Dec. 14, 2021
UPDATE: SWIM CANCELLED - The swim portion of the XTERRA World Championship has been called off due to hazardous water conditions at D.T. Fleming Beach. Click here for the latest updates.
This weekend, some of the fittest off-road athletes in the world will be lining up on D.T. Fleming Beach in Kapalua for the 25th XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon.
They speak Italian, French, Japanese, German, Spanish, and English. They’re tall and short; fair and dark; giddy and nervous. The youngest are a trio of 15-year-olds - Antonios Lafis from Greece, AJ Stacey from Tennessee, and Julia Allred from Utah. The most experienced are 84-year-old Manfred Klittich from Germany and Jo Garuccio, 70, from Utah.
They’re all in Maui for an endurance challenge like no other, starting with the intimidating waves of a 1.5K rough water swim then on to a tropical roller coaster of a 31K mountain bike ride just to get to a final, grueling stretch of soft beach sand before the finish of the 11K trail run.
Trying to guess who can manage this beast of a course the best to win the overall amateur crowns is a tough task. With hundreds of the fastest age groupers in XTERRA representing 35 countries across the globe on the start line, there’s just no way of telling who is coming in healthy, happy, and determined to take the title.
History, however, gives us some clues.
Anders Johnson and Hite Stromberg from Utah posted elite-level mountain bike performances to finish 6th and 8th overall in a field full of legit pros at the XTERRA U.S. Champs in September, and both have come to Maui to take it to the next level.
“I’m going to give it my all to represent the USA,” said Johnson, a researcher at Stanford who is currently studying the genetics of elite athletes within the department of cardiovascular medicine.
Sullivan Middaugh, 17, son of 15x XTERRA US Champ Josiah Middaugh, placed sixth overall at XTERRA Beaver Creek in July. He had the fourth best bike split of the day behind only four iconic elites = his dad, who finished third, Sam Long who was second, and Sam Osborne who won it.
Edmond Roy is a speedster from Canada who raced in the elite field in 2019, but is back racing age group after a couple years away from serious training (but you know he can still fly).
Look out for Jason Michalak who placed 10th overall (3rd amateur) at the USA Champs, plus Dwayne Dixon and Michael Dorr who were right behind him among the top five amateurs at Nationals.
And for every international age grouper, man and woman, who went all-in to make it to Maui amid a sea of pandemic uncertainty, getting to the start line is half the battle – and the opportunity is golden.
In the women’s amateur race, Cathy Yndestadt, who last raced Maui 15 years ago when she placed third in the 25-29 division, returned to off-road racing in grand fashion this summer at XTERRA Beaver Creek by winning the women’s amateur title, and placed a remarkable fourth overall. She’s fast, and having fun.
“After 20 years in the sport of triathlon, I choose my events now based on beautiful locations/courses and/or joining great friends,” she said. Maui checks all those boxes!
Jennifer Johnson, Amber Tingey, and Holly Wright all had standout performances this season, as did Abbi Milner and Julia Allred.
There are three age groupers back to defend their titles from 2019, including Lorenn Walker (65-59) who is shooting to win her 8th XTERRA World Championship, Alan Moore (70-74) looking for two in a row, and the legend Cal Zaryski from Canada who is going for his 10th title which would tie him with Peter Wood for most amateur crowns.
There’s also an awesome group of racers in the physically challenged division this year with Craig Vogtsberger of the U.S., Maui first-timer Miroslav Motejzik from the Czech Republic, and the amazing Pepe Candon from Spain.
There are other titles on the line as well, like most XTERRA World Championships completed. That honor belongs to two Maui racers – Gerry Clark (pictured) and Steve Fisher – who have done every one so far … 24 and counting. Jay Heller is back in Maui for his 23rd Worlds, Lorenn Walker and GL Brown will be doing their 21st, and Josiah Middaugh will join the exclusive 20+ club this year.
They keep coming back because Maui offers an unforgettable race experience, and has remained true to its heritage as a challenge against both the best in the sport as well as a test against Mother Nature.
“If it wasn’t unpredictable, it wouldn’t be XTERRA,” explained 3x XTERRA World Champ Melanie McQuaid, who has experienced her fair share of crazy race days in her 15 times to Maui before.
Of course, the beauty of XTERRA is the people, who will inevitably surprise us with their talent, grit, and grace.
