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An XTERRA Kind of Radical

You might have just seen Shawn White killin’ it on the half pipe to win the 2008 Winter X Games…that was rad, no doubt.  But what about those among us who can't throw down a 1260 or have a different idea of epic winter sports that involve more endurance and variety?

Well, future XTERRA Hall of Fame race director “Kahuna Dave” Nicholas created a brand new, never been done before winter multisport race just for those hardy, but not too extreme, winter athletes.

Nicholas and his band of over-caffeinated trail cutters are bringing the bright lights, TV cameras, prize money, parties, and a ton of what-the-heck-are-we-doing smiles to Snowbasin Resort this March 7-8-9 to put on the inaugural XTERRA Winter World Championship.

It’s history in the making, and open to everyone adventurous enough to give it a try.

The main event combines running (5k), snowshoeing (5k), mountain biking (10k), and ski mountaineering (8k) in that order.  Mountain biking on snow?  Yup, but it’s going to be hard packed snow specially groomed and treated so it’ll work. 

The research and development team for this race includes guys like Josiah Middaugh (snowshoe, quadtrathlon, and winter triathlon crown holder) and Nicolas Lebrun (former Winter Triathlon World Champ), so you know the course was created with the racer in mind.  Middaugh has posted some tips on how to handle the course here and you’ll find a list of frequently asked questions here.

Some of the biggest names in endurance sports and adventure racing are coming to take on the challenge and take home their share of the $10,000 purse with the likes of Michael Tobin, Brian Smith, Greg Krause, Mike Kloser, Jenny Tobin, Lisa Isom, Patty Jo Struve, and Keri Nelson.

From the early sign-ups it’s clear that Winter Worlds is truly an international gathering with entries coming in from Germany, Czech Republic and France as well as Michigan, Colorado, Nevada, Minnesota, California, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Utah, and Idaho.

In addition to Winter Worlds, we’ve got other cool races like:

XTERRA Snowboard Scramble Dash-for-Cash - $500 to the men’s and women’s winner.  Riders take the lift to the top of Snowbasin for a LeMans style start and following an initial short climb up the mountain with their board, racers strap-in and race to a spot ¼ way down the slopes for the next short ridge climb.  Riders will have three checkpoints where they’ll have to do a short climb then strap-in & race back down. First one to the bottom wins.

XTERRA Ski Mountaineering Races - Using sticky wax, climbing skins, or special x-country skis riders will climb their way up the mountain then race back down.  We’ve got a 5k course that has 2,000 feet of climbing and a 10k course with 4,000 feet of climbing.

Snowshoe Races - The PowerSox U.S. National Snowshoe Championship, last of 20+ races across the country, is on Sunday for qualified athletes.  For everyone else we’ve got a citizens 5k, kid’s kilo, and 10k relay team races.

It’s all taking place at Snowbasin Resort – who’s had one of its best snow seasons ever and was home to the downhill events of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.  And every night in Ogden XTERRA is hosting get-togethers with videos, music, food, and good times.  For a complete schedule click here.

The Place: Snowbasin Resort
The Dates:  March 7-8-9
The Website:  www.xterrawinter.com
The Phone#: toll-free 877-751-8880
The Parties: Each night in Ogden

Registration Link

LAND ROVER G4 CHALLENGE

Recognized as one of the world's most exciting off-road driving and adventure events, the organizers of the Land Rover G4 Challenge have opened recruitment for U.S. participants to represent their country in the 2008/2009 Challenge.  Male and Female entrants can sign up at www.landroverG4Challenge.com, and through a series of national and international selections, one man and one woman will be chosen to represent their national team against 17 other countries in the three-week long Challenge Finals in Asia in 2009.  National selections will take place in May 2008 in Nevada to decide the two men and two women to go through to international selections in early 2009 with the Challenge Finals set to run in mid-2009.

TRUE XTERRA TRAIL RUNS

A sold-out field of 400 runners mucked their way through a mud-filled valley in Southern California at the XTERRA Mission Gorge Trail Runs, while deep in the South they braved 32-degree weather at race start for the XTERRA Runnin' the Rocks 10k in Georgia.  Read both race recaps and get full results here.

STOLTZ HONORED AT ESA's

Conrad Stoltz was named the Off-Road Triathlete of the Year at the Endurance Sports Awards in San Diego on Saturday.  "The Caveman" was a clear choice for the award having won the XTERRA South Africa title, and the XTERRA West, East, Southeast, USA and World Championship titles - all in dominating fashion.  Even more impressive was how he did it - coming back from a near career-ending injury just a year earlier.  To read more about Conrad, check out the Q and A he did with Slowtwitch here.

Upcoming Races

    * March 1 - XTERRA Thrill in the Hills Xduro (Winder, GA)

    * March 8 - XTERRA Saipan Championship (CNMI)