Press and Media Center

Noble, Bucher Win and the King of Snowshoeing

NOBLE, BUCHER WIN XTERRA SAIPAN

Andrew Noble and Renata Bucher won the 7th edition of the XTERRA Saipan Championship in the Northern Mariana Islands on Saturday.

It was the first XTERRA championship win ever for Noble, who's been racing XTERRA for eight years now.  He edged former XTERRA amateur World Champ Jim Vance by more than 10 minutes.  Noble's winning time was 2:46:51 and Vance came in 2:58:07.  Takahiro Ogasawara from Japan finished third.

Noble will be racing in the Tagaman triathlon for a shot at the Pacific Islands Club Double award this Saturday.  Vance will also compete in the 19-year-old event.

It was the 4th straight win for Bucher, who took the title in 3:12:46, more than 20 minutes ahead of runner-up Mieko Carey of Saipan.

For more detailed race stories visit www.saipantribune.com

For a photo gallery click here.

MIDDAUGH THE KING OF SNOWSHOEING

Josiah Middaugh is well known for being one of America's best XTERRA off-road triathletes.  As proof, he's been the top American in the U.S. Pro Series three of the last four years (and he broke his kneecap in that other year).  The Vail, Colorado based multisport star has also won a Winter Triathlon National Championship and a USAT Long Course Road Triathlon National Title, so his versatility is apparent.

But of all his skills there is one discipline he absolutely dominates - Snowshoeing.  A day after finishing 2nd (by one second) in the inaugural XTERRA Winter World Championship at Snowbasin Resort in Utah, Middaugh crushed the field to win his third U.S. National Snowshoe Championship (and he's also a 5-time North American Snowshoe Champ).

For Middaugh, who grew up in snowy Michigan, running is a year round adventure and when it snows he simply straps on the snowshoes.  Indeed snowshoeing is a winter relative to trail running, and a great way to get in shape and enjoy the great outdoors for all ages and skill levels.  If there's still some powder around where you live, give it a shoe!  Live More.