XTERRA Announces New Championship Venue for 2006
THIS WEEK: XTERRA adds southern charm and hospitality to the 2006 schedule by announcing Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama as the site of the inaugural Nissan Xterra Southeast Championship, the Scramble trail run series hits Atlanta, Mexico goes off-road, and XTERRA Gear gets holofiber.
UP NEXT:
Nov. 19 - XTERRA Genesis (Taxhimay, Mexico)
Nov. 20 - XTERRA Scramble 5k/10k (Atlanta, GA)
'BAMA ON BOARD: The latest addition to the 2006 Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series will take competitors to Shelby County on the outskirts of Birmingham.
The course is classic XTERRA, with roots and rocks on twisting and rolling trails, a mix of single track and double track, a fair amount of climbing, and all on a single-loop mountain bike course.
Oak Mountain State Park, the largest state park in Alabama, boasts nearly 10,000 acres of outdoor recreational playground and promises to be a great place for competitors to bring the whole family with mountains, lakes, and forests for hiking, biking, and fishing, a well-developed golf course and a riding stable. There are hundreds of campsites and cabins for rent, and the park is just a half-hour south of the historic and bustling city of Birmingham.
Race date is set for June 11, 2006, with the XTERRA Festival happening all weekend long. The main event features a 1.5k swim in the calm waters of Double Oak Lake, followed by a 30k mountain bike and 10k trail run. It will award points to amateur and professionals, qualify age groupers for the Nissan Xterra USA and World Championships, and dish out $20,000 to elites. There will also be a 5k/10k Scramble, the Nissan Kids Base Camp, and the Buster Britton Memorial road triathlon on Saturday (and special recognition for those who do the "Alabama Slamma Double").
ATLANTA SCRAMBLE: Dirty, dusty, crooked, muddy and gutsy - it's the trademark of the XTERRA Scramble Trail Run Series.
In Atlanta, runners will have the opportunity to meet the battle head on at the Georgia International Horse Park this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Participants will encounter hills, creeks, wooded areas and all sorts of natural obstacles while running on part of the 1996 Olympic Mountain Bike and Equestrian trails.
"The course provides a different running experience for all of the participants," noted race director Dave Johnson. "Running in an XTERRA Scramble really gives a new edge to a run, but the opportunity to experience it on an Olympic course creates an atmosphere of prestige and reverence."
XTERRA GENESIS: A prelude to the inaugural XTERRA Mexico Championship on July 15, XTERRA Genesis will take place this Saturday in Taxhimay. The featured event combines a 1k swim with a 30k mountain bike and 10k trail run, and offers $5,000 in prize money to the top five male and female pros. There are also several smaller distances for beginners and children to compete in.
XTERRA GEAR: Holofiber material helps the body's cells to be better oxygenated. Increased oxygen levels have been show to help build strength, accelerate muscle recovery, and regulate body temperature. XTERRA Gear now has holofiber gloves, socks, headbands and wristbands available for purchase. For more information visit xterragear.com and holofiber.com.
