Press and Media Center

Destination: XTERRA Worlds

With the largest field ever assembled for the XTERRA World Championship - a capacity field of 675 racers (600 amateurs and 75 pros) it comes as no surprise that their are a wealth of inspiring competitors - those among us who motivate us to be better.  Here we meet a handful of those racers...

Dave Grant (M 30-34) from Commerce, Michigan – In 2008 while training for his first XTERRA triathlon, Dave was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He never allowed it to stop him. He competed in that first XTERRA triathlon in Michigan in 2008, and several more since. This will be his first time competing at the XTERRA World Championship.

Daniel Arnett (M 35-39) from Atlanta, Georgia – Daniel is proof of what the XTERRA spirit can do. Shortly after completing his first XTERRA triathlon in April of 2011, he quit his job as a nuclear engineer so that he could focus on coaching and training. Coincidence or not, he qualified for the XTERRA World Championship in June. “With the help of XTERRA and my desire to give back to the sport, I am coaching full-time and hope to continue this path and leave corporate America and the stuffy environment behind me.”

Amber Stull (F 30-34) from Anchorage, Alaska – Amber (pictured right) is one of the top female competitors in Alaska, and she will be in Maui while still recovering from injuries suffered during a scary crash. At a local triathlon in Alaska, she crashed her bike during a hairpin turn and was knocked unconscious. She suffered a concussion, strained shoulder and dislocated rib. “Miraculous recovery and here I am … baffled and blessed at God’s divine intervention to be here in Maui racing,” she said.

Sue Anne Clark (F 35-39) from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania – Sue Anne has fit the XTERRA World Championship into her busy schedule for 2011. Three days before the Maui race, she will be leading a physician to physician talk on stage 3 lung cancer. Five days after the Maui race, she will be a model for Tory Burch’s runway show for the women’s cancer conference. She also completed several major races this year, including the New York City, Boston and Los Angeles marathons, and the ITU World Championships in Spain.

Chris Waugh (M 35-39) from San Francisco, California – Chris is a volunteer coach for Team in Training, a group that raises money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He is also a motivational speaker with a focus on improving the health and wellness for people of all ages.

Susan Hayden (F 45-49) from Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Susan works with the Rocketkidz Foundation, which focuses on culture changes for to prevent childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles. She will also celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary at Kapalua – the site of their honeymoon in 1991.

Butch Sublemente (M 35-39) from Saipan – At the first XTERRA Saipan Championship in 2002, Butch was a spectator in the crowd. A year later, he started to train for triathlons, even though he didn’t know how to swim. This year, Butch is all in and will be making his first trip to the XTERRA World Championship this year.

Tom Rosencrantz (M 45-49) from Mill Valley, California – Tom finished second in his age group at the XTERRA USA Championship last month in Utah. He’s also getting married at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua during the week of the XTERRA World Championship.

Aaron Prevo (M 40-44) from South Ogden, Utah – Aaron is thankful just to be racing at all, let alone in the XTERRA World Championship. While competing in the XTERRA Moab Championship in May, he crashed his bike and wound up with a broken right arm, broken left hand, separated ribs, and a concussion. He was flown via helicopter to a hospital in Colorado and is now recovered. He credits his quick recovery to the crew of race staff, particularly Circ Toepel, plus the paramedics and fellow racers who stopped to help him.

Jason Baldwin (M 35-39) from Asheboro, North Carolina – Jason is a former professional motocross rider who gave up the sport after his close friend John Taylor was paralyzed in a motocross accident. He took up triathlons and said he is constantly pushed and inspired by his friend Taylor.

Pia Cayetano (F 45-49) from Muntinlupa City, Philippines – Pia is a senator in the Philippines. She also runs the Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation, which is an organization that focuses on improving the lives of young children who are physically or mentally challenged. It is named after her son Gabriel, who died at the age of nine months with a rare chromosomal disorder.

Jonathan Osland (M 35-39) from North Vancouver, Canada – Jonathan relied on triathlon training to help him overcome an addiction to prescription narcotics. He taught himself how to swim and will be competing in his first XTERRA World Championship.

Bob Corbett (M 50-54) from San Clemente, California – After undergoing a hip replacement surgery three years ago, Corbett cannot compete in as many triathlons as he would like. Each year, he selects one triathlon to complete. This year, he chose the XTERRA World Championship, and will compete alongside his wife, Kristin.

Danielle Kehoe (F 20-24) from Arvada, Colorado – Danielle recently completed her first Ironman World Championship and will be going for the Double by also competing in the XTERRA World Championship. She works as a personal trainer and life coach for our military’s wounded, ill and injured, and is racing to raise funds for LifeQuest Transitions.