Snow Valley Off Road Triathlon

By Jennifer Trapp, XTERRA representative

(Running Springs, CA – August 7, 2005) Considering the few days before the race (including Saturday’s packet pick-up) it had rained SO HARD at about noon – it even hailed – we were very lucky with the beautiful weather that showed up for Sunday’s inaugural running of the Snow Valley Off-Road Triathlon. Just down the hill from Big Bear is a tiny little town called Running Springs that you could miss if you blinked your eyes. But, if you kept them open, you were in for an awesome day of XTERRA Racing at Snow Valley Ski Resort.

150 athletes toed the starting line in a (unique lap and a half) 1000 meter swim. With three waves each going off 3 minutes apart, spectators could stand on one side of the lake (at the top of the mountain!) and watch as athletes started from the other side, swam a loop, and then a half – to exit on the opposite side that they began on. Cruising through the course (did he have fins on?) was Tom Monica (47, Walnut Creek, CA) in 11:26 – already a full minute ahead of the group! But you would need it – and your quads – on the bike and run section of this course. Chris Costales (27, San Diego, CA) was next out of the water in 12:28 and James Plummer (32, Chico, CA) wasn’t too far behind in 12:44. Brandy Bounds (24, Tustin, CA) smoked the female side with a 13:27 – over 2 minutes ahead of the next woman! That was Kari Bianchini (23, Davis, CA) who exited the water second in 15:47 and Sarah McMahan (33, Incline Village, NV) who was right behind in 16:09.

Do you want to prep for the Nissan Xterra National Championships in Tahoe? This is the course. No, there’s no Flume Trail, but you got the altitude, you got the climbing (that’s for sure!) and you got some sandy, dirty, fast downhills. Brian Grasky (31, Tucson, AZ) blazed through the 10 mile two loop course in 42:40 – better watch out for him! Ross McMahan (35, Incline Village, NV) was an even minute behind him in 43:40 and Tony Manzella (32, Los Angeles, CA) had the third best split with a 45:22.

As for the ladies, it was XTERRA Pro Jimena Florit (33, Argentina) who stunned the crowd with her 44:28 bike split – 1st for the ladies and 3rd overall! Wow! Sarah McMahan posted the amateur best split with a 52:08. Rhonda Geiszler (41, Campo, CA) came through next with a 55:22 and Kari Bianchini kept up her speedy ways with a 56:50 bike.

Anyone remember Big Bear a couple years ago? You know those pictures of the run with Conrad Stoltz hiking up with his hands on his knees? Well, some of this run was kinda’ like that! It was a 4 mile out and back run – the second half was SPEEDY! Local favorite Willie Stewart (43, Redlands, CA) blazed through this course in a 36:35! He said he hasn’t been training – just some kayaking and stuff. Uh-huh. Another local, Jon Clark (31, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) was close behind with a 36:48 and Brian Grasky again posted a top three with a 37:01.

Jimena Florit kept up her fast pace with a 42:16 run split. Again, it was Sarah McMahan who was right behind her with a 42:56. Kalyn English (17, Canyon Country, CA) posted the second fastest amateur split with a 43:52 and it was long time XTERRAist Jodi Ruby (43, La Verne, CA) who rounded out the run splits for the women with a 44:15.

Ok, so with all those splits and different people holding best times in different disciplines, who came out on top? It was Brian Grasky who had an incredible day and took home top honors by posting a 1:33:48 and winning the 1st Annual Snow Valley Off-Road Triathlon by over two minutes. Congrats Brian. Ross McMahan used his quick bike splits to propel him to 2nd place overall with a 1:35:58 and Jon Clark ran his way to 3rd place in a time of 1:38:53. Great job guys!

Jimena Florit showed us why she’s a PRO and finished in 1:42:58 – 1st for the ladies and 7th overall! After posting a top three split in all three sections of the course, Sarah McMahan took top amateur honors for the women with a 1:51:12. Jodi Ruby finished up with a 1:57:41 and a 2nd place finish, and Kalyn English rounded out the top three with a 2:00:39. Awesome job to all!!

Congrats goes to Roland Gutierrez (52, Fontana, CA) who raced in his first triathlon after losing 160 pounds and finished 3rd in his age group! Way to go! Congrats also to Lynn Trepp (52, Santa Monica, CA) who also completed her first triathlon this weekend at Snow Valley – these folks are amped! It was an awesome time had by all!

Thanks to all who competed, those who cheered on the athletes, and especially the amazing volunteers that rocked! Thanks to Josh and Julie for putting on such a great racer and we hope to see you all there next year!

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC