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Hill 73, Shooting for Maui Spot

Sunday’s XTERRA West Championship at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada is the first of seven races in the U.S. where age groupers can pick up a qualifying spot into October’s XTERRA World Championship in Maui.  As such, some of the best amateur racers in the region are either in or headed to the desert with their eyes on the prize.

Among them is 73-year-old Ron Hill (pictured courtesy www.brightroom.com) from Hayden, Idaho who picked up his race packet today.  Hill, who won the 70+ division at XTERRA Worlds last year, is hoping to secure his place on the starting line for several reasons.  He wants to defend his title, check out the new course in Kapalua, and celebrate his wife’s birthday – in no particular order.

“Yeah, he thought he was pretty smooth with that one.  He said, honey, how about I take you to Maui for your birthday,” smiled Bobbi, his wife of more than 40 years who will celebrate her birthday a few days after the race.

XTERRA has always been a family affair for Hill, who has two sons and seven grandchildren.  Interestingly, it was his sons who got him involved in mountain biking, which ultimately led to XTERRA, and now Hill is inspiring his 16-year-old grandson into the sport. 

“I like to play with my kids and my grandkids and being active and outside and having the energy and ability to do these things is really pretty cool,” said Hill.