BRANDEN "B" RAKITA

Date of Birth: March 25, 1981

Where are you from: Durango, Colorado

Where do you live now: Manitou Springs, Colorado

Sponsors: Pro Cycling, 2XU, The Colorado Running Company, 2 Toms, Effetto Mariposa, and Sidi.

Website: http://www.brandenrakita.com

What 2010 XTERRA races are you doing: All the Cup races, XTERRA Indian Peaks, XTERRA Canada, XTERRA  Mexico, XTERRA, USA Champs, and XTERRA Worlds.

# Years Racing XTERRA: 2

Best XTERRA finish: 4th at Northwest Cup and 1st at Buffalo Creek and Indian Peaks.

Best discipline (swim, bike, or run): Swim.

2009 race results (all races): Front Range Cycling Classic 4th Cat 3/4, XTERRA West Cup 10th, XTERRA Midwest Cup 8th XTERRA Southeast Cup 8th, XTERRA Northwest Cup 4th, USAC Pro XC Tour 2nd Cat 1, XTERRA Buffalo Creek 1st, Dinoland Triathlon 1st, XTERRA Northeast Cup 7th, XTERRA Mountain Cup 5th, XTERRA Indian Peaks1st, XTERRA Portland 2nd, Sol Survivor XC 1st Cat 1, Sol Survivor Short Track 1st Cat 1, XTERRA USA Championship 6th, and XTERRA World Championship 20th.

Top 3 all-time racing accomplishments: 5th at XTERRA USA Champs 2008 and 3rd Boulder Peak 2005.

University attended: Fort Lewis College, Colorado State University B.S. Civil Engineering.

Did you play sports in college: Cross Country, track, and triathlon.

If you have a regular job outside of racing, what do you do: Sales and bike fitting at Pro Cycling.

Tell us something we should know about you: I am a pretty laid back guy sort of comes hand in hand with growing up in Durango.  I love getting outdoors it doesn't really matter what it is just as long as I am outside and having fun, life is good.  I got into triathlons because of my dad; it is a lot of fun when we get to race together at the different venues across the country.  In the past we could have a challenge of who could beat who, now it is more along the lines of who is going to place better in their respective division, his age division is very tough in the mountain region.  Growing up in Durango I was around champions like Ned Overend, John Tomac, Julie Furtado, Shonny V and that had a big influence on what I did as I grew up I always steered away from the mainstream sports.  Riding on the Tuesday Night Worlds rides with Ned and Shonny when I was 19 is a boost like you can't imagine.  They were always the nicest people then and are the type of people that everyone should look up to and strive to be.

XTERRA Racing History:

2008: Finished 14th at the XTERRA West Champs, 12th at the Southeast Champs, 16th at the East Champs, 6th at Mountain Champs, a career-best 5th at the XTERRA USA
Championship and 18th at XTERRA Worlds.

2009: Finished 10th at XTERRA West Cup, 8th at the Midwest Cup, 8th at the Southeast Cup, 4th at the Northwest Cup, 7th at the Northeast Cup, 5th at the Mountain Cup, 6th at the USA Championship, and 20th at XTERRA Worlds.

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