Press and Media Center

The 2009 Season is Upon Us - Big Changes in How XTERRA Will Work This Year

Welcome to the 2009 season. This 10th year of the Tour will mark the biggest changes ever and we want to let you know early, what those changes will be.

First and foremost are the bigger Championship events will now be called the XTERRA Regional Cup series and instead of having just 4 big races with slots for Maui (Temecula, Pelham, Richmond, Utah in 2008) we will now have Eight (8) major events – one in each region – that will award the higher points AND give you a chance to qualify for the World Championship on Maui. The pros will be invited to the Cup series races and each will have a pro purse. Pro points are given only at the 8 Regional Cup events and pros, for 2009, will count the best 5 of the 8 plus the finals in September.

How you become a champion is also changed. Each region now has at least 6 races and we have over 50 races throughout the nation. For 2009 you will now count your best four (4) finishes rather than the 3 in the past. You now must count two (2) events from your region instead of one in your total.

The XTERRA staff will be at each of the 8 Regional Cup events, although in fewer number than usual. But you’ll get that same pumping feeling you get by seeing loads of competitors and friends and we have some fantastic new places for you to race at; and now closer to home.

The USA Championship is on the same late September date as always but is now in Ogden; for years home of the Mountain Championship. The Mountain Cup event will be at Beaver Creek, CO.

Here is the schedule as of January 10

May 2 Henderson, NV Lake Las Vegas XTERRA West Cup

May 17 Augusta, MI Fort Custer Park XTERRA Midwest Cup

May 24 Pelham, AL Oak Mountain Park XTERRA Southeast Cup

June 6 Athol, ID Farrugut State Park XTERRA Northwest Cup

June 20 N. Little Rock, AR Burns Park XTERRA South Central Cup

July 12 Warren, VT Sugarbush Resort XTERRA Northeast Cup

July 18 Beaver Creek, CO Beaver Creek Resort XTERRA Mountain Cup

Sept 27 Ogden, UT Snowbasin Resort XTERRA USA Championship

Oct 25 Makena, HI Maui Prince Resort XTERRA World Championship

Did you notice something? The Atlantic Region Cup is not listed. We’re working on it every day and hope to have news very soon and rest assured we will get it done.

We hope you’ll like this new format. It gives each of you double the chances to get to Maui and for the USA champs, we are increasing the number of people in some age groups that will be invited All the rules and regs will be published on the website for those of you who want the details.

LIVE MORE. . . . RACE MORE. . . . SEE YOU ALL VERY SOON.