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Inspiration All Around Beaver Creek

The XTERRA Mountain Championship has lured some of the most talented and inspirational athletes in the multisport world to Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado.  Among the nearly 500 athletes from 26 states racing this Saturday you'll find...

Michael Stone, who is legally blind and racing with a guide, former XTERRA Pro Wes Hobson.  Stone (pictured) got hooked on XTERRA at this race last year and has done several off-road tris since.

Taylor Seavey, an 18-year-old deaf triathlete out of Seward, Alaska, who is on a six month RV trip with his parents training and racing across the U.S.

Ryan Sutter, the star of the reality TV series Bachelorette, is racing to raise money for First Descents, an organization that provides free outdoor adventure therapy for young adults with cancer.  He’s on a mission to get 10,000 people to donate $10 each and reach $100,000 by competing in 10 of America’s most grueling competitions. Check it out at www.firstdescents.org.

Dr. Richard Wall, who won the 55-59 XTERRA World Title in 2002, has perhaps the greatest XTERRA story of all-time. Several years ago at XTERRA Saipan, during the race, in a remote stretch of the bike course, he came across a fallen racer who was unconscious and turning blue.  He had crashed and his tongue was blocking his airway.  “Doc Wall” knew just what to do.  He cleared the passage, stabilized the racer, told the next passing racer to get an ambulance, and waited for the medics to arrive.  He saved the man’s life.

Wendy Ingraham, who finished in the top 10 at Ironman Hawaii 10 years in a row, was the first woman to win the Hawaiian Airlines “Double” award in 2001 for having the fastest combined times at IM Hawaii and XTERRA Worlds.  The video of her and Sian Welch crawling to the finish line in Kona in 1997 is still one of the most gripping displays of pure determination ever witnessed.  Re-live it here.

Hannah Rae Finchamp turns 15 in December, but is already a decorated USAT youth elite and two-time XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series champ … and she may just be the next Wendy Ingraham.

Truth is, every athlete has their own amazing story, and you’ll find them all in Nottingham Lake on Saturday morning (Sport race starts at 8:15am, Championship at 9:00).