.5 ounces for
men, 9.5 for women.
With the weight issue solved, multi-sport competitors Gray
and Brown began to research every movement taken on a
trail — the footplant and lateral pushoff around a 90-degree
directional path change, the flexed-footed jump over water,
the balanced gripped-toe run across a log.
As they were going for a timed run in the woods near their
studios — furiously passing each other, taking turns as the
lead — the big-picture design inspiration for XTERRA’s new
footwear line came: a big-cat predator’s paw.
“Chasing its prey, a big cat grips into the earth — digging
into loose gravel, dirt, gaining time and distance on every
21
step, every leap,” said Gray, a former collegiate decathlete
at Syracuse.
“The outer part of their foot acts like a traction pad,” he
continued. “It’s from there that we came up with XTERRA’s
unique outsole lug concept.”
The concept’s name: WILDTred. According to Gray and
Brown, its carved claw-like perimeter lug design forms
independent touch pads from forefoot to heel with deep flex
zones for controlled, wrap-around grip. They also noted the
lugs are higher than the shoe bottom’s concave center,
helping it act as its front and rear suspension while creating
a larger surface area.
“With the cat’s paw, we liked the symbolism of man’s
co-existence with all things found in the environment, said
Brown. “We adapt to our surroundings, whether it be
animal, plant or any of nature’s elements.
Continued Brown: “The thought behind XTERRA’s new line
is that the outdoors are no longer to be conquered; they’re
to be connected with.”
XTERRA’s 2008 footwear launch includes five styles: trail
runner, trail trainer (each $115), ultra trainer ($95),
performance sandal ($75) and performance slide ($55).
They will be available online in November.
For more information on the product — or what retailers
are carrying XTERRA — multisport athletes can go to
www.xterragear.com.
XTERRA BEGINNINGS
IT REALLY STARTED in the late '80's. That's when Tom
Kiely (CEO of TEAM Unlimited - owners and producers of
XTERRA) was tasked with creating more publicity for the
Waikiki Oahu Visitors Association. His idea was sports TV.
"First, sports is part of our life blood in Hawaii, and second,
what looks good on TV? The beaches and the ocean,"
explained Kiely.
The concept was pretty simple. TV sports and
entertainment is one of the biggest industries in the world.
The travel industry is THE BIGGEST industry in the world.
Bring those two together in programming, and you've got
something big.
So he came up with the idea for the Hawaiian International
Ocean Challenge - a lifeguard skills competition that
attracted water safety specialists from Australia, New
Zealand,
California,
and
of
course,
Hawaii.
Then, he forged a relationship with ESPN - the worldwide
leader in sports.
In 1990 the Ocean Challenge was broadcast on ESPN,
and millions of viewers were exposed to the beauty of
Waikiki - the sun, sand, and crystal clear blue water of the
Pacific Ocean. Subsequently, this is where David "Kahuna"
Nicholas enters the picture - as "race director."
"So we get into producing the Ocean Challenge," says
Kiely. "And now I'm thinking I've got all these athletes and
TV crews and if it costs me this much to produce one show,
it'll cost less for another, and even less for a third."
ESPN approves two more shows (Waikiki King's Race and
Diamond Head Wahine Windsurfing Classic) and in 1991
TEAM Unlimited produces three events and three TV
shows. The concept is working, and Hawaii is reaping the
benefits of the outdoor exposure the shows are generating.
"So the next year (1992) we produced seven Hawaiian
Sports Adventure Showsmultiple segments, different
stories, great scenics, and 30-minutes of entertaining, good
fun stuff," said Kiely.
Those seven shows were in addition to the Ocean
Challenge and a few others televised events, including the
inaugural Tour O' Hawaii.
"Now that was a great event," said Nicholas - now the
managing director of the XTERRA Global Tour. "The Tour
O' Hawaii happened before professional cyclists were
allowed to compete in the Olympics so the top riders from
every country kept their amateur status so they could race
in the Olympics. We just missed Lance because he signed
with Motorola, but we had George Hincapie, Jan Ulrich,
22
Tyler Hamilton, and dozens of others. Looking back, the
field was a who's who of international cycling."
A few years later the Olympics allowed pros to compete,
road cycling in the U.S. was on the decline, and the Tour O'
Hawaii was no more. At the same time, however, mountain
biking was taking off. So in 1995, in addition to 12 other TV
shows and several events, TEAM Unlimited produced the
Hawaiian Mountain Tour.
In doing so Nicholas and mountain bike Hall-of-Famer
Dean Crandall established the rules and held the first-ever
mountain bike stage race. This is also where many of the
XTERRA greats first appeared. The likes of Ned Overend,
Shari Kain, Melanie McQuaid, Steve Larsen, Mike Kloser,
Leslie Tomlinson, and host of others were taking part in the
Hawaiian Mountain Tour. Now these races took place at
Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, where the Koolau mountain range
meets the ocean, and the story goes that after their races
the mountain bikers would ride down to the beach and jump
in the water. It sparked a thoughtwhy not have a
mountain bike triathlon?
By 1996 TEAM Unlimited had produced more than 50
shows and sporting events, and while the idea of an off-road
triathlon was enticing - who'd pay for it?
Almost simultaneously, the Aston Hotel in Maui (now the
Wailea Marriott Resort) was shopping for a good idea for
their grand opening and the Maui Visitors Bureau was
looking for a new event that could tell a different story about
Maui's south shore because all the exposure up to that point
was golf. Well, what better way to show off the hotel and
south shore than 1) starting the race at this beautiful beach
in front of the sponsor hotel, 2) follow a race that covers 21
miles of terrain with two dozen camera's, and 3) put it on TV
for the whole world to see?
Add a phone call to Kiely from a friendly competitor in the
marketplace (to remain unnamed) inquiring on the very
subject of producing an off-road triathlon and you have all
the main ingredients for XTERRA's birth.
Kiely likes to define luck as the "intersection of opportunity and activity." He recalls bringing Nicholas and VP of
Marketing Janet Clark into his office.
"Look, I said, so-and-so called me and said that they were
thinking about doing an off-road tri and if they do, then we're
forever second, so we have to be the first ones to do it. I
immediately called Aston and the MVB and said O.K., I've
got the idea, here's the thing, bing, bang, boom," said Kiely.
"And that's what got us started in XTERRA."
THE XTERRA PLANET
At the finish line of the very first XTERRA race in 1996 it was clear that
XTERRA was going to be more than just a one-off event. There was
passion in the eyes of the competitors and an unwavering feeling that
XTERRA was destined to become a lifestylea movement.
And look at what XTERRA has become
- The first piece of expansion started with more races, a lot more. From
one to 100+ in 17 countries in an 11-year span including a 60-stop America Tour for amateurs and a full-blown
European Tour. XTERRA races can now be found on every continent in the World (including Antarctica in 2009).
- We initiated a series of XTERRA Camps across the U.S. to help prepare athletes to race and get them started
towards an active lifestyle. To that end, we offer up half-distance races for newcomers at our major events, plus the
chance to race as part of a relay team. We also offer free XTERRA University clinics taught by our top pros.
- We dish out a half-million dollars in prize money to attract some of the world's leading multisport athletes and garner
the attention of national and international media.
- We make champions. In the U.S. off-road triathlon series alone we recognize 184 amateur regional champions and
22 amateur national champions, plus relay team and collegiate national champs, XTERRA Trail Run Series, National
and World Champs, and now XTERRA Winter World Champions.
- We get kids involved wherever we go with the XTERRA Kids Zone. It's a free schedule of events with running and
bike races, obstacle courses, and other fun games. The notion is to get kids outdoors and active.
- We put the lifestyle on display for millions to see with XTERRA TV. A dozen shows reaching into homes all over the
world with inspiring images of fun activities in great places. We also launched our very own 24/7 web TV network,
www.xterra.tv, where viewers can watch our shows on demand for free.
- We became consumer friendly. First with XTERRA Gear - equipment designed for rugged competition. Then, with
races in more than a dozen countries and nearly every state in the U.S., we knew traveling was part of the game so
we selected Travelocity to power XTERRA Travel on our website.
- With the introduction of the XTERRA Foundation - we gave XTERRA heart. The XTERRA Foundation is a non-profit
specifically designed to provide educational opportunities for at-risk kids.
- We've opened the doors for runners, not just multisport athletes, with the XTERRA Trail Running Series. This year
there were more than 50 5k, 10k, and 21k runs reaching into 15 U.S. States and seven countries - providing more
chances to participate in the healthy, active, outdoors lifestyle. We’ll host the inaugural XTERRA Trail Running World
Championship - a 21k Xduro - on Dec. 7, 2008 on the island of Oahu.
- We took the XTERRA format into the snow with the creation of the XTERRA Winter World Championship.
- We created a week-long XTERRA-style adventure competition that traveled across Nevada.
- We created a platform for our dog lovers with the Breeder’s Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge.
- We launched the XTERRA Eco Team to protect and preserve the areas we race in, and give back to the
communities that host us.
- And XTERRA is only getting better...
23
TEAM UNLIMITED
TEAM Unlimited is a Hawaii-based television events and marketing company,
founded in 1988. It owns and produces XTERRA, and in 2008 there will be more than
100 off-road triathlon events held in 16 countries. It all started with 123 competitors
one afternoon in Maui, and has since evolved into the most prestigious off-road
multisport race in the world. There are 20,000+ competitors, ages 13-71, from all 50
states and more than 40 countries competing in XTERRA events.
TEAM Unlimited also produces a 50-race XTERRA Global Trail Running Series with
National and World Championship races, the Land Rover G4 Challenge-Nevada
Passage adventure competition, the XTERRA Winter World Championship, and more
than a dozen TV shows each year produced by TEAM TV.
XTERRA THROUGH TIME
1996: Jimmy Riccitello and Michellie Jones win inaugural event in Wailea, Maui.
1997: XTERRA adds two events in California, and one in Louisiana in addition to World Championship.
1998: The XTERRA tour goes to Michigan, Colorado, Oregon, and back to Louisiana.
1999: 11 races spanning from California to New Jersey. First year of Pro Points Series.
2000: XTERRA goes global with its first international races in England, Japan, and Canada.
2001: The first year of the XTERRA USA Championship Series, Australia and the Netherlands.
2002: The inaugural XTERRA Saipan Championship, and races in Germany and the Czech Republic.
The XTERRA USA Championship Series expands to 31 races.
2003: The seventh consecutive year of expansion provides more than 50 events to compete in.
2004: Forty-five events in the U.S., plus 33 international races and a full-fledged XTERRA European Tour
2005: First year of the stand-alone XTERRA Trail Running Series and Nevada Passage Adventure Competition.
2008: More than 100 XTERRA off-road triathlon races, 50+ XTERRA Trail Runs, & inaguaral XTERRA Winter Worlds.
TEAM TV
Since 1990 TEAM
Unlimited has
produced more
than 275 television
shows resulting in
three regional
Emmy’s and 39
Telly Awards for
production
excellence.
TELEVISION EVENTS AND MARKETING, INC. 720 Iwilei Road, Suite 290, Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: 808.521.4322 Fax: 808.538.0314
24