XTERRA Beaver Creek To Host Best Festival Yet

The 11th annual XTERRA Beaver Creek off-road triathlon and trail running weekend scheduled for July 19-21 at Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado is striving to be the most family-friendly endurance event of the summer.

“We’re pulling out all the stops for this one,” said XTERRA President Janet Clark.  “What we want to do is really make this a destination race not just for the participants, but for the rest of their family as well.”

It all starts with the venue, as Colorado’s high country during the summertime is something to behold with its big blue skies, white aspens, majestic mountain ranges and cool, fresh air. It’s hard to imagine a better place to be in late July than the Rockies, which boasts perfect conditions for hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, golfing, fishing, exploring, kids’ adventures …. and oh yes, XTERRA racing.

The entertainment calendar is in full-swing starting Tuesday, July 16, when local XTERRA legend Josiah Middaugh gives a free lecture all about "Grit" at the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon (6pm).  On Wednesday, July 17, Michael McDonald, a former member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, plays at the Vilar Performing Arts Center. 

On Thursday, it’s open swim night at Nottingham Lake, where Aftershokz bone conduction headphones will be set-up for free demos, and after that the crew heads over to have some big fun and great food at the Beaver Creek Rodeo.  If you’ve got kids, this is a must, and they’ll have the chance to chase after cows in the arena and play games with the rodeo clowns.

On Friday, Middaugh and reigning women's XTERRA U.S. Champ Suzie Snyder give free tips on how to tackle the course, what to eat, what to wear, anything else you’d need to know for the weekend at Paul Mitchell’s XTERRA University clinic at 5pm. There's also free yoga sessions Friday and Saturday at 4pm, and movie nights on the Hyatt lawn.  On Friday we'll play Incredibles 2, and on Saturday we'll show race highlights, then get our groove on with Sing!

Saturday is for the off-road tri, and all those XTERRA Warriors chasing after qualifying spots to XTERRA Worlds.  Win or lose, there’s a cold Michelob Ultra for finishers 21 and over to enjoy at the Awards Celebration, Paul Mitchell’s Cut-a-thon, the Suunto Showdown where you can enter to win a watch just by picking your favorite elite to win, Jack Links hammer swing, and all the built-in activities at BC Resort. 

And don't forget about the free running races for the kids on Saturday at 12:30pm and Sunday at 10:30am!

Plus, on every corner at Beaver Creek Resort you’ll find impeccable restaurants (and even a Restaurant Tour featuring special menus for XTERRA parties), bars, art galleries, boutique stores and local jewelry stores dotting the Resort’s European-inspired walkways and plaza, as well as the ever-popular ice-skating rink (open all year-round).

On Sunday, it’s run day.  5K, 10K, and 20K options located 8100 feet up in the air.  The big race, which consists of two 10K laps, is a mix of sweet single track that serpentines through skyways and glades of aspen. Each lap includes 1300 feet of climbing, making it one of those races to train for and then conquer.  Plus, its part of the XTERRA Colorado Trail Run Series for those chasing regional titles and comp entries into XTERRA Trail Run Nationals, and the Michelob Ultra awards celebration will be waiting at the finish line.

There are lots of great places to stay right in the resort, and Beaver Creek Mountain Lodging has special 15% off pricing to competitors.

Sign-up today at xterraplanet.com/beavercreek.