Get Stoaked with XTERRA in New Hampshire

XTERRA STOAKED

Date: August 7 & 8, 2010
Location: Hanover, NH
Venue: Storrs Pond/ Oak Hill
Course Distances
Standard: .5mile swim / 8 km bike / 4km run
XTERRA Course: 1km swim / 16km bike / 8km run
Website:www.stoakedtri.com
Phone: 603-748-1070
Email:elkmountainrace@hotmail.com

Dappled light warms the padded shadows of the understory in the woods at Storrs Pond Recreation Area in Hanover, where at any moment another runner emerges from around a twist in the trail. Here, dozens of athletes converge from all over New England and beyond, to compete in the XTERRA STOAKED weekend.

The two days of outdoor competition each August include a trail run and three off-road triathlons; the Children's, the Standard and the XTERRA STOAKED. The triathlons sprawl across varying distances of pond swimming, hilly mountain biking and trail running.

New London's Recreation Director Chad Denning brought the national XTERRA event to Hanover six years ago as a way of inspiring people of all ages to get active outdoors and perhaps enticing road runners and bikers to get their treads off the pavement to explore the more diverse terrain off road.

"I am extremely pleased with the growth of the XTERRA STOAKED weekend over the past five years!" says Denning as he organizes this year's event. "It has been fun infusing these life long leisure sports into peoples everyday lives. It wasn't long ago that these sports were considered "extreme". There's nothing extreme about them, but rather a little off the beaten path." 

The first race of the weekend is Saturday morning's Trail Run - part of the Western NH Trail Run Series - where runners cover 16k of trails among trees and ferns. In the exciting Children's Triathlon many young competitors experience the thrill of off-road competition for the first time.

"It's a great triathlon for kids," says Leah Wilson of Hanover, who participated last year with her daughter Katrina. "The race is beautifully run. Chad has the perfect attitude for kids."

Whole families participate in the weekend's races, often camping on site, and cheering each other on.

The Standard Triathlon is a shortened version of Sunday's ultra competitive XTERRA STOAKED Triathlon where athletes can compete for points toward the regional championship.

"There are so many trail runners and mountain bikers around the upper valley because they know the resources that exist here," says Denning. "STOAKED has been a great opportunity for Hanover to showcase some of the absolute gems of natural resources."

The event is a great way of drawing visitors to western New Hampshire as well as bringing together the community and offering great family recreation.

Each year XTERRA STOAKED gives back to organizations promoting these outdoor activities and this year's proceeds will go to the Upper Valley Mountain Biking Club and Dartmouth Outing Club. Much appreciation goes to the many volunteers that help make the event possible.

"I look forward to the future of the XTERRA STOAKED event and hope that many youngsters might take to mountain biking and trail running," Denning, an experienced adventure racer himself, says. "It will become an addiction once you give it a try!"

For more information or to register for the event, visit www.stoakedtri.com

"The mellow vibe is good. They make it really fun." - Karen Wilson