Canmore 2012

Press Guide

Canmore2012

A VIEW OF CANMORE FROM LADY MACDONALD TEAHOUSE

Photo by Daniel Patterson

Saturday, September 1 (Trail Run)

08:30 – Runner Check In Main Day Lodge09:30 – XTERRA Kids 500m Fun Run10:00 – XTERRA 5km, 10km, 20km and 4 x 5km RelayRace Start

Sunday, September2 (Tri & Duathlon Events)

06:00 - Transition 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) Open. 07:00 - Volunteer Check In – Outside Main Day lodgeNordic Centre.07:00 – 07:45 Timing Chip Pick Up – Main Day lodge07:00 – 07:45 Body Marking – Main Day lodge. 07:00 – 07:45 Late Race Package Pick Up - Day lodge08:00 - Mandatory Pre Race Briefing – T2 Finish Area MainStadium 08:15 - 1st Bus Departs Nordic Centre - Athletes Have FirstPriority!

Sunday, September2 (Tri & Duathlon Events)

09:00 – Duathlete special meeting. Quarry Lake mainbeach.

Triathlon & Duathlon Race Start

09:15 - All Duathletes, Sprint Distance Triathlon Individualsand Teams.*09:30 - All Full Distance Tri Individuals and Teams. *

* Subject to change based on final participant numbers.Final wave start times will be posted at race packagepickup and announced via final email race update duringevent week.

2:00 p.m – Awards Buffet - Nordic Centre Day Lodge.

Visit smithevents.ca and xterracanada.ca for the latest info

SPORT CHEK XTERRA CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Canmore2012

WELCOME TO XTERRA - THE WORLD’S LEADING OFF-ROAD TRIIn 1996 mountain biking and triathlon met in a duel of thefittest on the island of Maui. The race consisted of an open-ocean swim, a mountain bike race, and a trail run. Itrepresented a bold new racing format that attractedoutdoor enthusiasts, adventure seekers, mountain bikersand triathletes. The mountain bikers brought their laid-backstyle and bold self-assurance. The triathletes brought theirhard-core training and avid dedication. They soondiscovered a common spirit and attitude that pulled themtogether.The relationship would become an internationally-recognized brand called XTERRA.

Since that day, XTERRA has grown into the world’s leadingoff-road triathlon with more than 100 races in 15 countries,including the XTERRA Canada Championship in Canmore.

A typical XTERRA is comprised of the following:

1.5 kilometer (0.93-mile) swim in an ocean, lake, or river 30 kilometer (18.6-mile) mountain bike on off-road trails 10 kilometer (6.2-mile) trail run on a variety of surfaces

2012 marks the 17th consecutive year of XTERRA racing.

The XTERRA Canada Championship is the 13th majorXTERRA World Tour event, and offers up $10,000 in prizemoney for pros and 40 qualifying spots into the XTERRAWorld Championship for amateurs. The rapidly growingXTERRA Canada Series consists of 15 events throughoutthe year across Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Albertaand British Columbia.

This guide will provide more information on the XTERRAWorld Tour and introduce you to the professional athletesthat will race in the world’s premier off-road triathlon at theCanmore Nordic Center, on September 2, 2012.

XTERRA World Tour Media Contact :Trey Garman - 808.216.8606 // trey@xterraplanet.com

Canmore2012

XTERRA CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP MOVES TO CANMOREAfter two years in Whistler the XTERRA CanadaChampionship is headed to the Canmore Nordic Center,located about 60 miles west of Calgary in the province ofAlberta, on September 1-2.

"After presenting the Championship event in Whistler for thelast two years, I am thrilled to be able to bring the NationalChampionships into my own back yard,” said XTERRACanada Race Director Tony Smith who is a Canmoreresident, veteran triathlete and experienced race director.

The Nordic Center was developed for the 1988 OlympicGames when it hosted biathlon and cross-country skiingevents, and remains a world-class destination in the summerand winter. Situated at the foot of Mount Rundle in theCanadian Rockies at an elevation of 4,600ft, the site hostsmore than 100-kilometers of single and double track trailsideally suited for mountain biking and trail running.

On Saturday, September 1 there is a free kids 500m run and5km, 10km and 20km trail running races. On Sunday, inaddition to the championship race, organizers are hostinganother kids race, a half-distance sport race, short andlonger-course duathlon’s, and the ATB Financial LeadershipChallenge. There are also relay team options, and abeginners specific bike course for the sport race that makesgetting involved uber-friendly for first-timers.

The Championship race offers $10,000 in pro prize moneyand 40 qualifying spots into the XTERRA WorldChampionship in Maui to the top finishers. The race startswith a 3 loop - 1500m swim in spectacular Quarry Lake,followed with a 22km mountain bike and 10km trail run.

"Alberta has embraced XTERRA racing over the past twoyears and they deserve to have our National Championshipsin Canmore," said XTERRA Canada President, CalvinZaryski.

"Local athletes and spectators will be able to see some of thebest off-road triathletes in the World race head to head forprize money. In addition to the off-road triathlons andduathlon, the weekend will also offer the Canadian NationalXTERRA Trail Running Championship. We are really excitedto host such a prestigious event that offers something foreveryone."

Learn more and register at www.xterracanada.ca

Canmore2012

MEET THE PROFESSIONALSThe professionals competing at the XTERRA CanadaChampionship are among the best triathletes and mountainbikers in the world - including defending XTERRA CanadaNational Champs Mike Vine and Melanie McQuaid, and anOlympian in Paul Tichelaar.

Pro Men : Rank - Name - Age, Hometown

Kelly Guest - 35, Victoria, British Columbia

Branden Rakita - 31, Manitou Springs, Colorado, USA

Paul Tichelaar - 29, Edmonton, Alberta (2008 Olympian)

Mike Vine - 39, Edmonton, Alberta

Pro Women : Rank - Name - Age, Hometown

Renata Bucher – 34, Lucerne, Switzerland

Katie Button - 28, Stouffville, Ontario

Brandi Heisterman - 36, Brackendale, British Columbia

Christine Jeffrey - 39, Guelph, Ontario

Danelle Kabush - 36, Calgary, Alberta

Melanie McQuaid - 38, Victoria, British Columbia

Suzie Snyder - 29, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA

Chantell Widney - 32, Edmonton, Alberta

Mike

Melanie

Canmore2012

XTERRA CANADA PRO RACE PREVIEWWhile the XTERRA Canada Championship race is being heldat the Canmore Nordic Center for the first-time, the scenicvenue is no stranger to two of the main contenders in the prorace.

Mike Vine and Danelle Kabush have raced on, and won, theXTERRA Alberta provincial championships on this turf ineach of the last two years.

“Canmore is tailor-made for me with the altitude, bigmountains, shorter swim, vertical bike, and plenty of trackover the ride and run,” said Vine after his win in 2010.

On Sunday, however, the “Vineman” will be up against muchtougher competition with American XTERRA specialistBranden Rakita (Boulder, CO), Canadian off-road tri champKelly Guest (Victoria), and 2008 Olympic triathlete PaulTichelaar all in the mix.

Rakita recently finished second at the XTERRA MexicoChampionship, one of five podium finishes for the 31-year-oldat XTERRA World Tour championship races in Guam, thePhilippines, and the U.S. Guest was most recently the fastestCanadian (7th overall) against the best in the world at the ITUCross Triathlon World Championships held in Pelham,Alabama in May and for Tichelaar, who has long been one ofthe country’s fastest triathletes, Sunday will mark hisXTERRA debut.

The women’s race is stacked with fast and establishedXTERRA stars highlighted by three-time XTERRA WorldChampion Melanie McQuaid. McQuaid, who has won justabout every XTERRA and off-road triathlon event ever stagedin Canada since joining the sport a decade ago, will have herwork cut out for her this year.

Foremost among her competitors is fellow Canadian DanelleKabush, who not only knows the course well, but is comingoff her first-ever XTERRA U.S. Pro Series race win at theMountain Championship in Colorado’s Rockies this July. Inthat same race Suzie Snyder was 3rd, Renata Bucher 4th,and McQuaid 5th.

“Canmore has my favorite XTERRA run course,” wroteKabush after last year’s race in Canmore. “The two-lap runcourse is full of rooty, twisty, fun single-track that takes somuch focus to navigate that you can forget that you’re actu-ally suffering at race pace.”

A twisty run course will also play to the strength of Bucher, the“Swiss Miss” of XTERRA who has notched 29 championshipwins in 12 different countries over the course of her career.

Brandi Heisterman, one of Canada’s best female mountainbikers, finished 2nd at the XTERRA Canada Champs inWhistler last year in her XTERRA debut, and followed thatwith an impressive ninth overall at the XTERRA WorldChampionship.

Other notables include Christine “Big Fish” Jeffrey, who cameback strong from injuries to finish third at XTERRA Mexicolast month, and American Suzie Snyder who is having one ofher best seasons as a pro. Katie Button from Stouffville is inher first-year as an XTERRA pro and Chantell Widney fromEdmonton is an ITU road tri racer making her XTERRA debutin Canmore.

For pros there is $10,000 in prize money up for grabs onSunday, and for amateurs – 40 qualifying spots into theXTERRA World Championship to be held Oct. 28 at Kapalua,Maui.

Danelle

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MIKE VINEEdmonton, Alberta

PERSONAL: Born May 18, 1973.XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 13th year.RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Finished in the topthree in 14 consecutive pro tour races encompassing theentire 2000 XTERRA America Tour and first three races ofthe 2001. Won the 2000 XTERRA Canada Championship,2001 East and Central Champs, 2002 Saipan Crown,2005 & ‘06 Mountain titles, 2007 XTERRA Brazil, 2008XTERRA USA Champs, and 2009 XTERRA Malaysiacrown.2005: Placed 4th in Temecula, 8th in Richmond, 11th inMilwaukee, and won impressively in Keystone with a 4:32margin of victory over Stoltz. Finished 3rd in Tahoe andsecond in the XTERRA Pro Series, and was 4th atWorlds.2006: Placed 7th in Temecula, 14th in Alabama, 2nd atthe inaugural XTERRA Mexico Championship, wonXTERRA Mountain Champs, was 14th at XTERRA UK,2nd at the XTERRA USA Championship. DNF atXTERRA Worlds.2007: 2nd at Temecula, 4th in Bama, 3rd at East Champs.DNF’d at Mountain Champs, was 2nd at the USAChampionship, 2nd in the Pro Series, & 8th in Maui.2008: Finished 11th at XTERRA West, 10th at Southeast,13th at East, nearly upset Stoltz at Mountain Champswhere he came in 2nd, just 14 seconds back. WonXTERRA USA Championship, and placed 4th at Worlds.2009: 2nd at XTERRA Saipan, 4th at West Cup, 2nd atMidwest Cup, 3rd at Southeast Cup, won XTERRAMalaysia Champs, 4th at Atlantic & So. Central Cups, 2ndat Mtn Cup, 4th at USA Champs, and 12th at Worlds.2010: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Saipan and XTERRACanada Championships (top Canadian).2011: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Canada Championship (topCanadian thus the National Champ) and 14th elite at theXTERRA World Championship.2012: First XTERRA.XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE HISTORY:

Placed 14th last year, 9th in 2010, 12th in 2009, 4th in ‘08,8th in 2007, DNF in 2006 due to mechanicals, was 4th in2005 while posting 4th best bike, 4th in 2002, 31st in2001, the runner-up in 2000, placed 7th in 1999, and 37thin 1998.

MIKE VINE : First-ever XTERRA Canada Champ back in 2000

Mike

Canmore2012

BRANDEN RAKITA

BRANDEN RAKITAColorado Springs, Colorado

2012 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 5PERSONAL: Born March 25, 1981...from Durango,CO...earned degree in civil engineering at Colorado StateUniversity...works as a sales associate/bike fitter at ProCycling when he’s not racing.WEBSITE: brandenrakita.comTWITTER: @btrakitaSPONSORS: 2XU, Pro Cycling, First Endurance, Sidi, SRM,Rudy Project, Ergon, Rotor USA, The Colorado RunningCompany, and Effetto Mariposa/Caffelatex.SHOE: Inov-8XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Fifth year.BEST XTERRA FINISH: 3rd at XTERRA West Champs2011, and 5th at XTERRA USA Champs 2008FAVORITE XTERRA: XTERRA USA in Lake Tahoe andXTERRA Mountain Champs in Keystone.2008: Finished 14th at the XTERRA West Champs, 12th atthe Southeast Champs, 16th at the East Champs, 6th atMountain Champs, a career-best 5th at the XTERRA USAChampionship and 18th at XTERRA Worlds.2009: Finished 10th at West Cup, 8th at Midwest Cup, 8th atSoutheast Cup, 4th at Northwest Cup, 7th at Northeast Cup,5th at Mountain Cup, 6th at USA Championship, and 20th atXTERRA Worlds.2010: Placed 10th at XTERRA West Champs, 7th at SouthCentral Champs, 5th at XTERRA Amazon (Brazil), 6th atEast Champs, 4th at Mountain Champs, 3rd at XTERRACanada, 7th at USA Champs, and 15th at XTERRA Worlds.2011: Placed 3rd at the XTERRA West Champs, 5th at theXTERRA South Central and Pacific Champs, 8th at ITUCross Tri Worlds, 7th at the Southeast Champs, 4th at theEast Championship, 5th at the Mountain Championship, 2ndat XTERRA Mexico and 4th at XTERRA Canada, 6th atXTERRA USA Champs, and 20th at the XTERRA WorldChampionship.2012: Placed 4th at XTERRA Guam, 5th at XTERRAPhilippines, 7th at XTERRA Saipan, 5th at XTERRA WestChampionship, and 9th at the ITU Cross Tri WorldChampionships/XTERRA Southeast Championship inShelby County, AL on May 19, 5th at the XTERRA EastChampionship, 8th at the Mountain Championships, and 2ndat the XTERRA Mexico Championship.XTERRA CANADA HISTORY: Finished fourth at XTERRACanada Champs last year and was 3rd in 2010.

Branden

Canmore2012

MELANIE McQUAID - 4-time XTERRA Canada National Champ

MELANIE McQUAIDVictoria, B.C., Canada

2011 ITU Cross Tri World Champion4-time XTERRA U.S. Pro Series Champ2003, ‘05 & ‘06 XTERRA World Champ

2012 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 3PERSONAL: Born May 17, 1973 in Victoria, BC,Canada�has a degree in biochemistry�raced withCanada’s National Cycling team for six years...started up theMelRad racing team in 2009. WEBSITE: racergirl.comSPONSORS: Trek, Bontrager, AVIA, Polar, Shimano, RudyProject, Powerbar, Champion System, Cycleops, NineteenWetsuits, TP Therapy, Genuine Innovations, USANA, ESIGrips, Saltstick.XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 11th year...won the XTERRACanada Championship in each attempt 2003, ‘04, ‘10, & ‘11.2002: Finished in the runner-up position in both theXTERRA East and Central Championships before winningthe West title at Half Moon Bay. Finished 4th at the USAChampionship and was the runner-up in Pro Series. 2003: 2nd at Big Bear and Richmond, won in Canada, was2nd in Tahoe, and 2nd in Pro Series. Won XTERRA Worlds.2004: Won in Richmond, then finished runner-up to Whit-more in Keystone, Big Bear, and Tahoe. Also finished secondin the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series. Won XTERRA Canada andplaced second at XTERRA Worlds.2005: Won in Temecula, finished 7th at XTERRA Czech, wonXTERRA Italy, placed 2nd in Richmond and Milwaukee, wonKeystone to tie Whitmore for the Series lead heading intoTahoe. Placed second in Tahoe and 2nd in the Pro Series.Was 9th in the XTERRA European Tour standings. Becamethe first female to win her second XTERRA WorldChampionship in Maui.2006: 2nd in Temecula, won inaugural XTERRA SoutheastChampionship, 2nd in Richmond and Milwaukee, won theMountain Championship to create a virtual tie with Whitmorefor Pro Series lead, then won in Tahoe to capture her firstPro Series crown after three runner-ups. Followed with 2ndstraight & unprecedented 3rd XTERRA World Title.2007: Won in California, was second in Alabama, Richmond,and Utah. Placed 5th at USA Champs, 2nd in Pro Series,and was the runner-up at XTERRA Worlds.2008: Won West Champs for second straight year, 8th atSoutheast, won the East, Mountain, USA Champs, and USPro Series crown. DNF’d at XTERRA Worlds.

2009: Won XTERRA West, Midwest, Southeast, Northwest,and Atlantic Cup races, was 2nd at South Central andNortheast Cups, then won XTERRA USA Championship andXTERRA US Pro Series title for the second straight year (herthird overall - also won in 2006). Finished 3rd at XTERRAWorlds, her seventh time in the top 3 at Maui.2010: Placed 2nd at the XTERRA West Champs, 3rd at theSouth Central Championship, won the XTERRA EuropeanChampionship in Italy, was 2nd at the Southeast Champs,3rd at the East Champs, won Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3,won the XTERRA Canada Championship, won the XTERRAUSA Championship, placed 11th at the XTERRA WorldChampionship, and was third at the XTERRA Trail RunningWorld Championship.2011: Won the XTERRA West and South CentralChampionships, then captured the inaugural ITU Cross-TriWorld Title in Spain, was 5th at the Pacific Champs, won theSoutheast title, was 2nd at East Champs, 2nd at theMountain Champs, won XTERRA Canada second straightyear, and the USA Championship for fourth year in a row.Won the Pro Series for the fourth time, and was on her wayto winning XTERRA Worlds before exhaustion struck and shecollapsed just 60 yards from the finish and DNF.2012: Placed 5th at the XTERRA West Championship, 2nd atthe ITU Cross Tri World Championships/XTERRA SoutheastChampionship, won the East Championship, and was 5th atthe Mountain Champs.

Melanie

Canmore2012

DANELLE KABUSH

DANELLE KABUSHCalgary, Alberta

2012 XTERRA Mountain Champion

2012 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 4PERSONAL: Born April 26, 1975...originally fromCourtenay, British Columbia...was a track & cross-countryRunner for University of Washington in Seattle, 1998 NCAADivision One 1500m finalist...earned PhD in sportpsychology from the Univsity of Ottawa in 2007...mother oftwo and a mental performance consultant by trade.WEBSITE: danellekabush.comBIKE/SHOE: Luna Pro Team...Orbea, AVIA, Fox, Maxxis,Lazer, Camelbak, Mavic, Shimano.Vetta, Squadra, Chariot,Pedro’s, Sock Guy, High Sierra, Selle Italia Saddles, Kicker,Genuine Innovations, and Orca.XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Eighth year. RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 4th & 5th overall in2003/2004 Canada Cup Mountain Bike Series, was 9th in1998 NCAA 1500m Final.2004: 2nd at XTERRA Canada, 3rd at XTERRA Worlds.2005: Finished 6th in Temecula, 9th in Richmond, 7th inMilwaukee, 9th in Keystone, and 4th in Tahoe. Placed 6th inXTERRA U.S. Pro Series and 6th at XTERRA Worlds.2006: Finished 8th at Temecula, 4th in Alabama, 5th inRichmond, 8th in Milwaukee, 4th in Utah, 3rd at theXTERRA USA Championship in Tahoe, and career-best 2ndat XTERRA World Championship.2007: Took year off to have her first child, Zoe.2008: Placed 4th at West Champs, 7th at SoutheastChamps, 5th at East Champs, 4th at Mtn Champs, 6th atUSA Champs and 2nd at Worlds (fastest run split).2009: Placed 9th at XTERRA West Cup, 7th at SoutheastCup, 2nd at Northwest Cup, 3rd at Atlantic Cup, 5th atNortheast Cup, 2nd at Mountain Cup, and 7th at theXTERRA USA and World Championships.2010: Won the XTERRA Alberta off-road tri, placed third atthe XTERRA Canada Championships, and was 12th atXTERRA Worlds.2011: Placed 5th at the XTERRA West Championship, 3rd atthe XTERRA Canada Championship, and 3rd at the USAChampionship. Finished 12th in XTERRA U.S. Pro Seriesand was 5th at XTERRA Worlds (her fourth top 5 in Maui).2012: Placed 4th at the XTERRA West Champs, was 6th atthe ITU Cross Tri World Championships/XTERRA SoutheastChampionship, 5th at the XTERRA East Champs, and wonthe XTERRA Mountain Championship in Avon, CO on July14 (her first win on XTERRA U.S. Pro Series.)

Danelle

Canmore2012

“THE SWISS MISS OF XTERRA” RENATA BUCHER

RENATA BUCHERLucerne, Switzerland

2012 Guam, Philippines, Saipan, West(U.S.) and Mexico Champion

4-time XTERRA European Tour Champ

2012 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 2PERSONAL: Born May 30, 1977...attended the Universityof Zuerich.WEBSITE: renata-bucher.onlinetri.comBIKE/SHOE: Cannondale Flash 29er/Asics Fuji RacerXTERRA EXPERIENCE: Eighth year.RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has won 29 XTERRAChampionship races in 12 countries, the U.S. Territory ofGuam and the Commonwealth of the Northern MarianaIslands (Saipan).FAVORITE XTERRA: Saipan2004: 9th at XTERRA Germany in first-ever XTERRA.2005: Won XTERRA Saipan, and was second at Tagaman towin the PIC Double with a combined time of 6:14:11. Was3rd at Temecula, won XTERRA Czech (beating three WorldChamps in Angle, McQuaid, and Whitmore in the process),3rd at XTERRA Italy, 5th in Richmond, won XTERRA Aus-tria, second at XTERRA Spain, and third at XTERRA Ger-many. Won the XTERRA European Tour and was 9th in theXTERRA U.S. Pro Series. Placed 4th at World Champs inMaui.2006: Won everything she entered starting with XTERRASaipan, then a clean sweep in Europe with victories atFrance, Italy, Czech, Spain, and UK. Won second straightXTERRA European Title. Placed 5th at World Champs.Placed 4th at Tagaman and was 2nd in the PIC Doublestandings behind Whitmore.2007: Won XTERRA Saipan Championship then injurieskept her sidelined for the rest of the season.2008: Won XTERRA Saipan for the fourth straight year, plusthe Tagaman Triathlon and Pacific Islands Club Doubleaward, placed 2nd at XTERRA European Championship inItaly, won XTERRA France-Auron, was second at XTERRAAustria, won XTERRA France-Mondelieu and her thirdstraight Euro Tour title. Also won XTERRA Japan, was 2nd atXTERRA USA, and 4th at XTERRA Worlds.2009: Won XTERRA Saipan for 5th straight year, the Taga-man road tri on Saipan a week later and the Pacific IslandsClub Resort Double award for having the fastest combinedtime in the 2 races. Finished 4th at XTERRA West, 2nd atMidwest, 3rd at Southeast Cup, won XTERRA Malaysia, won

Renata

XTERRA Italy, was 2nd at XTERRA Czech, won XTERRANortheast Cup (her first win in the U.S.), won XTERRA Eu-ropean Championship in Austria and the Euro Tour for thefourth time, was 8th at XTERRA USA Champs, and 14th atXTERRA Worlds.2010: Won five races, starting with XTERRA Saipan for the6th straight year, and the Pacific Islands Club Resort Doubleaward. Won XTERRA Guam, won inaugural XTERRA Por-tugal Championship, won XTERRA South Central Champi-onship, placed 2nd at XTERRA European Championship inItaly, placed 4th at the Southeast Champs, won the EastChamps, was 2nd at XTERRA France, won XTERRA Czech,and was 2nd at XTERRA Switzerland. Finished in a points tiefor first with Marion Lorblanchet for the Euro Tour title, butlost tie-breaker (position at last race). DNF at XTERRAWorlds.2011: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Philippines, 3rd atXTERRA Saipan, 2nd at XTERRA Italy, won XTERRAFrance, was 7th at ITU Cross Tri Worlds, was third atXTERRA Czech and Germany, and 5th at XTERRA Switzer-land. Placed 2nd at the XTERRA Pacific Championship,third at the Southeast Championship, and fourth at XTERRAWorld Championship. Finished 2nd in the XTERRA Euro-pean Tour and 11th in the U.S. Pro Series2012: Won the XTERRA Guam, Philippines, and SaipanChampionship races on consecutive weekends - a cleansweep of the XTERRA Asia Pacific triple crown, then wonthe XTERRA West Championship. Placed 10th at the ITUCross Tri World Champs/XTERRA Southeast Champs, was6th at XTERRA Italy, 2nd at the East Champs, 2nd atXTERRA France, 4th at XTERRA Mountain Champs, andwon XTERRA Mexico.

Canmore2012

CHRISTINE “BIG FISH” JEFFREY

CHRISTINE JEFFREYGuelph, Ontario

2012 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: Not rankedPERSONAL: Born December 13, 1972...earned a degree inlandscape architecture from Arizona State University whereshe was a four-time All-American swimmer...works as a land-scape architect for LJ Designs in Tucson, Arizona.WEBSITE: christinejeffrey.comTWITTER: @chrisjeffreySPONSORS: Coach Gareth, Native Eyewear, ChampionSystem, Nineteen Wetsuits, Honey Stinger, ExtremeEndurance, Zipfizz, Maxxis.BIKE: Full suspension 29erXTERRA EXPERIENCE: Fifth year.RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Won the 2005 Ixtapa ITUContinental Cup, and 2007 Villarrica ITU Continental Cup. 2008: Finished 6th at XTERRA West Champs, 3rd at South-east Champs, 12th at East Champs, 11th at MountainChamps, 11th at USA Champs and 5th at XTERRA Worlds.2009: Placed 5th at the West Cup, 3rd at Midwest Cup, 3rdat the Northwest Cup, 5th at the South Central Cup, 4th atthe Northeast Cup, 9th at XTERRA USA Championship, and8th at XTERRA Worlds.2010: Placed 4th at the XTERRA West Champs, 5th atSouth Central Champs, 6th at Southeast, 5th at EastChamps, 2nd at XTERRA Canada, 5th at USA Champs, and4th at XTERRA Worlds.2011: Finished 3rd at both the XTERRA West and SouthCentral Championship races in April, was 6th at the PacificChamps, 4th at the Southeast Champs, 4th at the EastChamps, and 7th at the Mountain Champs.2012: Placed third at the XTERRA Mexico Championship onAugust 4th in her first race back from a broken shoulder andother injuries suffered since last September.

Christine

Canmore2012

SUZIE SNYDERSUZIE SNYDER

Fredericksburg, Virginia

2012 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 5PERSONAL: Born March 30, 1982...originally from AverillPark, NY...was a three-sport state champ in cross country,pole vault, and Slalom waterskiing...earned a mastersdegree in exercise science from Springfield College...was acompetitive slalom waterskier from the ages of 12-18...worksas a human performance coach for a federal lawenforcement agency.TWITTER: @SnyderSuzieSPONSORS: Luna Pro TeamBIKE/SHOE: Orbea Alma 29er / AVIA Stoltz & BoltXTERRA EXPERIENCE: Ninth year. Won the 20-24division XTERRA World Title in 2004 and 2006. Is also a4-time XTERRA age group National Champion.2010: Finished 5th at the XTERRA Mountain Champs in firstrace as a pro, was 9th at the XTERRA USA Championship,and a career-best 5th at XTERRA Worlds.2011: Placed 4th at the XTERRA Saipan Championship andwon the Tagaman road triahtlon a week later in Saipan.Placed 7th at the XTERRA West Champs, 4th at the SouthCentral Champs, 13th at ITU Cross Tri Worlds, 7th at thePacific and Southeast Championships, a career-best 3rd atthe East Champs,8th at the Mountain Champs, and 9th atthe USA Champs. Finished 5th in the Pro Series and was15th at XTERRA Worlds.2012: Finished 6th at the XTERRA West Champs, 4th (topAmerican) at the ITU Cross Tri World Championships/XTERRA Southeast Championship, 6th at the XTERRA EastChamps, and 3rd at the Mountain Champs.

Suzie

Canmore2012

2011 XTERRA CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWSeptember 4, 2011 (Nita Lake Lodge, Whistler, B.C.) - Thesnow-capped peaks of Whistler’s famed Olympic ski slopesand mist over Alta Lake greeted athletes assembled atRainbow Park for the start of XTERRA Canada’s 2nd annualSportChek National Championship in Whistler, B.C.,presented by Nita Lake Lodge.

When the gun went off at 9am, the mist had cleared andthere was no sign of the cougar that had been spotted on thebeach in the early morning hours before the race. The waterin Alta Lake was 66 degrees, and it was a typical, beautifulblue sky Whistler day. The swim was two 750-meter laps ofa triangular course with a short beach run in between, andthe first out and to transition was XTERRA newcomer, AussieBen Allen (Wollongong, NSW), followed closely by AmericanSeth Wealing (Boulder, CO) and Canada’s Jean-PhilippeThibodeau (Baie-Saint Paul, QC).

Hot on their heels was Colorado’s Branden Rakita (ManitouSprings) and 4x XTERRA World Champ Conrad Stoltz(Stellenbosch, South Africa). Last year’s XTERRA Canadachamp, Josiah Middaugh (Vail, Colorado) was two minutesoff the lead pack along with Canadians Mike Vine andMelanie McQuaid.

Competitors faced two 12-kilometer laps on one ofXTERRA’s most technical bike courses – complete with avariety of built stunts including numerous bridges, skinny’s(little rails about three feet off the ground), and tight, twistingtrails through trees and rocks. A 10km trail run followedleading athletes directly uphill and gnarly downhill sections.The technical nature and difficulty of the course was certainlyreflected in the finish times.

None of this proved to be an obstacle for defending XTERRACanada champion, Josiah Middaugh, who racked up thefastest bike split and won the race today and his secondconsecutive XTERRA Canada title in 2:38:46 – almost twominutes ahead of second placed Mike Vine. “It was one ofthose days – magical. It feels awesome,” said Middaugh ofhis win. “It’s a hard course, and tricky – all new trails andmuch tougher than last year. I got here Wednesday so I hadtime to practice, and that definitely helped.”

Canada’s Mike Vine took second. Vine, originally fromVictoria, has been living and working in Edmonton for the lastyear, and made a rare appearance for this race. “I haven’tbeen training much”, he admitted “and that seems to be

working. This course is good for me, so that helps. The swimis what I really let slide, so I knew I would come out pretty fardown – about where I expected at 2:40 off the top guys. Ittook me a while to get going on the bike –but towards theend of the first loop I reeled in the swimmers, includingConrad (Stoltz) and Seth (Wealing) – and that fired me rightup.” Coming into T2, he was 1:30 behind Josiah, and held2nd place on the run to finish in 2:40:34.

Wealing took 3rd place finishing in 2:43:26. Wealing took thebike lead early and led for some time until he had to stop toput air in his tires after purping them on a drop off. “Josiahand Branden passed me�and then Mike caught me beforethe end of the first lap”. Wealing passed Rakita not too longinto the run to finish third with the fastest run of the day.Rakita took 4th in 2:46:46 with new Dad, Kelly Guest of Vic-toria, B.C. in 5th at 2:47:44.

Of note, Stoltz - fresh off a victory at the XTERRA JapanChampionship last weekend - did not finish the race stating“I crashed myself out of the race yesterday”. He pulled afterthe bike with injuries to his knee and leg sustained in practiceyesterday. Also of note, “Mr. XTERRA” Will Kelsay, on hislast stop on a six-week, six-country, around-the-worldXTERRA adventure did not start citing gastric problems andpossible food poisoning.

In the women's race three-time XTERRA World Championand defending XTERRA Canada champion Melanie McQuaid(Victoria, BC) led the women out of the swim and neverlooked back. “This course is made for me. I felt well pre-pared (for this race) as riding in Victoria is quite technical, butit is very different from here – I loved it, it was so much fun,”she said. “I got more comfortable with this stuff riding BCBike Race last year, and that helped my technical confidencegoing in to this race”.

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2011 XTERRA CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWMcQuaid finished in 3:05:41, a good ten minutes ahead offirst-time XTERRA woman and mountain bike phenom,Brandi Heisterman (Brackendale, BC) who took second in3:15:37. Heisterman, a mother of three who lives in the area,is a top five Canadian national mountain biker and was anational level runner in college. “I was expecting her to beatme on the bike” said McQuaid. “If we’d have just done thebike, she would’ve been faster than me, but having thefitness for triathlon helps. I can be steady and comfortablethe whole day and still have gas at the end.”

Canada’s Danelle Kabush (Calgary, AB) took 3rd, withAmerican Emma Garrard (Park City, UT) in 4th, sporting apossibly broken nose from a spill on the run course, andCanadian pro mountain biker and cyclocross rider, MicalDyck (Victoria B.C.) in 5th. McQuaid commented “it isimportant for mountain bikers to see how well these mountainbike girls did. If you are a really good biker you can do wellin XTERRA, more mountain bikers need to know that.”

First place age groupers were Simon Pulfrey (NorthVancouver, BC) taking 8th overall, and Katie Button(Stouffville, ON) placing 8th overall for the women. Raceco-organizer, and 40-44 XTERRA World Champ Cal Zaryskifinished in 10th place overall.

All competitors today received Icebreaker race shirts – votedthe “best race shirts ever” and were treated to a fabulousbarbeque lunch, courtesy of Nita Lake Lodge along with awealth of lucky draw prizes courtesy of SportChek, JamisBikes and others.

Top 5 Men

Pos Name Country Time

1 Josiah Middaugh USA 2:38:462 Mike Vine CAN 2:40:343 Seth Wealing USA 2:43:264 Branden Rakita USA 2:46:465 Kelly Guest CAN 2:47:44

Top 5 Women

Pos First Country Time

1 Melanie McQuaid CAN 3:05:412 Brandi Heisterman CAN 3:15:373 Danelle Kabush CAN 3:17:344 Emma Garrard USA 3:24:015 Mical Dyck CAN 3:24:10

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2010 XTERRA CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWSeptember 5, 2010 (Whistler, B.C., Canada) - JosiahMiddaugh and Melanie McQuaid won the men's andwomen's pro titles at the XTERRA Canada Championship inWhistler, B.C.

XTERRA President Janet Clark was on-site to take in all theaction and brings us this report:

2010 marks 10 years since XTERRA Canada was last heldin Whistler, and the race organizing team of Yoeri Geerits,Cal Zaryski, Rose Serpico, and Tony Smith have broughtCanada back to the XTERRA World Tour with a spectacularWhistler experience that combines a picturesque lake swim,sweet singletrack and some of the gnarliest mountain bikingon the XTERRA Planet.

There was a definite chill in the air this morning as the suntried to come out from behind the clouds at Alta Lake for the9am start of the XTERRA Canada Championship. The swimwas two laps of 750-meters with a short sprint in between,and was led by young stud Jordan Bryden with Christine “BigFish” Jeffrey only seconds behind. Hot on their heels wasthree-time world champ Conrad Stoltz and U.S pro BrandenRakita. Canada’s first XTERRA Champion, Mike Vine was aminute back with fellow Canadian Karsten Madsen, andanother 30-seconds behind was Colorado’s Josiah Mid-daugh. Three-time world champ, Melanie McQuaid, exitedthe swim 3 minutes behind Jeffrey and new mom DanelleKabush over 5 minutes back from the leader.

Then came what everyone had been waiting for - 19km overtwo laps of what may arguably be XTERRA’s toughest bikecourse followed by 11km of up and down trail running, with alittle pavement providing welcome relief from the roots, rocks,slipping and sliding.

It was here that the battle for XTERRA Canada championcame down to a contest between Mike Vine and Colorado’sJosiah Middaugh (pictured here at the XTERRA MountainChamps in July). The two pulled almost identical bike splitswith Josiah taking fastest bike by only one tenth of a second.“I like going uphill and the technical stuff was OK” said Mid-daugh, “but Mike Vine was awesome - he was whaling thatstuff – it was crazy. I was trying to keep it close, but he wouldput 40 seconds on me on the descent. He started the runabout 40-seconds up and I got him on the top of the firstclimb. He stayed pretty close. He could always see me, soit wasn’t over - I had to keep working.” Middaugh took the win

with a margin of 35-seconds over Vine to finish in 2:09:30.It's his first win this season, and his second XTERRA CanadaChampionship title (he picked up his first-ever championshipwin in Canada back in 2004). “It feels good to have a win”,said Middaugh, “I’ve been close all year and I needed this�when you’re on you’re on, I felt good all day.”

Vine took second in 2:10:22 in Whistler, his “stompingground” and his favorite place anywhere to ride. “I didn’tknow what to expect as I haven’t been racing these guys allyear. I raced in Saipan (in March), but none of the U.S. guyswere there, and since then I started my new career workingfull time at a physical job. It takes the pressure off racing –I’m doing it for the enjoyment. I came out to have a goodtime today and it felt good to go full throttle and let it rip.Josiah had a really good ride – for him to come up here andride these trails that well is impressive – I was definitely bet-ter prepared.”

Going out on the run Vine and Middaugh were followed byConrad Stoltz and Branden Rakita. Rakita caught Stoltz onthe run to take third in 2:17:37. “Canada is awesome and aton of fun,” Rakita said. “This is a true XTERRA - technicaland not just powering along. I felt good and was flying onthe run”.

Stoltz took a wrong turn on the run and while finding his wayback was passed by Colorado’s Cody Waite and Idaho’sAdam Wirth who took fourth and fifth respectively in 2:20:41and 2:23:31. It was Wirth’s first XTERRA pro podium ap-pearance. Stoltz took sixth in 2:24:12.

Women’s Race

Canada’s Christine Jeffrey’s lead on the swim of just under 3minutes was quickly taken away by a raging MelanieMcQuaid, who was clearly in her element on Whistler’smountain bike trails. McQuaid (pictured below at theXTERRA West Champs earlier this year) put in the fastestbike and run for the women to take the race in 2:29:28 – goodfor 7th pro place overall and more than 15 minutes ahead ofJeffrey who finished second sporting a dislocated shoulderfrom a crash on the bike.

“This is home,” said McQuaid “so it is kind of unfair, as it is allabout my kind of single track. This is mountain biking, andXTERRA is a mountain bike triathlon. Different courses suitdifferent people, and I think anyone who can do this race can

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2010 XTERRA CANADA CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWbe proud of their ability. This is much more impressive thandoing an Ironman. If someone wants to show off their athleticability, they should definitely try this race.”

“I can’t bike that” said Jeffrey. “I really struggled with thatsuper technical Whistler single track. I had a few problemsand took a few tumbles but got through it” Jeffrey finished in2:45:48.

Alberta’s Danelle Kabush took third in 2:50:29, quite a featgiven she gave birth to her second child only three monthsago. “Trying to get the endurance back is the toughest part.I’m half way through my four race season and trying to be asfit as I can,” said Kabush. “This course is super fun. The rainmade the roots a little slick, and I had a few good crashes.”She described the run as “brutal – straight up, straight down.”

The host hotel, Nita Lodge, was a welcoming finish fortoday’s pros and age groupers alike, and put on a sumptuouspost-race barbeque of ribs, salmon, gourmet hamburgersand sausages with all the fixings. Set on its own lake, theaccommodations are so luxurious you almost don’t want toleave. The race swag and huge array of random prizes weresecond to none. So, mark Whistler’s XTERRA Canada onyour calendar for next year – all the athletes agree it wastough, and well worth the trip.

PRO RESULTS:

Pl Name, Country Swim Bike Run Total

1 Josiah Middaugh, USA 18:28 1:06:43 44:21 2:09:302 Mike Vine, CAN 17:53 1:06:44 45:46 2:10:223 Branden Rakita, USA 17:02 1:13:00 47:35 2:17:374 Cody Waite, USA 19:10 1:13:30 48:02 2:20:415 Adam Wirth, USA 19:15 1:13:37 50:39 2:23:316 Conrad Stoltz, RSA 17:05 1:11:47 55:21 2:24:127 Jordan Bryden, CAN 16:31 1:27:30 45:35 2:29:358 Kirk Turner, USA 23:24 1:14:26 54:12 2:32:029 Karsten Madsen, CAN 17:58 1:24:30 50:46 2:33:14

Women

Pl Name, Country Swim Bike Run Total

1 Melanie McQuaid, CAN 19:21 1:18:28 51:39 2:29:282 Christine Jeffrey, CAN 16:35 1:35:00 54:14 2:45:483 Danelle Kabush, CAN 21:18 1:33:48 55:25 2:50:294 Joanna Harrington, CAN 24:13 1:26:24 1:08 2:59:095 Tanis Tomlin, CAN 24:31 1:36:09 1:00 3:00:47

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XTERRA CANADA HISTORYBy XTERRA Managing Director “Kahuna Dave” Nicholas

The Maple leaf crowd has had a huge impact on XTERRAover the years. Oh Canada stories are the stuff of legendfrom Leslie Tomlinson coming in close to last out of the swim(185th) and finishing second by six seconds after passingmore than 150 people on the bike, to Melanie McQuaid andher fantastic and epic battles with Jamie Whitmore throughthe years.

I’ve always liked the memory of that hoser Geoff Bosley, wholeft his helmet in his room and didn’t realize it until he finishedthe swim and got to transition. He ran to his room, got thehelmet, ran back to transition, took off and still finished 15thin his age group.

The history of Canadian athletes in XTERRA dates back toour inaugural race in Maui, 1996, when Greg Timewell cameout of nowhere to finish 7th overall. A young “StorminNorman” Thibault was 25th as an age grouper and stayedwith us until family life kept him home.

World cup cyclists like Andreas Hestler, Leslie Tomlinson,Geoff Kabush came across the border and ocean tocompete, and a very young Mike Vine showed up in 1998.He’s been at the top ever since, and so has McQuaid whowas 2nd in her first try at XTERRA Worlds. Kabush’s sisterDanelle has done very well between babies with a pair ofrunner-up finishes at XTERRA Worlds, and her first-ever big-time win at the Mountain Championships in Colorado thissummer.

The success has not just come from the mountain bikers.Nobody can deny that Brent McMahon and Christine “BigFish” Jeffrey coming from road tris to XTERRA have beenequally successful as the mountain bikers crossing over.

In 2008, Canadians placed two men and two women in thetop 5 of the pro ranks, pretty impressive, eh?

I love picking on our northern neighbors at race briefingsbecause no other nation on earth has such a grand spirit ofthemselves and love the attention. The out of doors, ruggedlifestyle seems to fit Canadians to a tee. How else could anation with three million less people than California, withmore than three million square miles of land, be sosuccessful? Granted 2.9 million of those square miles areunder ice 300 days of the year, but think about the fact that

California has more people than their entire country, yet lookat what Canadian athletes have done in sports over the years- just as amazing as the people themselves.

XTERRA Canada President Coach Cal Zaryski is a four-timeXTERRA World Champion, and one of the fastest agegroupers in the world. Coach Cal has been rallying theCanadian troops for years, and brought big groups of racerswith him wherever he goes.

The first XTERRA Canada Champ race was in Whistler backin 2000 and it rocked. In 2003 and 2004 a different grouphosted races at Buntzen Lake in Vancouver. Of course, thelast two years the current regime hosted races at twovenues in Whistler to the delight of the mountain bikespecialists amoung the XTERRA Tribe.

2012 marks the sixth-running of the XTERRA CanadaChampionship, and the first-time it’ll be held at the CanmoreNordic Center outside of Calgary. This is the hometown forrace director Tony Smith, who has put on several successfulevents at this location already, so racers can expect anotherwell-organized race in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains.

ALL-TIME XTERRA CANADA PRO CHAMPIONS

Year Men’s Champ Women’s Champ

2011 Josiah Middaugh Melanie McQuaid2010 Josiah Middaugh Melanie McQuaid2004 Josiah Middaugh Melanie McQuaid2003 Justin Thomas Melanie McQuaid2000 Mike Vine Kerstin Weule

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HOW XTERRA GOT STARTEDIT 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 Shows�multiple 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, 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 thought�why 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 sub-

ject 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."

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Date Event Location

Feb 26 XTERRA South Africa Championship Western CapeConrad Stoltz and Carla van Huyssteen

Mar 10 XTERRA Guam Championship GuamBen Allen and Renata Bucher

Mar 10 XTERRA Motatapu South Island, New ZealandBraden Currie and Fleur Lattimore

Mar 18 XTERRA Philippines Championship CebuBen Allen and Renata Bucher

Mar 24 XTERRA Saipan Championship Northern MarianasBen Allen and Renata Bucher

Apr 14 XTERRA New Zealand Championship RotoruaBen Allen and Jacqui Slack

May 27 XTERRA Italy Championship+ Orosei, SardiniaNicolas Lebrun and Jacqui Slack

June 23 XTERRA Brazil Championship Manaus, AmazonFelipe Moletta and Shonny Vanlandingham

July 8 XTERRA France Championship+ Xonrupt, GerardmerAsa Shaw and Helena Erbanova

Aug 4 XTERRA Czech Championship+ PrachaticeNico Lebrun and Helena Erbanova

Aug 4 XTERRA Mexico Championship TapalpaFrancisco Serrano and Renata Bucher

Aug 11 XTERRA Germany Championship+ ZittauAsa Shaw and Helena Erbanova

Aug 25 XTERRA Japan Championship MarunumaTakahiro Ogasawara and Shonny Vanlandingham

Sept 2 XTERRA Canada Championship Canmore, AL

Sept 8 XTERRA Switzerland Championship+ PranginsSept 22 XTERRA USA Championship Ogden/Snowbasin, UT

Oct 28 XTERRA World Championship Maui, Hawaii

Race winners in Bold + XTERRA European Tour events

2012 XTERRA WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP RACES

2011 XTERRA Canada women’s podium with (L-R) Mical Dyck, Brandi Heisterman, Melanie McQuaid, Danelle Kabush, and Emma Garrard

Canmore2012

2012 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - OCTOBER 28

Following an action-packed racing season that will span 15 countries with morethan 100 events, XTERRA will host its 17th XTERRA World Championship atthe Kapalua Resort in Maui on October 28.

A season-ending blow-out like no other, the World Championship is theculmination of a worldwide series of races held in South Africa, Guam, Philip-pines, Saipan, New Zealand, Italy, Brazil, France, Czech, Mexico, Germany,Japan, Canada, Switzerland, and the United States.

The race course, considered one of XTERRA's toughest and most grueling, willconsist of a 1.5-kilometer roughwater swim, a grueling 30- kilometer mountainbike, and a 10-kilometer trail run.

The maxed-out field is limited to 750 competitors, who represent the best off-road, multisport athletes on the planet. It is a "winner take all" race, with one ofthe richest pro purses in multisport at $100,000, and it is awarded solely on thebasis of the Maui performance. Since this race is a stand-alone event, it offers aunique opportunity to competitors. Even those who have had a less than stellarseason, are given an opportunity to redeem themselves and earn the covetedtitle of XTERRA World Champion.

A special prime, the Hawaiian Airlines Double, will pay $2,500 to the man andwoman with the fastest combined Hawaii Ironman and XTERRA WorldChampionship time. Only two weeks and a narrow channel of ocean separatethe two events, which each year attract a growing number of endurance athletes.

QUALIFYING FOR MAUI

Amateur athletes can qualify for theXTERRA World Championship byfinishing in one of the 40 qualifyingspots available at each World TourChampionship event or one of the 40qualifying spots at any of the fiveXTERRA U.S. Championship Seriesraces. There are also a limited numberof at-large slots available early in theyear.

DIVISION Men Women Total15-19 1 1 220-24 1 1 225-29 2 2 430-34 3 2 535-39 3 2 540-44 3 2 545-49 2 2 450-54 2 2 255-59 2 2 260-64 1 1 165+ NA 1 165-69 1 NA 170+ 1 NA 1Total 22 18 40

The XTERRA Canada Tribe showed up in force at the 2011 XTERRA World Championship race in Maui