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PRESS GUIDE

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EVENT PARTNERSThe 23rd annual XTERRA World Championship is presented by Paul Mitchell and the Maui Visitors Bureau. Other partners includeSuunto, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Gatorade Endurance, OOFOS, Kapalua Resorts, the Maui Motorcyle Company, andThe Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

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WELCOME TO MAUI, HOME TO THE XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Maui No Ka Oi translates to

"Maui is the Best"

With 120 linear miles ofshoreline and more miles ofswimmable beach than anyother Hawaiian island it's nosurprise Maui has regularlybeen voted "Best Island in theWorld" by the readers ofCondé Nast Travelermagazine. Come see it foryourself, and to learn morelog-on to visitmaui.com.

Press Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Schedule of Events, Spectators Guide, Quick Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-9XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11Course Description, Course Map, and Elevation Gain Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13Elite Start Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15Past Elite Champions and Unofficial Course Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Men’s Elite Race Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-18Women’s Elite Race Preview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19-21Profiles on the Men’s Elite Contenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-33Profiles on the Women’s Elite Contenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34-43Elite Prize Purse Breakdown and Double Award Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44-45Past XTERRA World Championship Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46-67All-time Top 3 finishers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68-692018 XTERRA European, Pan Am, and Asia-Pacific Tour Elite Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70-722018 XTERRA World Tour Championship Races with Elite Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73XTERRA Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74-75Flashback to 1996, from an organizer perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76-77Flashback to 1996, from a racer’s perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78-79PastXTERRA World Championship results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Addendum

TABLE OF CONTENTS

When you think of Maui, cascading waterfalls, white sandbeaches, and breathtaking sunsets come straight to mind.This magical Hawaiian island is also the birthplace of themost notorious off-road triathlon on earth…XTERRA!

From a one-off race held on the most remote island chain inthe world, XTERRA evolved into an endurance sports lifestylewith worldwide appeal. Over the past 20+ years XTERRAtranscended its status as 'just a race' to become a bona fideway of life for thousands of intrepid triathletes and trailrunners across the globe.

A fitting representation of this “XTERRA Tribe” - 800 athletesfrom 44 countries - will gather at Kapalua Resort, and onSunday, October 28, they’ll put their mental and physicaltoughness up against Mother Nature at the 23rd edition ofthe XTERRA World Championship.

Follow the race online at Facebook.com/xterraplanet andTwitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am Hawaii time(12pm PST, 3pm EST, 9pm Paris, 3am Monday in Shanghai,and 6am Monday in Sydney).

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PRESS INFORMATION

The XTERRA World Championship press guide was designed to provide the media with useful information about the 2018 race, theathletes who compete in it, and XTERRA in general. Below are additional items of interest:

- The XTERRA pressroom is in the Director’s Room, one floor below lobby level of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua

- For credentials contact Trey Garman at trey@xterraplanet.com or 808-216-8606 or stop by the Director’s Room.

- We will record full race results and distribute after the event.

- During the championship race XTERRRA will escort interested press members to key strategic locations throughout the course to track leaders and course happenings, and to get the best possible photos and video. Please reserve your seat in the press van in advance.

- A press pass is required on race day for admittance to the finish line area.

- Follow it live on facebook.com/xterraplanet and on Twitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am Hawaii time (12pm PST, 3pm EST, 4pm in Rio, 9pm in Paris, 3am Monday in Shanghai, and 6am Monday in Sydney)

- Unofficial live results can be found at: https://results.chronotrack.com/event/results/event/event-37998

- Professional, high-resolution images will be available to the media after the race. Contact Trey Garman with photo requests.

How to Cover XTERRA: Please note that XTERRA is produced with the cooperation of private landowners and we respect their privacy. The following outlines the access policy for this year’s race:

- Press may pre-ride the bike course on their own bikes by purchasing the $15 USA Tri License insurance at XTERRA registration.

- All riders must display a practice plate on their bike, wear a helmet, and check in-and-out with the course marshals.

- Access to the bike course on race day is provided by chauffeured press van/SUV ONLY.

DIRECT MEDIA INQUIRIES AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO

Trey Garman, Vice President808-216-8606 (mobile) or at the hotel 808-669-6200 (ask for the Director’s Room)trey@xterraplanet.com // www.xterraplanet.com

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All events are at the host hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, unless otherwise noted

Wednesday, October 24

9:00am-2:00pm Registration and Packet Pick-up TRIATHLON ONLY, XTERRA Athlete Village Open10:00am-2:00pm Upper Bike Course Open* to registered athletes only

Thursday, October 25

9:00am-2:00pm Registration and Packet Pick-up9:00am-2:00pm Upper Bike Course Open* to registered athletes only

Friday, October 26

5:45am Hiuwai and E ala E - Sunrise Hawaiian Cleansing & Rejuvenation Ceremony Open to athletes, friends and family. Wear swim gear and meet at D.T. Fleming Beach

9:00am XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – Swim Clinic With Sam Osborne and Suzie Snyder at the Beach House fronting D.T. Fleming Beach

9:00am-2:00pm Upper Bike Course Open* to registered athletes only9:00am-5:00pm Registration, Packet and Timing Chip Pick-up2:00pm XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – Mountain Bike Clinic with Josiah Middaugh and Brigitta Poor3:00pm XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – Trail Run Clinic with Mauricio Mendez and Lesley Paterson6:30pm Aloha Friday Welcome Reception at the Aloha Garden Ballroom

Saturday, October 27

7:00-8:00am Registration open for NEW Trail Run Entries in the XTERRA Expo Village7:00-8:30am XTERRA Kapalua Trail Run Packet Pickup (pre-registered athletes only)9:00am-12:00pm XTERRA Spectator Village Open at the finish area – games, bounce house, and face painting for kids9:00am-12:00pm Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Cut-a-thon, a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation9:00am-4:00pm Triathlon Registration, Packet and Timing Chip Pick-up in the XTERRA Expo Village9:00am Leilani’s XTERRA 3.3K Trail Run Start

9:10am Hula Grill XTERRA 5K Trail Run Start

9:30am Duke’s Beach House XTERRA 10K Trail Run Start

10:30am Trail Run Awards Ceremonies11:00am Kimo’s XTERRA Keiki K Run (free for kids 10 and under)

11:00am Run and Lower Bowl Bike Course Open. Upper Bike Course Closed.11:00am XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell “Art of XTERRA” with Ruben Ruzafa, Bradley Weiss,

Carina Wasle, and Melanie McQuaid in the Aloha Garden Ballroom12:00pm Mandatory Triathlon Competitor Briefing – Aloha Garden Ballroom

Sunday, October 28

7:00am Transition Open for set-up, Body Marking (if needed), Swim Cap, and Timing Chip Pickup near the finish line8:30am Transition Closed9:00am XTERRA World Championship Start

10:00am-3:00pm XTERRA Spectator Village Open at the finish – games, bounce house, and face painting for kids10:00am-3:00pm Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Cut-a-thon, a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation1:30pm Elite awards for the top 5 Men and Women at the finish area2:15pm Cut-off at T26:30pm Awards Dinner and Dance Party at the Aloha Garden Ballroom10:00pm-2:00am After Party! Halloween costumes welcome but not required. At the XTERRA Expo Village.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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SPECTATORS GUIDE

Maui’s World Championship XTERRA course covers 28 miles of unyielding terrain. The experience is a sensory riot, featuringfragrant breezes, Pacific blue water, bright yellow sun, soft white sand, fine red dirt, and cool green lawns.

Start and Swim: Located at D.T. Fleming Beach fronting the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, there are plenty of great vantage points towatch the mass start from the lawn above or down on the beach. Pros are easy to spot with their identifying swim caps - men inblue and women in pink. A short beach shuffle mid-race between two 750-meter laps of an “M” shaped course gives spectatorsa chance to pick out their friends and family from the field.

T1 and T2 - Bike and Run Transition: Located a few yards from the swim start in front of the Ritz. The transition area is forcompetitors only, however, spectators may view the change-over from any position around the boundary.

Bike: Unfortunately, there’s really no place to watch the bike aside from the first mile out and back as the entire 20-mile singleloop course is on private land and not open to the public.

Run: Most of the run course is open to the public (follow the red arrows backwards) but the best spot to watch is the leg-burningsection of sand just before the finish line on D.T. Fleming Beach.

Finish: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, is where all the action takes place, from the swim to transition to the spontaneous, ecstatic,and sometimes tear-jerking displays of emotion at the finish line. Spectators will also find an expo area featuring premiumperformance apparel and accessories for the trail and beyond, great food and drinks, and a full slate of fun activities for thefamily including kids’ games, a bounce castle, face painter, and more.

Follow it live: Friends, Family and fans that are not able to attend the race can get live updates on the internet atFacebook.com/xterraplanet and Twitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am Hawaii time (12pm PST, 3pm EST, 9pm Paris, 3amMonday in Shanghai, and 6am Monday in Sydney).

Free Parking: From Honoapiilani Highway go past the main Kapalua entrance (Office Road) and take your next left at LowerHonoapiilani Road. Look for the XTERRA parking signs and staff to guide you.

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QUICK FACTS

WHAT IS XTERRA: The world’s premier off-road triathlon, combining a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) swim that starts at D.T. FlemingBeach in front of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua … a 32-kilometer (20-miles) mountain bike that climbs 3,500 feet up and down thelower slopes of the West Maui Mountains, and a 10.5-kilometer (6.5-miles) trail run that traverses forest trails, and beach sand.Top elites finish in roughly two-and-a-half hours.

WHO RACES IN MAUI: A sold-out field of 800 racers including more than 50 elites and 700+ amateurs representing 44 countries,ages 15 (Jonah Kirkham from Maui and Staci Lovell from the Big Island) to 73 and 76 (Wendy Minor from the Big Island, andRoger Kern from California). 94% of the field is from out of state.

WHEN: The XTERRA World Championship off-road triathlon starts at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 28. The XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs are Saturday, Oct. 27 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: At The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui’s northwest coast.

WHY: The XTERRA World Championship race is the last in a series of more than 100 off-road triathlon races held in 30 countries.The concept is to provide a bona-fide world championship for amateur and elite off-road triathletes. For professionals there is$100,000 in prize money at stake.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Elite athletes must race a qualifying XTERRA World Tour event & amateurs enter thru one of five ways:1. Earn a slot by qualifying as one of the top finishers in their age group at an XTERRA World Tour Championship event in SouthAfrica, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Malta, Philippines, Cyprus, Greece, Uruguay, Tahiti, Brazil, the U.S., Italy,Portugal, Dominican Republic, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Canada, Czech Republic, Mexico, Romania, Poland, Germany,Finland, Norway, or Denmark.2. Win their regional championship during the course of the XTERRA America Tour3. Win their division in the XTERRA European, Pan American, or Asia-Pacific Tour.4. Age Group Champions from the previous year are provided a slot to defend their crown.5. At-large drawing - a limited number of slots were offered on a first-come first-serve basis in December, 2017.

XTERRA BACKGROUND: This is the 23rd year for the XTERRA World Championship on Maui, the birthplace of off-road triathlon.The first XTERRA race was held November 3, 1996 and televised on Fox Sports Net. The demand for the sport exploded there-after and there are now more than 50,000 competitors from all 50 states and more than 50 countries.

TELEVISION: This will be the 23rd straight year a nationally (now internationally) broadcast one-hour show will be produced onthe event, which showcases Maui’s natural beauty. The 2018 XTERRA World Championship will be seen by more than six millionviewers via national syndication (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX), Fox Sports Network, ESPN International, and European distribution. Thisyear’s show will start its run in national syndication in mid-January 2019. In addition, eight half-hour XTERRA Adventures TVshows, and an hour-long broadcast on the XTERRA Pan American Championship are being distributed around the world.

ECONOMIC IMPACT: The 2017 XTERRA World Championship created $6.7 million in direct visitor expenditures, and 81 jobs weresupported. The average length of stay on Maui was 7.4 nights (8.2 nights in Hawaii), the average party size was 2.6, and 62% ofthe field had a household income of more than $100,000. (Expenditure source: DBEDT and post event online survey).

LEARN MORE: www.xterraplanet.com

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For the eighth straight year T S Restaurants’ Hula Grill, Duke’sBeach House, Kimo’s and Leilani’s will serve as title sponsors ofthe XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs in Maui.

With four runs to choose from there is a distance and challengefor every member of the family. Go big or start small withKimo’s XTERRA Keiki K, Leilani's XTERRA 3.3K Sprint & BeachScramble, the Hula Grill XTERRA 5K or Duke’s Beach HouseXTERRA 10K trail runs.

Held in conjunction with the XTERRA World Championshiptriathlon, the Kapalua runs are an opportunity for outdoorenthusiasts of all ages and skill levels to get involved andexperience the legendary XTERRA run course.

The Kimo’s XTERRA Keiki Run is for boys and girls ages 10 andyounger. It is free, although parents must be present to sign awaiver form at the site of the race. Race distances vary from 100yards to 1-kilometer, depending on the age of the child. Parentsare welcome to stay on the course as well.

The Leilani’s XTERRA 3.3K Sprint & Scramble is a test of agility,speed, and strength as it goes from the Ritz to the Ravine to thesoft sand of D.T. Fleming Beach. Kids 8-12 run for free, but it’sopen to everyone.

The Hula Grill XTERRA 5K is an honest three-miles of climbingand descending and for those up to the challenge, the Duke’sBeach House XTERRA 10K dishes out big hills and dusty trails asit twists through oleander forests to an unexpected mountainlake at the 700-foot level then sends runners crashing down tothe shoreline.

“They are all awesome races, and the vibe around The Ritz-Carlton rocks on Saturday morning,” said XTERRA PresidentJanet Clark.

In addition to the trail runs there will be a full slate of funactivities for the entire family including an XTERRA-styleMakahiki games, kids bounce castle, face painter, great foodand drinks, and the famous Paul Mitchell cut-a-thon, whererunners and spectators alike are welcome to get their hair cutby professional Paul Mitchell stylists, with all donationsbenefitting the Challenged Athlete Foundation.

Roughly 1,000 runners from around the world will take part inone of the four events, and to the winners go the spoils as thefirst-place man and woman overall and the first-place male andfemale Maui resident (if different) in the 10K, 5K, and 3.3K winT S Restaurant gift certificates worth $100.

T S RESTAURANTS HOST XTERRA KAPALUA TRAIL RUNS FOR 8TH YEAR

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3.3K / 5K / 10K AND KEIKI K TRAIL RUNS PROVIDE A RUN FOR EVERYONE

There is also an internal struggle going on, as employees fromT S Restaurants created a race within a race dubbed “The T SRestaurants XTERRA Challenge" in which each of the fourrestaurants field a team of 5 runners; and the team with thefastest cumulative time in the 5K take home the T S Trophy.

Last year, Hula Grill captured the perpetual trophy for the thirdtime and have it proudly displayed in their restaurant for all tosee. Hula Grill also won the titles in 2012 & 2013, Duke’s BeachHouse captured the inaugural challenge in 2011, and Kimo’swon three straight from 2014-2016.

New last year was the addition of the “Fittest Restaurant” –given to the restaurant that had the most amount of participantin the event – and that title went to Hula Grill as well.

All four T S Restaurants also sponsor local teachers with com-plimentary entries into the run.

“It’s all about celebrating the healthy, active, outdoors lifestylewith our employees and our community,” said TammyFukagawa, Executive Vice President for T S Restaurants.

Hula Grill, Duke’s Beach House, Kimo’s and Leilani’s are four ofMaui’s finest restaurants, and all are located within a shortdriving distance of Kapalua.

“The unique feeling and setting of West Maui is exhibited ateach of these four restaurants, and it is in keeping with what theXTERRA athletes and their families have come to expect whenthey get to the island of Maui,” XTERRA President Clark said.“Dining at any, or all, of these restaurants can only enhance theexperience for our athletes, whether it be eating a pre-racemeal or celebrating with a post-race meal.”

About T S Restaurants of Hawaii and California

Founded in 1977 by Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten, T SRestaurants owns and operates 13 restaurants in Hawaii andCalifornia, including Duke’s Waikiki and Hula Grill Waikiki onOahu; Kimo’s, Leilani’s on the Beach, Hula Grill Ka’anapali andDuke’s Beach House on Maui; Duke’s Kauai and Keoki’sParadise on Kauai; and Jake’s Del Mar, Sunnyside Restaurantand Lodge, Duke’s La Jolla, Duke’s Huntington Beach andDuke’s Malibu in California. For more information visitwww.tsrestaurants.com.

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The XTERRA World Championship course is perpetuallyevolving. In 1996 the race featured point-to-point swim, bike,and run legs over sharp lava rocks and dry, dusty bowls onMaui’s south shore. Now it traverses wet forest trails, pineapplefields, and ridgelines high above the northwest coast.

It’s the eighth year of racing on Maui Land & PineappleCompany’s private 22,000-acre oasis, and improvements to thetrail structure have been made each season.

It all starts with a 1.5-kilometer rough water swim at D.T.Fleming Beach fronting the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Once on thebike riders navigate from the Ritz to a ridgeline - down to aravine - and back up again, like a tropical roller-coaster ridethrough paradise.

The bike is one big 20-mile loop with 3,500-feet of climbing thatgoes up-and-down the lower slopes of the West Maui Mountainsmore than a dozen times. Course designers are striving to findthe perfect balance of passing opportunities early with skillfulriding opportunities later on.

“It’s an honest endurance challenge, that is for sure,” said racedirector Chris Appleton. “The original Maui course was brutal.The first race was just about who could survive, really, and eventhe run was pure torture with a mile of slogging through softsand. This course is not just for survivors, but for those with theskills and endurance to ride the bike well and fast, and still haveenough left in their legs to handle a really challenging trail run.”

The signature spot on the Maui course is at the five-mile markon the bike as riders pop out on a narrow ridge with hundredfoot drop-offs on either side. From the top you can see allaround the vast West Maui Forest Reserve and over the deepblue Pacific Ocean to the neighbor islands of Moloka’i andLana’i.

“The views are spectacular,” Appleton explains. “When youpreview the course, bring your camera with you. The scenery issomething that not many people get a chance to see.”

Once on the run competitors will be faced with a whole lot moreclimbing (1,200-feet) while they weave along dirt trails, througholeander forests, and into 60-foot high ironwood evergreens toan unexpected mountain lake at the 700-foot level.

“It descends like a slalom course through high green bermuda-grass and opens up in spots to expose fantastic views of thePacific,” said Appleton. “Obstacles are everywhere, including atechnical, steep downhill into a gully where racers will have tojump over and duck under fallen trees, navigate a rocky drycreek, head through thick elephant grass, and along a narrowsingle track trail with switchbacks that drop all the way down tothe beach. The final test of skill and endurance is a calf-busting250-meter white sand beach run.”

NOTE: The first 3.5 miles and last 5.5 miles of the bike courseknown as “The Lower Bowl” are always available, simply berespectful of regular users playing Frisbee, walking dogs,jogging, etc.

The upper course is 100% on private land, and we ask one-and-all to respect the landowner’s wishes not to ride the upper bikecourse outside of the scheduled and approved pre-ride oppor-tunities (see schedule). The upper course routes through activefarms, stables, horse trails, and zip line tours. Mountain bikersare considered trespassers by these, and other businesses.

The entire run course is available anytime from sunrise to sun-set, except Saturday during the XTERRA Kapalua 5k/10k racesfrom 9am-11am.

THE EVOLVING COURSE AT KAPALUA

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ELITE MEN

BY COUNTRYARGENTINA: Maximiliano MoralesAUSTRALIA: Rodney BellJake StolleryBELGIUM: Geert LauryssenBRAZIL: Rodrigo BragaCANADA: Karsten MadsenBrent McMahonCOLOMBIA: Victor ArenasCOSTA RICA: Rom AkersonAndres ZunigaDENMARK: Jens Emil NielsenCZECH: Lukas KocarFRANCE: Francois CarloniMaxim Chane, Cedric LassondePierrick Page, Anthony PannierMEXICO: Mauricio MendezFrancisco SerranoNEW ZEALAND: Sam OsborneAlex Roberts, Olly ShawSOUTH AFRICA: Bradley WeissSPAIN: Ruben RuzafaRoger SerranoSWITZERLAND: Samuel JudUSA: Lewis Elliot, Sam LongJosiah Middaugh, Ryan PetryBranden Rakita, Humberto RiveraWill Ross, Brian Smith

Bib#/2017 Position – Name NAT

1/1 - Bradley Weiss RSA2/2 - Mauricio Mendez MEX3/3- Ruben Ruzafa ESP4/4 - Francisco Serrano MEX5/6 - Sam Osborne NZL6/8 - Josiah Middaugh USA7/10 - Rom Akerson CRC9/18 - Branden Rakita USA10/24 - Maxi Morales ARG11/30 - Alex Roberts NZL12/32 - Maxim Chane FRA14 - Victor Arenas COL15 - Rodney Bell AUS16 - Rodrigo Braga BRA17 - Francois Carloni FRA18 - Lewis Elliot USA19 - Samuel Jud SUI20 - Lukas Kocar CZE21 - Geert Lauryssen BEL22 - Cedric Lassonde FRA23 - Sam Long USA24 - Karsten Madsen CAN25 - Brent McMahon CAN26 - Jens Emil Nielsen DEN27 - Pierrick Page FRA28 - Anthony Pannier FRA29 - Ryan Petry USA30 - Humberto Rivera USA31 - Will Ross USA33 - Roger Serrano, ESP34 - Olly Shaw NZL35 - Brian Smith USA36 - Jake Stollery AUS37 - Andrés Zuñiga CRC

Brad

ELITE WOMEN

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Bib#/2017 Position – Name NAT

51/4 - Brigitta Poor HUN52/5 - Lesley Paterson GBR53/6 - Suzie Snyder USA54/7 - Lizzie Orchard NZL55/9 - Carina Wasle AUT56/11 - Penny Slater AUS57/12- Julie Baker USA58 - Allison Baca USA59 - Katie Button CAN60 - Michelle Flipo MEX61 - Leela Hancox AUS62 - Kristy Jennings NZL63 - Melanie McQuaid CAN64 - Angela Niklaus SUI65 - Heather Zimchek-Dunn USA66 - Renata Bucher SUI

BY COUNTRYAUSTRALIA: Leela HancoxPenny SlaterAUSTRIA: Carina WasleCANADA: Katie ButtonMelanie McQuaidGREAT BRITAIN: Lesley PatersonHUNGARY: Brigitta PoorMEXICO: Michelle FlipoNEW ZEALAND: Kristy JenningsLizzie OrchardSWITZERLAND: Renata BucherAngela NiklausUSA: Allison Baca, Julie Baker,Suzie Snyder, Heather Zimchek-Dunn

Lesley Brigitta

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PAST ELITE XTERRA WORLD CHAMPS AND RECORDSPAST MEN’S CHAMPIONS (Runner-up)

2017: Bradley Weiss (RSA), 2:32:09 (Mauricio Mendez)2016: Mauricio Mendez (MEX), 2:49:38 (Ruben Ruzafa)2015: Josiah Middaugh (USA), 2:35:32 (Braden Currie)2014: Ruben Ruzafa (ESP), 2:29:56 (Josiah Middaugh)2013: Ruben Ruzafa (ESP), 2:34:34 (Asa Shaw)2012: Javier Gomez (ESP), 2:26:54 (Josiah Middaugh)2011: Michael Weiss (AUT), 2:27:00 (Dan Hugo)2010: Conrad Stoltz (RSA), 2:31:07 (Franky Batelier)2009: Eneko Llanos (ESP), 2:37:22 (Nico Lebrun)2008: Ruben Ruzafa (ESP), 2:37:36 (Michi Weiss)2007: Conrad Stoltz (RSA), 2:40:54 (Olivier Marceau)2006: Hamish Carter (NZL), 2:42:36 (Olivier Marceau)2005: Nicolas Lebrun (FRA), 2:38:19 (Eneko Llanos)2004: Eneko Llanos (ESP), 2:28:44 (Olivier Marceau)2003: Eneko Llanos (ESP), 2:32:56 (Nicolas Lebrun)2002: Conrad Stoltz (RSA), 2:22:55 (Eneko Llanos)2001: Conrad Stoltz (RSA), 2:28:48 (Kerry Classen)2000: Michael Tobin (USA), 2:30:53 (Mike Vine)1999: Ned Overend (USA), 2:32:50 (Michael Tobin)1998: Ned Overend (USA), 2:24:46 (Wes Hobson)1997: Mike Pigg (USA), 2:28:48 (Ned Overend)1996: Jimmy Riccitello (USA), 2:27:42 (Mike Pigg)

MEN’S RECORD BOOK (Just for fun)

Swim Record: Glenn Wachtel (USA) 18:10 (2000)Bike Record: Michael Weiss (AUT) 1:17:30 (2011)Run Record: Jan Rehula (CZE) 33:14 (2004)Winning Time: Conrad Stoltz (RSA) 2:22:55 (2002)

PAST WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS (Runner-up)

2017: Flora Duffy (BER), 2:47:47 (Barbara Riveros)2016: Flora Duffy (BER), 3:14:59 (Lesley Paterson)2015: Flora Duffy (BER), 2:54:17 (Lesley Paterson)2014: Flora Duffy (BER), 2:47:59 (Barbara Riveros)2013: Nicky Samuels (NZL), 2:57:48 (Lesley Paterson)2012: Lesley Paterson (GBR), 2:44:12 (Barbara Riveros)2011: Lesley Paterson (GBR), 2:45:59 (Marion Lorblanchet)2010: Shonny Vanlandingham (USA), 2:58:20 (Julie Dibens)2009: Julie Dibens (GBR), 2:56:42 (Lesley Paterson) 2008: Julie Dibens (GBR), 3:03:57 (Danelle Kabush)2007: Julie Dibens (GBR), 3:01:24 (Melanie McQuaid)2006: Melanie McQuaid (CAN), 3:07:53 (Danelle Kabush)2005: Melanie McQuaid (CAN), 3:07:16 (Sybille Matter)2004: Jamie Whitmore (USA), 3:01:35 (Melanie McQuaid)2003: Melanie McQuaid (CAN), 2:57:08 (Jamie Whitmore)2002: Candy Angle (USA), 2:57:33 (Jamie Whitmore)2001: Anke Erlank (RSA), 3:00:59 (Cherie Touchette)2000: Kerstin Weule (USA), 3:07:04 (Melanie McQuaid)1999: Shari Kain (USA), 3:04:19 (Kerstin Weule)1998: Sue Latshaw (USA), 2:58:49 (Uli Blank)1997: Cameron Randolph (USA), 3:04:25 (Lesley Tomlinson)1996: Michellie Jones (AUS), 3:04:53 (Shari Kain)

WOMEN’S RECORD BOOK (Just for fun)

Swim Record: Raeleigh Tennant (AUS) 18:31 (2000)Bike Record: Melanie McQuaid (CAN) 1:29:27 (2011)Run Record: Erika Csomor (HUN) 38:18 (2004)Winning Time: Lesley Paterson (GBR) 2:44:12 (2012)

Ruben

Julie

Flora

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The 23rd annual XTERRA World Championship off-roadtriathlon scheduled for Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Kapalua,Maui boasts the most competitive elite men’s field everassembled.

It’s a bold statement, but easy to support considering the pastfour winners, and second-place finishers, are on the start list.

Bradley Weiss from South Africa won last year, Mauricio Mendezfrom Mexico was second. Mendez won in 2016, and RubenRuzafa from Spain was second. Josiah Middaugh from the U.S.won in 2015, with Ruzafa finishing second, and Ruzafa won in2014, the year Middaugh placed second.

And that’s the story, all these men have gotten the better ofeach other at one time or another, and they’ve all remained atthe top of their game.

“I think that Maui always shows us that there is more than onefavorite,” said Ruzafa, who has been first off the bike at XTERRAWorlds each of the last five years. He won two of those races, in2013 and 2014, but got chased down by Middaugh in 2015,Mendez in 2016, and Weiss in 2017.

“This year, for the first time since 2014, I’ve done altitudetraining to prepare for Maui and I’ve changed things in my runand bike training,” said Ruzafa, who has won Maui three timesand captured four of the last five ITU Cross Tri World Titles since2014. “I was in the Sierra Nevada for two weeks at the end ofSeptember, and since then at my home in Spain. The course isso hard, and different every year because of the weather. Wealways have to wait until the last moment to see what theterrain conditions will be like.”

No matter what the conditions are like on Sunday, you cancount on the reigning champ Brad Weiss to be in the mix.

“The goal is always to win, and I will be disappointed withanything less than defending my title,” said Weiss, who won theXTERRA Asia-Pacific and European Championships this year.“Saying that the caliber of athletes racing continues to improveand there is a long list of contenders working hard to dethroneme. I welcome the challenge and look forward to facing it comerace day, and at the risk of sounding arrogant, I will say I am thefavorite. I proved I can win on this course in 2017 and plan to dothe same in 2018. The course suits me well and I look forward tomaximizing those advantages come race day.”

ELITE MEN’S RACE PREVIEW

Brad

Ruben

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If experience means anything, give the advantage to Middaugh,who will be racing in his 18th straight XTERRA WorldChampionship fresh off a win at the XTERRA Pan Am Champslast month against Weiss and Mendez.

“My goal is to turn in my best performance to date,” saidMiddaugh. “It means keeping my focus in the water and swim-ming within two minutes of the best swimmer and closer toone-minute behind some of the main contenders. Myemphasis this season has been on the bike and I know I amclimbing faster and with better endurance than ever before. Iplan to ration that power out over the entire bike course as if itwere a time trial. I will try to approach each leg of the race as ifit stands alone. Running is my background and I know if I comeoff the bike in contention then my body will know what to do.”

As for who he thinks is the favorite, Middaugh added, “This is aone day race, so there is no competing on paper. It onlymatters who is the best on that one day and it makes sense tolook at who is performing the best at this time of year. If youlook at my performance in Utah, then I think I deserveconsideration as a favorite. There are probably 5 or 6 guyscapable of winning and only one way to decide it, to race!”

Then there is Mendez, the 22-year-old who said he dedicatedhis mind to winning this race since the moment he crossed theline in second-place last year. “My goal for this year and forevery year is to give the best version of myself,” said Mendez.“It is about putting all the hard work together. Of course,winning is always in my head, but to truly give everything I havein will make me happy.”

In addition to the past champs, there are a number of men whowant to keep the string of new winners alive and well. Chiefamong them is Kiwi Sam Osborne, who proved he can beat thebest when he upset Weiss to win XTERRA Albay in June. “I don’trace to lose and that’s the sort of mindset I will take to Maui,”said Osborne, the reigning and two-time XTERRA Asia-PacificTour Champ. “You have to go out there and race like you trulywant it. All the work I’ve been putting in the last few weeks Itrust will put me in that sort of a position.”

Roger Serrano from Spain, along with Francois Carloni fromFrance give the European contingent plenty to cheer for, andothers not to be overlooked include the young-gun Sam Longfrom the U.S., Karsten Madsen from Canada, and Rom Akersonfrom Costa Rica.

ELITE MEN’S RACE PREVIEW

Josiah

Mauricio

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In the women’s elite race, we’ll honor a new champ for the firsttime in four years as Bermuda’s Flora Duffy sits this year out dueto injury. That leaves two-time XTERRA World Champion LesleyPaterson as the women’s favorite. The “Scottish Rocket” won allthree U.S. stops on the XTERRA Pan Am Tour this season andsays she’s stronger and faster than ever before.

“I’m so excited to race this year, it’s the first year since 2012 thatI’ve not been injured and sick coming into this one,” exclaimedPaterson, who finished 5th last year despite racing with a stressfracture in her pelvis and has been battling fatigue and theassociated symptoms of Lyme disease for years.

“I’m feeling totally awesome and ready to kill it this year,” shesaid. “The goal this year is to win it, to bring my A game, andfight until the bitter end.”

Paterson won her first XTERRA World Title in 2011, defendedthat in 2012, and finished second in 2013, 2015, and 2016. InJuly, she won her second ITU Cross Tri World Title in Denmark.

Brigitta Poor from Hungary looks to be Paterson’s toughestcompetitor. Poor won eight races on the XTERRA EuropeanTour this year, including a head-to-head against Paterson atXTERRA France in July.

“I have a big goal,” said Poor. “After my 4th place last year Ireally want to catch the podium, and of course the main goal isto win it. I am ready to fight and super excited! I might not be inthe best form, but my mind is stronger than ever.”

XTERRA USA Champ Suzie Snyder is also feeling better than everentering her 13th race in Maui.

“My goal is always to win,” said Snyder, who won the 20-24division XTERRA World Title in 2004 on her first-ever trip to Maui.“To do that, I'd have to have a solid lead on to the mountainbike, have the ride of my life to hold off everyone behind, andthen run like I've never run before.”

It can happen. Snyder has the best swim time among returningelite women, had the second-best bike split behind only LesleyPaterson at the XTERRA Pan Am Champs in Utah last month,and is coming into this race fresh for the first time in her elitecareer.

ELITE WOMEN’S RACE PREVIEW

Brigitta

Lesley

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ELITE WOMEN’S RACE PREVIEW

Renata

“I don’t really know what my body is capable of right now, asI’ve only had a few months of training,” said Snyder, who didn’treally get going until June this year.

In her first race out at XTERRA Victoria in July she finishedfourth, then she finished second behind Paterson at XTERRAPortland in August and was second again at the Pan AmChamps in September.

“The good part is I'm still fresh and excited mentally, which cango a long way in carrying you through physically,” said Snyder.“I really think my positive mental state is why I performed sowell in Utah.”

Snyder isn’t the only veteran in this year’s race, as three-timeXTERRA World Champion Melanie McQuaid from Canada and33x XTERRA World Tour race winner Renata Bucher fromSwitzerland are back for another shot at Maui.

“I haven’t focused on XTERRA since 2011,” said McQuaid. “Butnow that I am focusing on my Tri the Dirt series I need my ownriding to match what I am teaching. I’m happy and healthy, andmy goal is just to be my best on the day and have fun.”

For Bucher, the goal is simple, “To find peace with this race andthe island,” she explained.

“Last time I raced in Maui I had a DNF (felt sick). When I was atmy fittest point, I had a mechanical. Another year, I couldn’tcatch the wave properly at the end of the swim and gotsmashed into the sand and hurt my back. I was so suffering onthe run. This year I see a big chance for me to race and to enjoythe fight. I want to do this race for me, to finally tick it off, andI absolutely love to have Melanie McQuaid back on the startline. We raced so many years together, nearly killed each otherracing. But in these days, I respect her a lot and honestly, sheinspires me. She shows us all that age is just a number and I’msure she will be one of the gutsiest athletes out there!”

Bucher said she’s also pulling for her Aloha Racing teammateLizzie Orchard from New Zealand.

“I’m feeling the best I’ve been this year,” said Orchard, who wasfifth in Maui three years ago.

“Breaking ribs in May was not on the plan but they have fullyrecovered now, and I’ve been able to train for a few months.

Suzie

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PennyI’ve been able to do more running lately also with my footniggle calming down. Saying that, I’m not a believer that youmust ‘feel good’ on the day. It’s XTERRA Worlds, I aim to pull outa big race when it counts.”

The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Champion and XTERRA European TourChampion Carina Wasle will also join the fray. Wasle had inincredible year in Europe, finishing on the podium at all 13races she did and winning the last two at XTERRA Finland andNorway.

Unfortunately, she twisted an ankle at XTERRA Norway lastmonth.

“I damaged two ligaments and a bone, and still can’t run aftersix weeks so I focused more on good bike training and gymwork,” said Wasle.

“I’m almost ready for the swim and bike. I feel quite good,trained a lot, only my running is a bit vague. Still, my goal is atop three finish. I trained hard for it, but I’ll need for sure aperfect day and a healthy foot.”

The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour Champion Penny Slater is alsoexcited to continue her upwards trajectory in the sport.

“I’m feeling really great and healthy thankfully but had a nastycrash on my mountain bike in September which kept me out ofthe pool for a few weeks,” said Slater, who won XTERRA Albayback in June.

“I feel ready for Maui, more prepared both mentally andphysically than last year, at least now I know what to expectcome race day and how brutal the course is. However, aseveryone knows, conditions in Maui can vary greatly so I’mlooking forward to the challenges the island throws at us thisyear.”

Other contenders include Michelle Flipo from Mexico, who wonXTERRA Denmark this year and finished sixth in Maui two yearsago, and Julie Baker, who is one of the best swimmers in thesport.

ELITE WOMEN’S RACE PREVIEW

Michelle

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 1 – Brad Weiss from Stellenbosch, South Africa

2017 XTERRA World Champion2017-2018 XTERRA European Champion2018 XTERRA Asia-Pacific ChampionBorn: March 21, 1989This year: Won XTERRA South Africa, the XTERRA Asia-PacificChampionship in Danao, was 2nd at XTERRA Albay, 3rd atXTERRA France, 2nd at XTERRA Cyprus, won XTERRA Polandand the XTERRA European Championship on back-to-backweekends in August, and placed 2nd at the XTERRA PanAmerican Championship in September.Last year: Finished 2nd at XTERRA South Africa to RichardMurray, won XTERRA Philippines for the third straight season,tied for first at XTERRA Malaysia with Kieran McPherson, SamOsborne, and Ben Allen. Finished 4th in the final XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour standings. In Europe he finished 4th at XTERRABelgium, 4th at XTERRA France, 3rd at XTERRA Germany, andwon the XTERRA European Championship in Denmark.Finished 10th in the final XTERRA European Tour rankings.Placed 3rd at the XTERRA Pan Am Championship in Utah.Chased down Ruben Ruzafa on the run to win XTERRA Worlds.2016: Won all three XTERRA events in South Africa includingthe Championship race in Grabouw for the first time. Also wonXTERRA Philippines for the second year in a row. Placed 3rd atXTERRA New Zealand, 5th at the XTERRA Asia-PacificChampionship, 2nd at XTERRA Malaysia, and was 2nd in theAsia-Pacific Tour standings. Placed 6th at Switzerland, 3rd atFrance, and 3rd at the European Championship in Germany.In Maui: Won it last year, finished 13th in 2016 and 10th in 2014.Thoughts: I am feeling very confident and after a scare earlierthis year with a stress reaction in my pelvis I am very happy toreport no injuries and a smooth training camp in Boulder withSam Osborne leading to this race. I really enjoy this course asthere is a lot of climbing which suits a smaller athlete likemyself. If I can survive the swim I will look to make my moveearly on the bike and see who is up to going with me. Thecourse throws so much at you that its difficult to pin point onespecific detail to characterise as the hardest part but if I have tochoose I would say the first 3km of the run as its mostly uphilland after a really challenging bike ride its difficulty ismagnified. Staying smooth and focused through this sectioncan make the difference between winning and losing this race. Credentials: In his eighth year racing XTERRA. Weiss nearlywon the continental Grand Slam of XTERRA this year bywinning the sports championship races in Africa, Asia, andEurope, before placing 2nd to Josiah Middaugh at the Pan AmChamps. Won the ITU Cross Tri Worlds U23 division in 2012.

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No. 2 – Mauricio Mendez from Mexico City, Mexico

2016 XTERRA WORLD CHAMP, 2017 PAN AM CHAMPNickname: MauBorn: October 20, 1995 This year: Won XTERRA Chile, XTERRA Tahiti, and XTERRABeaver Creek. Did not finish the XTERRA Pan Am Champs afterthe saddle on his bike broke at the beginning of the ride. Wonthe Ironman Asia-Pacific 70.3 Championship in August.Last year: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Beaver Creek behind JosiahMiddaugh, won the XTERRA Pan Am Championship, and placedsecond at the XTERRA World Championship.2016: XTERRA World Champ. Finished 2nd at XTERRA OakMountain behind Middaugh, won XTERRA Italy, was second atXTERRA Poland, won XTERRA Sweden, was 5th at XTERRAGermany (which doubled as the XTERRA EuropeanChampionship) and won XTERRA Denmark. Finished the yearranked 4th in the XTERRA European Tour standings. WonIronman 70.3 Cozumel on Oct. 2, 2016.In Maui: Last year, Mendez had the fastest run split for the thirdstraight year and caught Francisco Serrano and Ruben Ruzafato finish second behind Weiss. In 2016, he caught Ruzafa on therun to win the World Title. In 2015, he had the fastest run andmoved up three places in final 800m to finish in fourth. Was firstout of the water in 2014 and finished 5th. Was 15th in 2013 onhis way to winning the overall amateur XTERRA WorldChampionship. Thoughts: The mantra I live by is a “tope y sin control.” Itmeans go as hard as you can for as long as you can. No limits.I have been training at home in Mexico City for this race. It’sgood to be around family. This course has it all. It’s hard butfun and you need to be ready for it.Credentials: Seventh year racing XTERRA. Mau startedswimming when he was six, doing triathlons when he was 10,he did his first XTERRA when he was 14, won the overallamateur XTERRA World Championship when he was 18, wentpro as a 19yo, won his first pro race at XTERRA Italy in 2016 as a20yo, and won the XTERRA World Championship in 2016 fourdays after turning 21. “My first XTERRA was in 2010 in Mexico,in the junior kids race, and I won it, and I remember Dan Hugowas first place at the time and thinking wow, this is amazing, Iwant to be like him,” said Mendez. “And I just got into it andfrom that day I dreamed about being the world champion.”

ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERS

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 3 – Ruben Ruzafa from Malaga, Spain

3x XTERRA WORLD CHAMP, 4x ITU CROSS TRI WORLD CHAMPNickname: The Bosswww.rubenruzafa.com/en / @rubenruzafa Born: September 9, 1984This year: Won XTERRA Portugal, XTERRA France, and XTERRACzech. Also won the ITU Cross Tri World Title in Denmark forthe fourth time in five years.Last year: Ruzafa won XTERRA Reunion, XTERRA Greece,XTERRA Spain, XTERRA Portugal, XTERRA Belgium, finishedsecond at XTERRA Switzerland behind Arthur Forissier, thenwon XTERRA France, XTERRA Norway, and was fourth at theXTERRA European Championship in Denmark. Won the XTERRAEuropean Tour for the third time in four years.2016: Placed 2nd at the XTERRA World Championship, wonXTERRA Reunion, was 2nd at XTERRA Greece, then reeled offfour straight wins at XTERRA Portugal, Switzerland, France, andGermany (which doubled as the XTERRA EuropeanChampionship). Won the XTERRA European Tour for the secondtime in three years.In Maui: Has recorded the fastest bike split and been the firstracer on to the run section of the bike for five straight years(2013-2017). Placed third behind Mendez and Weiss last year.Was second in 2016 behind Mendez. Placed third in 2015 behindCurrie and Middaugh. Won it in 2008, 2013 & 2014. Was in Mauiin 2009 but crashed before raceday and did not start.Thoughts: My goal is to give 120% in Maui. If I can do that, all isokay. The pressure this year is on Bradley, the current WorldChampion, but Josiah Middaugh, Sam Osborne, and MauricioMendez among others have shown great performances thisyear. The bike course in Maui has the hardest climbs, but therun, because of the fatigue that sets in, are the most difficultmoments of the race.Credentials: Won 33 of the 42 XTERRA majors he has racedsince 2008. Has three XTERRA World Titles and four ITU CrossTriathlon World Titles (2014-2016, 2018). In 2013 when heretired from world cup mountain biking (where he collectedfour national titles in cross country and marathon for Spain) tofocus on XTERRA he won XTERRA Spain, was 2nd at France, wonGermany, and was third at the USA Championship, then wenton a roll, winning Worlds in 2013, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland,France, Italy, Czech, Germany, the USA Championship andWorlds in 2014, and Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, the EuropeanChampionship in England in 2015 before his 15-race win streakwas snapped in Maui, where he was third. He was the youngestto win XTERRA Worlds at the age of 24 in 2008, before Mendezwon it as a 21yo in 2016.

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No. 4 – Francisco Serrano from Monterrey, Mexico

2017 ITU CROSS TRI WORLD CHAMP TWO-TIME XTERRA MEXICO CHAMPIONNickname: Paco@serrano_triBorn: May 4, 1980This year: Finished 4th at XTERRA MexicoLast year: Finished 3rd at XTERRA Oak Mountain and 2nd atXTERRA Mexico, and won the ITU Cross Tri WorldChampionship against a strong field in Canada.2016: Finished 2nd at XTERRA MexicoIn Maui: Finished fourth last year. In 2015, finished 6th despitebreaking his seat post midway through the bike. Finished 37thin 2010, 13th in 2005, and 15th in 2012.Thoughts: My goal is to take gold, or at least be on the podium.It will take a perfect race, flawless, to be able to take gold butit's possible, I know it can happen! It’s always the highlight ofmy year to race in Maui, no matter how many bad races andbad luck I’ve had, this race is always a must-do in my season.The first six months of this year I struggled with injuries, so I’mjust now starting to come back strong.Credentials: Finished ahead of Ruben Ruzafa, Kyle Smith, BenAllen, and Josiah Middaugh to win the ITU Cross Tri WorldChampionship in Penticton in 2017. Was 6th at the XTERRAWorld Championship in 2015. Represented Mexico at the at2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Has been racing XTERRA since2004 when he finished 8th in his first-ever XTERRA at the EastChampionship in Richmond. Won the first-ever XTERRA MexicoChampionship held in Puerto Vallarta in 2006, upsettingXTERRA legend Mike Vine of Canada. Won again in 2012.

ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERS

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo 5 - Sam Osborne from Rotorua, New Zealand

TWO-TIME XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC TOUR CHAMPION@sam_osborneNZBorn: December 21, 1991This year: Won XTERRA New Zealand, was second at theXTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship in Danao, second atXTERRA Tahiti, and beat Brad Weiss to win XTERRA Albay andcapture the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour for the second straightyear. In Europe he finished 7th at XTERRA Czech, second atXTERRA Poland, second at the XTERRA EuropeanChampionship in Germany, and second at XTERRA Denmark.Placed 11th in the final XTERRA European Tour standings.Finished second behind Ruzafa at the ITU Cross Tri WorldChamps in Denmark.Last year: Won the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour and finishedsecond in the XTERRA European Tour standings behind RubenRuzafa. Won XTERRA Saipan and his hometown race at XTERRANew Zealand in Rotorua, was second at XTERRA Philippines,tied for first at XTERRA Malaysia with Ben Allen, KieranMcPherson, and Bradley Weiss, then won XTERRA Tahiti. InEurope, he was 4th at XTERRA Switzerland, 7th at XTERRAFrance, 2nd at XTERRA Italy, won XTERRA Poland and XTERRAGermany on back-to-back weekends in August, then placed2nd to Weiss at the XTERRA European Championship inDenmark.2016: Finished 9th at XTERRA Worlds, 2nd at the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship in Australia, 5th at XTERRA Portugal, 2ndat XTERRA Belgium, 7th at Switzerland, 2nd at Italy, 3rd atSweden, 2nd at the XTERRA European Championship inGermany and 2nd at XTERRA Denmark.Finished 2nd on theXTERRA Euro Tour.In Maui: Finished 6th last year, 9th in 2016, and DNF in 2015.Thoughts: This year my Dad will make the trip to Maui which isvery special, my parents very rarely ever get to see me raceoutside of NZ, in fact, Dad has only seen me race once outsideof home so it will be very cool to have him there. Trained inBoulder, Colorado again, making the most of the altitudebenefits. Linked back up with good mate and equally goodtraining partner Brad Weiss. I have followed a very similarstructure to last year, consistent hard work. I’m healthy, I’m fit.Credentials: The reigning and two-time XTERRA Asia-PacificTour Champ, won five XTERRA Championship races in 2017,and two more in 2018.

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 6 – Josiah Middaugh from Eagle-Vail, Colorado

2015 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPION, 2018 PAN AM CHAMPNickname: Beast Mode and “Mid-Awesome”www.middaughcoaching.com / @josiahmiddaugh Born: July 25, 1978 in East Jordan, Michigan and earned abachelor of science degree in health fitness from CentralMichigan Univ. where he ran x-country and track...earned hismasters in human movement from AT Still University.This year: Placed second at XTERRA Costa Rica, won XTERRAOak Mountain and XTERRA Dominican Republic, was second atXTERRA Victoria and XTERRA Beaver Creek, won XTERRAMexico, XTERRA Quebec, and the XTERRA Pan AmericanChampionship for the third time in four years.Last year: 2017 XTERRA Pan America Tour Champ afterwinning XTERRA Costa Rica, Oak Mountain, Beaver Creek,Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Finished fifth at XTERRAFrance, and was second at the XTERRA Pan Am Championship.2016: Was 5th at the XTERRA World Championship, 2nd atXTERRA Costa Rica, won XTERRA Argentina, Tahiti, OakMountain, and Beaver Creek before suffering mechanicals atXTERRA Dominican Republic and finishing 4th. Won the PanAmerica Championship by 7/100th of a second against BradenCurrie, and the inaugural XTERRA Pan Am Pro Series.In Maui: 18th race. Finished 8th last year and was the topAmerican for the 10th time (seventh straight). Was 5th in 2016.Won for the first time in 2015 after 15 tries, becoming the firstAmerican to win Worlds since Michael Tobin back in 2000.Placed 2nd in 2014, 4th in 2013, 2nd in 2012 less than a minutebehind Javier Gomez despite bike tire falling off. Was 4th in2011 with second best bike split. Placed 32nd in 2010 after aseries of mechanicals. Was 9th in 2009, 7th in ’08, 17th in 2007,4th in ’06 (fastest bike), 10th in ’05, 3rd in ’04, 6th in ’03, 28th in’02 when he won the 20-24 World title, and 69th in 2001.Thoughts: The course in Maui is one of the most challengingcourses--rough swim, longer bike and very challenging withsteep climbing, a strong man's run course half up and halfdown. The unpredictability is what makes the race so nervewracking. The swell, the shore break, the rain, heat, andhumidity can all change overnight and that decides which partof the course is most challenging. XTERRA Worlds can't beraced with a plan-A mentality. Even when I won the race in2015 it didn't go as planned. This season I have trained verysensibly and coming into form at the right time. The XTERRAPan American Championship was my high point so far, solooking to eclipse that in Maui.Credentials: 2018 XTERRA Pan American/USA Champion. 2xXTERRA Pan Am Tour Champ. 2015 XTERRA World Champion.

13x National Champ. 34 career XTERRA Championship racewins. Three-time XTERRA (2013-15) U.S. Pro Series Champ. TopAmerican in the US Pro Series 14 of 15 years from 2001-to-2016.Top American when the US Pro Series became the PanAmerican Tour past three years. Has raced XTERRA for 18 yearssince his debut at Keystone in 2001. The top American at XTER-RA Worlds 10 times. Alongside his brother Yaro has provided aseason’s worth of training tips for the XTERRA Tribe via theMiddaugh Coaching Corner column.

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo 7 - Rom Akerson from Tambor, Costa Rica

2018 XTERRA COSTA RICA CHAMPIONNickname: KangaBorn: September 29, 1984This year: Beat Josiah Middaugh to win XTERRA Costa Rica inMarch, was fourth at XTERRA Oak Mountain, and second atXTERRA Dominican Republic.Last year: Had surgery on his left leg to fix a pinch in the arteryand has not raced this year. Received a medical exemption towaive the ‘must race one’ rule so he could participate inXTERRA Worlds, where he finished 10th.2016: Finished 10th last at XTERRA Worlds, 3rd at XTERRA CostaRica, 3rd at XTERRA Beaver Creek, won the last two regularseason races on the Pan Am Pro Series at XTERRA DominicanRepublic and XTERRA Mexico, and placed 5th at the Pan AmChampionship in Utah. Finished 2nd to Josiah Middaugh in theXTERRA Pan Am Pro Series.In Maui: Finished top 10 the past four seasons with a 10th placeshowing the last two years, 8th in 2015, and 9th in 2014. Was19th in 2009, 20th in 2007 in his first year as a pro, and won theamateur title in 2006 (finished 17th overall).Credentials: 12 years ago at the age of 22 Rom Akerson wonthe overall amateur XTERRA World Championship title. Heturned pro soon after and has since put together a stellartriathlon racing career.Also: His Dad, Heart, raced XTERRA Worlds barefoot last year,and Ironman Canada barefoot four times, and XTERRA CostaRica … barefoot.

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 9 – Branden Rakita from Colorado Springs, CO

www.brandenrakita.com / @btrakitaNickname: Mitch ManBorn: March 25, 1981 in Durango, ColoradoThis year: Finished 3rd at XTERRA Chile, 4th at XTERRAArgentina and XTERRA Brazil, 7th at XTERRA Oak Mountain, 6that XTERRA Dominican Republic, 3rd at XTERRA Victoria, 6th atXTERRA Beaver Creek, 5th at XTERRA Mexico, 4th at XTERRAQuebec, and 8th at the XTERRA Pan Am Championship.Finished 4th in the final XTERRA Pan Am Tour Standings.Last year: Finished 2nd in the 2017 XTERRA Pan American Tourstandings. Finished 4th at XTERRA Argentina, 6th at XTERRAChile, 5th at XTERRA Oak Mountain, 3rd at XTERRA Victoria, 7that XTERRA Beaver Creek, 6th at XTERRA Mexico, 4th at XTERRADominican Republic, and 9th at the Pan Am Championship.Placed 18th at XTERRA Worlds.2016: Finished 4th at XTERRA Oak Mountain, 3rd at XTERRAMine over Matter, 6th at XTERRA Beaver Creek, 2nd at XTERRADominican Republic, 5th at XTERRA Mexico, and 12th at the PanAm Championships. Finished 4th in the Pan Am Pro Seriesstandings.In Maui: Placed 18th last year, DNF in 2016, was 20th in 2015,35th in 2014, 27th in 2013 and 2012, 18th in 2011, 15th in 2010(top American), 20th in 2009, and 18th in 2008.Thoughts: I am feeling ready to race the swim and the bike, butthe run is a bit of a mystery after dealing with an injury for mostof the summer. My run fitness is no where near were it shouldbe but I am trying to get in what I can so I am not to miserablein the race. Ideal goal is top 10, and I think that I can come offthe bike in the position, the issue will be trying to maintain thaton the run. I will do what ever I can but this is World Champs,you have to be 100% ready to go to even be top 10 with thestrength of the field that the men have so that will be a a verytall task. There are so many guys it is hard to pick a favorite,Brad, Josiah, Mauricio and Ruben of course each have theirseparate motivations going in to the race and have shown theycan perform on the day and are racing very well. There areplenty of other guys though that will factor in and could take it.Credentials: 12th year racing XTERRA. Did his first one in 2000.Was the runner-up at XTERRA Dominican Republic in 2016.Finished runner-up at XTERRA Canada and XTERRA Mexicotwice, and at the XTERRA Mountain Championship in 2013. Also: Famous for being the “Mitch Man” as a Paul Mitchellsponsored athlete. Earned a degree in civil engineering fromColorado State. His dad David is an XTERRA USA and WorldChampion. His girlfriend Briana is the elite race live coveragedirector on Twitter @xterraoffroad #XTERRAMaui, 9am Sun).

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo 17 - Francois Carloni from Frejus, France

2018 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR CHAMPIONBorn: August 8, 1985This year: Won the XTERRA European Tour. Finished 4th atXTERRA Malta, 5th at XTERRA Greece, 6th at XTERRA Italy-Garda, won XTERRA Belgium, was 5th at XTERRA France andXTERRA Italy-Abruzzo, 2nd at XTERRA Romania, 5th at theXTERRA European Championship in Germany, 3rd at XTERRANorway and XTERRA Denmark.Last year: Finished 3rd on the XTERRA European Tour. Was 3rdin Malta, 6th in Cyrpus, 7th in Greece, 3rd in Portugal, 5th inBelgium, 6th in Switzerland, 6th in Italy, 10th in Germany, and15th at the European Championship in Denmark.In Maui: This will be his eighth trip to Maui. He finished 21stelite in 2016, 25th in 2014, 11th in 2013, 22nd in 2012, 21st (3rdamateur) in 2010, 35th in 2009, and 20th overall in 2008 whenhe won the overall amateur XTERRA World Championship.Thoughts: I’ve been training at home, trying to work less in myshop the last five weeks to prepare for Maui like a real pro. I'min good shape. I'll be happy to be in the top 10 and very happyfor a top 7, because it is the World Championship. It takes a lotof effort for all the athletes to prepare and come here, andeverybody prepares there best. It's time to see the real level ofeveryone. I like this course because there are many climbs.Especially if it's muddy like two years ago, it's better for me.The hardest part is always the run with the heat and after twohours racing it's hard to find energy to push hard. I am happy tocome here to Maui for the 8th time.Credentials: Has finished in the top five of the XTERRAEuropean Tour each of the last four years. Won it this year, wasthird in 2017, 5th in 2016, and and 2nd in 2014. First XTERRAwas at Mandelieu, France in 2008. Won XTERRA Greece in 2014.

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 23 – Sam Long from Boulder, Colorado

Born: December 23, 1995This year: Finished 6th at XTERRA Oak Mountain, 3rd atXTERRA Beaver Creek, and 3rd at the XTERRA Pan AmChampionship. Also finished 2nd at Ironman Louisville onOctober 14.Last year: Finished 3rd at XTERRA Beaver Creek and 7th at theXTERRA Pan Am Championship.In Maui: Finished 19th elite in first try in 2016.Thoughts: As always my build for XTERRA has been unique.After Ogden I did a few weeks in Tuscon with Ben Hoffman. Thefocus was primarily on IM and I built to my highest fitness ever.I just capitalized on that fitness at IM Louisville where I finishedsecond. Of course Louisville is two weeks out from Worlds sonow I have to be very smart about what I do in the next twoweeks to be at my best fitness XTERRA wise. Feeling totallystoked. The body is responding well. I have my diesel engine allfired up but can also put it into high octane mode. The highoctane mode is what matters at Maui. However, I just had mybest run for IM so my legs have some strength in them. Thegoal is a podium finish. At this point most of the work is doneand I have done the most intelligent hard work ever. Betweennow and the race, in order to be on the podium, I need to getthe gear dialed in, make sure I'm to push really hard, and eatright. Then a podium is a realistic possibility. I don't think thereis a race favorite on the men's side. Its very rare to win it backto back years which means Brad is not the guaranteed favorite.Also, if you look at previous years it is common for someone towin it who never has. I think there are a handful of guys whocould win the thing and none of them can be discounted. It alldepends on who shows up this year with a slight edge and whohas the race of their life. It could be any of us. The hardest partfor me is the swim--especially when it has big swells. Thedouble exit and entrance makes the swim a real challenge andI need to be on it. The 2018 season has been the best of my life.I have raced 5 IM's, 3 XTERRA’s and a handful of other races. Ihave been in the top 5 in virtually every race and by racing somuch have gained invaluable race experience. The highestpoint was being second at Louisville but 3rd at XTERRA Pan Amwas pretty awesome too. Both of these were my last two racesso I hope to carry that momentum. Credentials: Was first off the bike at XTERRA Beaver Creek infront of two world champs, Josiah Middaugh and MauricioMendez. Went on to finish third. Was also 3rd in a stacked fieldat XTERRA Pan Am Champs in September.

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 24 –Karsten Madsen from Guelph, ONT, Canada

2018 XTERRA URUGUAY CHAMPIONNickname: The Catwww.karstenmad.com / @KarstenMadBorn: November 9, 1991 in KitchenerThis year: Finished 3rd on the XTERRA Pan Am Tour. Placed3rd at XTERRA Costa Rica, won XTERRA Uruguay, was second atXTERRA Brazil and XTERRA Oak Mountain, 3rd at XTERRADominican Republic, 8th at XTERRA Beaver Creek, 3rd atXTERRA Mexico, 2nd at XTERRA Quebec, and 4th at the XTERRAPan Am Championship.Last year: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Oak Mountain and wonXTERRA Victoria in B.C., Canada. DNF in Maui.2016: Started the year with a runner-up showing behindMiddaugh at XTERRA Argentina, was third behind Middaughand Mauricio Mendez at XTERRA Oak Mountain, won bothCanadian races – XTERRA Mine over Matter in Ontario andXTERRA Victoria in British Columbia. Also won his country’scross tri national championship for the second straight year.Placed 5th at the Pan Am Championship race in Utah andfinished the season 3rd in Pan Am Pro Series.In Maui: Did not finish either of the last two years. In 2016 hetook a hit on the head during the swim and wasn’t feeling quiteright on the bike.Thoughts: I made the decision to train for Worlds in WhistlerBC. Its been a long year with a lot of travel so for the final pushof the season I wanted to be in my favorite placed in the world.It has pumped a lot of energy into me and has really filled myjar. My mindset has been strong all year and getting myself intoa new territory of fitness thats rather exciting. In Maui, power toweight is literally everything. Last year I was 11 pounds heavierthen what I am today. I had the pleasure of working with Josiahthis year for almost 2 months. Seeing with him and workingwith him on a daily bases I feel he will be the man to beat. Hewas destroying workouts at high elevation. Defending worldchamp Brad will be danger as well but honestly there is a col-lection of 6-8 guys that can win on their perfect day. This courseis brutal. No part lets you recover, its just a savage grind thewhole way. If you are weak in the mind it will crush you. It haschewed me out and spit me out two times already. This yearhas been a dream. Ive said early on I didn’t think I would still beracing anymore so everything this year has been astounding.I’ve put to bed alot of self doubt I’ve dealt with. But I don’t for-got it. As the pain I’ve been through personally I use to drive meforward in racing. As there is has been nothing harder in racingthen climbing out of the hole I dug for myself last year. I have alot of excitement about the race. I think a surprise is in store.

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ELITE MEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 33 – Roger Serrano from Barcelona, Spain

Born: January 30, 19912018 XTERRA MALTA, CYPRUS, ITALY, NORWAY, DENMARK CHAMPThis year: Won five races and finished 2nd on the XTERRAEuropean Tour. Won XTERRA Malta and Cyprus to start theyear, was 4th at XTERRA Greece, 2nd at XTERRA Switzerland,won XTERRA Italy - Abruzzo, was 3rd at the XTERRA EuropeanChampionship race in Germany, then won XTERRA Norway andXTERRA Denmark.Last year: Won XTERRA Malta, was 2nd in Greece, 3rd in Italy,2nd in Poland, and 3rd at the XTERRA European Championshipin Denmark. Placed 8th on the XTERRA European Tour.2016: Won XTERRA Malta and Greece, was 3rd in Portugal, and3rd in Denmark. Finished 8th in the European Tour standings.2015: Won the XTERRA European Tour. Was 2nd at Malta, 4th atPortugal, 3rd in Spain, 2nd at Greece, 3rd at Switzerland, 3rd atItaly, 2nd at Czech, and 3rd at Germany.In Maui: Placed 11th in 2016, and 27th in 2014.Thoughts: I’ve been training hard everyday in Igualada, Spainand right now, I feel smashed. I can’t wait to get to Maui andhave some days of rest before the race. My goal is to besatisfied. It will depend on many things that doesn’t justdepend on me. I think Ruzafa is the favorite. He had three badyears in Maui and I saw a huge change in him this year.Unluckily, he had a small crash and didn’t race during thesecond part of the season, but I know he has been traininghard. I had a good season, with five victories, my best result sofar. High point maybe was in Italy, a super hard race I wantedto win and do well.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 51 – Brigitta Poor from Gyor, Hungary

2017/2018 XTERRA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONBorn: February 18, 1989This year: Won eight races on the XTERRA European Tour. WonXTERRA Malta and Cyprus to start the year, was 4th at XTERRAGreece, won XTERRA Portugal, Switzerland, France, andRomania, then was second at XTERRA Poland before winningthe XTERRA European Championship for the second straightyear in Germany, and placed second at XTERRA Denmark.Finished 2nd in the XTERRA European Tour standings.Last year: Won six races and the European Championship. WonXTERRA Malta and XTERRA Cyprus to start the year, was secondat XTERRA Greece and XTERRA Spain, won XTERRA Portugal,finished 6th at XTERRA Switzerland, second at XTERRA Francethen won the last three races of the season at XTERRA Poland,XTERRA Germany, and the XTERRA European Championship inDenmark. Placed 4th at XTERRA Worlds. 2016: Finished first in the XTERRA European Tour standings.She won XTERRA Malta and XTERRA Denmark, finished 2nd atXTERRA Greece, 3rd at XTERRA Portugal, 6th at XTERRASwitzerland, 4th at XTERRA France, 2nd at XTERRA Poland, and3rd at XTERRA Germany.In Maui: Placed fourth last year, and 11th in 2011.Thoughts: After my 4th place last year I really want to catch thepodium and of course the main goal is the first place. A lot ofthings changed in my life during this year. It was an emotionalseason, and I still can’t believe how I managed it, but I am readyto fight again and I am super excited! Maybe my form is not thebest (yet) but my mind is stronger than ever. I proved thisduring the season. My game plan is to bring my best and smile.My favorite part is the bike course, I love it. I hope the weatherwill be good like last year and we can ride on dry trails. For methe biggest challenge is the swim, the big waves. I worry a littlebit, but I have time to practice so I am positive.Credentials: Has won 14 races and back-to-back EuropeanChampionships over the past two years. Won her first XTERRAin 2015 at XTERRA Malta. Raced in nine more XTERRAs in 2015to finish 2nd in the European Tour standings. Did her first-everXTERRA at Austria in 2009.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 52 – Lesley Paterson from Stirling, ScotlandTWO-TIME XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONNickname: The Scottish Rocketwww.lesleypaterson.com / @lesleydoestriBorn: October 12, 1980This year: Placed second at XTERRA Tahiti, won XTERRA OakMountain, was fourth at XTERRA France, won the ITU Cross TriWorld Title for the second time in Denmark, won XTERRABeaver Creek, and the XTERRA Pan American Championship forthe second straight year.Last year: Finished second at XTERRA Oak Mountain to SuzieSnyder, then won XTERRA Beaver Creek and the XTERRA PanAm Championship. Finished 5th in the XTERRA Pan AmericaPro Series, and wrote a book with husband Simon, titled “TheBrave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion.”Placed 5th at XTERRA Worlds2016: Won XTERRA Tahiti, XTERRA France, and XTERRA Italyand was runner up at the XTERRA World Championship to FloraDuffy for the second year in a row. In Maui: In her last eight Maui attempts she has won it twiceand finished second an unprecedented four times. Finished 5thlast year despite racing with a stress fracture in her pelvis. Hadthe fastest bike split and finished 2nd in 2015. In 2014 dealtwith injury all season, came back to finish 3rd at XTERRANationals in her only race of the season, then Lyme Diseasekicked in shortly after that race and she was unable to competein Maui. Chased down Flora Duffy in the finish line stretch totake 2nd behind Nicky Samuels in 2013. Won her secondstraight World title and beat her own record for fastest winningtime - a 2:44:11 - in 2012. Also had the fastest bike and run splitsthat year. Won her first title in 2011 with the fastest run split.Finished 7th in 2010, 2nd in 2009, and 10th in her first try (2008).Thoughts: I think ultimately, the magic in life happens outsidethe comfort zone. In XTERRA, you are constantly outside thecomfort zone. Her first sport was rugby, she played on an allboys team. “That sort of set me up for challenges in my life”.Alter ego is Paddy McGinty, “Paddy embodies all the elementsof the person I need to be to race well,” she explained. “Les, asa person, is too nice. Paddy doesn’t care what anyone thinks.”Coached Mauricio Mendez when he was 17, said “We had allsorts of existential chats about life, love, & what it all means.”Credentials: Reigning and 2x XTERRA Pan Am Champ. Won the2011 and 2012 XTERRA World Titles and the 2012 and 2018 ITUCross Triathlon World Titles. Is the 2015 XTERRA EuropeanChampion. In 2012 was named the off-road triathlete of theyear at Endurance Sports Awards. Finished in the top 3 in 7-straight XTERRA Championship races from ‘09 to 2010.

Moved from Sterling, Scotland to the U.S. in 2001. Earned herbachelor’s degree in performing arts from England and a mas-ter’s in theatre acting from San Diego State. Is also a coach,actress, and film producer.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 53 – Suzie Snyder from Reno, Nevada

TWO-TIME XTERRA PAN AM TOUR CHAMP, 3X USA CHAMP@SnyderSuzieBorn: March 30, 1982 in Averill Park, New York.This year: Placed 4th at XTERRA Victoria, 2nd at XTERRAPortland, and second at the XTERRA Pan Am Championship(top American, thus winning the XTERRA USA elite title for thethird time).Last year: Won XTERRA Argentina, was second to BarbaraRiveros at XTERRA Chile, then won XTERRA Costa Rica, XTERRAOak Mountain, and XTERRA Victoria, placed second at XTERRABeaver Creek, won XTERRA Mexico, and placed 4th at the XTER-RA Pan Am Championship in Utah. Won the XTERRA Pan AmPro Series for the second straight season. Placed 6th at Worlds.2016: Won XTERRA Oak Mountain, XTERRA Mine over Matter,XTERRA Dominican Republic, XTERRA Mexico and the PanAmerica Championship. Was second at XTERRA Beaver Creekand finished third at the XTERRA World Championship. Alsowon the inaugural Pan Am Pro Series and USA titles. In Maui: Finished 6th last year, 3rd in 206, was injured in 2015,placed 6th in 2014, 10th in 2013, 80th in 2012, and was 15th in2011. Has competed in Maui 13 times, and won the 20-24division World Title in 2004 and 2006 before going pro.Thoughts: I think the climate change for a lot of us is thehardest thing to prepare for. Especially those of us comingfrom the mountains or the east coast/northern areas wherewe're getting cold autumn weather, and even snow. Heading tothe tropics is a shock to the system for our bodies and is hardto adjust to in just a few days. The course keeps everyonehonest. Over the years, the technical aspect in the lower bowlsection has become more of a factor since it's becoming moretrail-like, but there's still so much pure fitness requirement thatthere's no hiding if you're not ready for the climbing. The wholecourse is hard, especially when you stack it all together. Theocean is always rough and it's tough getting out with the shorebreak. The run to T1 isn't easy- it's long and uphill, especiallyup the deep sandy beach. The bike is difficult because of theamount of climbing and steep grades. The run challenges aresimilar to the bike - long climbs, steep climbs, and the heat thataccumulates in your third hour of racing. And to finish with thatlong sandy beach run. It’s brutal. Maui is kind of where it allstarted for me back in 2004. I just fell in love with the sport, andthe mountain biking, swimming, and running, and being ableto go out and see where the trail takes me and move across thecountry in that way. It’s a lifestyle that never gets old, and forme it evolved into a career. It may sound corny, but I guess youcould say I’m living the dream.”

Credentials: 13th year racing XTERRA. Won 5 XTERRA majorraces in 2016 and 2017. Two-time XTERRA Pan Am TourChampion. Finished in the top 5 of the U.S. Pro Series fivestraight years before it became the Pan Am Tour in 2016. Is the2018, 2016, and 2012 elite women’s XTERRA NationalChampion (awarded to the top American in the U.S. Pro Series).Won four National Titles as an amateur before going pro.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 54 – Lizzie Orchard from Auckland, New Zealand

2016 XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC TOUR CHAMPIONBorn: November 26, 1985This year: Placed 3rd at XTERRA Czech, 5th at XTERRA Italy,fourth at the XTERRA European Championship in Germany, and3rd at XTERRA Denmark. Finished the season ranked 8th in theXTERRA European Tour standings.Last year: Was 2nd at XTERRA Italy, 4th at XTERRA Poland, 4that XTERRA Germany, 3rd at the XTERRA EuropeanChampionship in Denmark, and did not finish at XTERRA PanAm Championship due to bike mechanical. Placed 7th atXTERRA Worlds2016: Won XTERRA Philippines, XTERRA New Zealand, and theXTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship in Australia, then placedsecond at XTERRA Malaysia and won the XTERRA Asia-PacificTour title. Finished 2nd at the XTERRA Pan AmericaChampionship race in Utah.In Maui: Finished 7th last year, 8th in 2016, 5th in 2015, 15th in2014, 11th in 2012, and 15th in 2011 as an amateur.Thoughts: Since XTERRA Denmark in early September, Keithand I have been traveling in ‘VanElla’, visiting friends and fami-ly in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the U.K. We had aparticularly good training block with our neighbour Josie inFrance, and enjoy the variety/fluidity that travel brings to thetraining program. I’ve already sorted out work for as soon as Iget home, so I’ve been lucky to prepare relatively stress free.This year we will be coming to Maui on our way home from 6months travel. This is definitely different. I haven’t done any‘familiar’ routes in training for a long time so it’s hard to gaugewhere I’m at, we’ll see on race day! I’ve also incorporated gymsessions this year. I’m feeling the best I’ve been this year.Breaking ribs in May was not on the plan but they have fullyrecovered now and I’ve been able to train fully for a fewmonths. I’ve been able to do more running lately also with myfoot niggle calming down. Saying that, I’m not a believer thatyou must ‘feel good’ on the day. It’s XTERRA Worlds, I aim topull out a big race when it counts. My best result is 5th, I’d liketo better that. Racing relaxed, with focus, and a little luck, itcould happen. My high point this year was XTERRA Germany,being able to race confidently after the broken ribs, andrunning the full 10km. Low point was watching so manyEuropean races due to injury.Credentials: Ninth year racing XTERRA. Won the 25-29 WorldTitle in 2011 before going pro. Also won the amateur title at the2012 ITU Cross Tri World Championships.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 55 – Carina Wasle from Kundl, Austria

2018 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR CHAMPcarina-wasle.com / @carinawasleBorn: October 20, 1984This year: Had 15 podium finishes out of 15 races, won fourmajors including the Asia-Pacific Championship and won theXTERRA European Tour for the first time in her career. WonXTERRA South Africa, was 2nd at XTERRA Malta, 3rd at Greece,2nd at Italy-Garda and Portugal, 3rd at Belgium, Switzerland,and France, 2nd at Czech and Italy, 3rd at Poland and Germany,and won XTERRA Finland and Norway. Also won the XTERRAAsia-Pacific Championship race in the Philippines.Last year: Competed in 16 XTERRAs this year. Finished first inthe XTERRA Asia Pacific Tour standings and 3rd in XTERRAEuropean Tour standings for the second year in a row. WonXTERRA Saipan, XTERRA Philippines, and XTERRA Tahiti. InEurope, Wasle finished 5th at XTERRA Malta, 2nd at XTERRAPortugal and XTERRA Belgium, 5th at XTERRA Switzerland, 6that XTERRA France, 3rd at XTERRA Poland and XTERRA Germany,and 4th at the XTERRA European Championship in Denmark.Placed 9th at XTERRA Worlds.2016: Placed 2nd at XTERRA South Africa, won XTERRA Saipan,was 2nd at the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship, 3rd atXTERRA Malaysia, and finished 3rd in the Asia-Pacific Tourstandings. Won XTERRA Reunion. On the European Tour shewas 4th at Portugal, 2nd at Belgium, 7th in Switzerland, 6th inFrance, 5th in Sweden, 5th in Germany, and 2nd at Denmark.Finished 3rd in the European Tour standings. Finished 9th atthe XTERRA World Championship.In Maui: Finished 9th the last two years, 6th in 2015, 10th in2014, 11th in 2013, 6th in 2010, 8th in 2008, 10th in 2007.Thoughts: I prepared for Maui at home in Tyrol, Austria thisyear. I traveled so much, it’s just good to be home and train onmy favorite tracks. I had a great season. Asia Pacific Champion,Euro Tour Champion, 4 major XTERRA wins and only podiumfinishes. Low point is now my injury that turned out muchworse and takes much longer to heal than I would like. I like thecourse when it’s nice and dry. It’s lots of climbing, some nicetrails, should suit me. For me the hardest part is always the lastpart of the run. Maybe, because I’m already so tired and justwant to cross the finish line.Credentials: 14th year racing XTERRA. The most traveledXTERRA athlete of all-time. Two-time XTERRA Saipan winner(2016 & 2017). Finished 3rd at XTERRA Austria in first-everXTERRA in 2005.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 56 – Penny Slater from Wamboin, NSW, Australia

2018 XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC TOUR CHAMPIONBorn: March 4, 1996This year: Won the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour. Finished 4th atXTERRA New Zealand, 2nd at the XTERRA Asia-PacificChampionship race in Danao, 3rd at XTERRA Tahiti, and 2nd atXTERRA Albay. In Europe, she finished 5th at XTERRA France,6th at XTERRA Czech and Poland, and 13th at the XTERRAEuropean Championship in Germany. Finished 12th on theXTERRA European Tour. Also won the ITU Cross Tri U23 WorldTitle for the second year in a row.Last year: Finished 5th at XTERRA New Zealand, and 2nd atXTERRA Philippines. Was 3rd on the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour.Placed 11th in her first attempt at XTERRA Worlds.In Maui: Was 11th last year.Thoughts: Since I returned from racing in Europe at the end ofAugust I have been back home in Canberra, Australia preparingfor worlds. This year my preparation has focused a lot on beingstronger on the bike which has meant getting lots of miles inthe legs on the road bike coupled with some skills sessions onthe mountain bike. I’ve been working hard in the gym trying toget strong for all those hills and prehabbing to prevent injury.I’ve also been very strict with my diet this year which hasallowed me to remain healthy in those hard training weeksleading up to Maui. I’m feeling really great and healthy thank-fully. Unfortunately I had a nasty crash of my mountain bike inSeptember which kept me out of the pool for a few weeks dueto and infection in a laceration in my arm. But thankfully I’vereturned to the pool and my swimming is finally coming backinto form! I feel ready for Maui, more prepared both mentallyand physically than last year, at least now I know what toexpect come race day and how brutal the course is. However aseveryone knows conditions in Maui can vary greatly so I’mlooking forward to the challenges the island throws at use thisyear. This year for me a solid and realistic goal is to get insidethe top 10, of course I would love to sneak up higher than that.But to get anywhere near the top five at Maui you have to havea pretty phenomenal race and have no hiccups which I wouldlove to do. We will see what race day brings! I’d say that Lesleyand Brigitta are all girls to watch out for as well as Carina whohad a spectacular season. My favourite part of the course inMaui is the swim, I’m hoping for big surf so I can put into prac-tice some of the open water skills I’m lucky enough to havefrom my time on the beach as a youngster. My season this yearwas overall pretty good, I achieved my main two goals whichwas to win the Asia Pacific Tour and to defend my U23 WorldCross tri title.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 57 – Julie Baker from Sonora, California

2018 XTERRA VICTORIA CHAMPIONBorn: November 19, 1976This year: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Oak Mountain, won XTERRAVictoria, was 2nd at XTERRA Beaver Creek, and 8th at theXTERRA Pan American Championship. Finished 6th in the finalPan Am Tour standings.Last year: Finished 3rd at XTERRA Oak Mountain, 3rd at XTER-RA Beaver Creek, and 3rd at the XTERRA Pan AmChampionship. She finished 6th In the XTERRA Pan Am ProSeries. Placed 12th at XTERRA Worlds2016: Won XTERRA Beaver Creek in her first race as a pro andwas 3rd at the Pan Am Championship and 13th at the XTERRAWorld Championship. Named the female USAT amateur off-road triathlete of the year.In Maui: Was 12th last year, 13th in 2016, her first year as a pro.Won the overall XTERRA World Championship amateur title in2015.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 58 – Allison Baca from Boulder, Colorado

2018 XTERRA CHILE CHAMPIONBorn: May 2, 1990This year: Won XTERRA Chile, was 3rd at XTERRA Argentina,7th at XTERRA Victoria, 4th at XTERRA Beaver Creek, and 5th atthe XTERRA Pan Am Championship in Utah. Placed 5th in thefinal XTERRA Pan Am Tour Standings.In Maui: First race.Thoughts: This is my first year so we will see how the prepara-tion goes. Excited to get away from the cold weather here for aweek. I will be satisfied with my race if I leave everything outthere on the course. Since it’s my first year, I am not sure whatto expect from the race though! I mean it looks beautiful fromInstagram but that’s all I have to go off of at the moment. Myhigh point this year was winning XTERRA Chile! Low point - badcrash in April and missing three races on the Pan Am Tour.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 63 – Melanie McQuaid from Victoria, BC, Canada

3x XTERRA WORLD CHAMPION (2003, 2005, 2006)Born: May 17, 1973This year: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Victoria.Credentials: 15th year racing XTERRA. Won the XTERRACanada Championship in 2003, ‘04, ‘10- ‘12.Raced withCanada’s National Cycling team for six years. 2002: Won the XTERRA West title at Half Moon Bay. Series. 2003: Won XTERRA Worlds.2004: Won in Richmond. Won XTERRA Canada and placedsecond at XTERRA Worlds.2005: Won in Temecula, Italy, and became the first female towin a second XTERRA World Championship in Maui.2006: Won inaugural XTERRA Southeast Championship, theMountain Championship and Tahoe to capture her first ProSeries crown after three runner-ups. Followed with 2ndstraight & unprecedented 3rd XTERRA World Title.2007: Won in California, was the runner-up at XTERRA Worlds.2008: Won West Champs for second straight year, won the East,Mountain, USA Champs, and US Pro Series crown. DNF’d atXTERRA Worlds.2009: Won XTERRA West, Midwest, Southeast, Northwest, andAtlantic Cup races, and XTERRA USA Championship and XTERRAUS Pro Series title for the second straight year (her third overall- also won in 2006). Finished 3rd at XTERRA Worlds, her seventhtime in the top 3 at Maui.2010: Won the XTERRA European Championship in Italy, theXTERRA Canada Championship, the XTERRA USAChampionship.2011: Won the XTERRA West and South CentralChampionships, then captured the inaugural ITU Cross-TriWorld Title in Spain, won the Southeast title, XTERRA Canada,and the USA Championship for fourth year in a row. Won the ProSeries for the fourth time, and was on her way to winning XTER-RA Worlds before exhaustion struck and she collapsed just 60yards from the finish and DNF.2012: Won the East Championship, XTERRA Canada2014: Won XTERRA Victoria.In Maui: Placed 8th in 2014 in last XTERRA Maui. Was 17th in2013, 13th in 2012. In 2011 led most of the way before col-lapsing and DNF. Has been in the top three seven times since2000. Placed 11th in 2010, finished 3rd in 2009, did not finish in2008, and either won or finished second in previous five years.Placed 2nd in ’07, won her third world title in ’06, her second in’05, was 2nd in ’04 and won her first title in ’03. Was ninth in ’02,DNF in ’01, and was the runner-up in 2000.

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ELITE WOMEN’S CONTENDERSNo. 66 – Renata Bucher from Lucerne, Switzerland

33 XTERRA WORLD TOUR RACE WINSBorn: May 30, 1977This year: Placed 9th at XTERRA Italy-Garda, 4th at XTERRACzech and XTERRA Italy-Abruzzo, and 3rd at XTERRA Finland.Finished 10th on the XTERRA European Tour.Last year: Placed 7th at XTERRA Greece, 3rd at XTERRA Italy.2016: Placed 2nd on the XTERRA European Tour. Was 5th inPortugal, 4th in Switzerland, 2nd at France, 3rd in Italy andPoland, 6th in Germany and 3rd in Denmark.2015: Placed 5th at XTERRA Philippines, 4th at XTERRA Saipan,5th at XTERRA Guam, 9th at the XTERRA Asia-PacificChampionship in Australia, 7th at the XTERRA Asian TourChampionship in Malaysia, and was 4th at XTERRA Italy. Wonthe ETU European Championship in Germany in July. Finished2nd at the XTERRA European Championship in England. Was9th in Maui.Thoughts: I have spent a good amount of time back home inthe Swiss Mountains training for this. Early October I cameback to Australia, my second home. Unfortunately the ocean isstill freezing, and I haven’t done any ocean swimming yet.I have spent more time on the road bike. Early in the season Ihad the opportunity to join the Roxsolt Attaquer Team, to raceUCI events in the States. I reached another pain level. I only did4 races of the Euro Tour and it was the year of my first longdistance triathlon, the Inferno (3.1km swim, 97km road, 30kmmtb and 25km running) it took me 10h 48min, it was just joingup and up and up. I’m wondering, if these kind of races willbenefits me on the brutal Maui course! I’m feeling really good,healthy and happy. My goal is simple to find peace with thisrace and the island. Last time I raced in Maui I had a DNF (feltsick). When I was at my fittest point, I had a mechanical.Another year I couldn’t catch the wave properly at the end ofthe swim and got smashed into the sand beach and hurt myback. I was so suffering on the run. This year I see a big chancefor me to race and to enjoy the fight. I missed Maui in the lastyears, the people, the atmosphere and the race. Very thankfulto have the chance to make the trip, to be healthy and to feelstrong. You never know, what will happen. So I better live myown way and loving my life.In Maui: Placed 9th in 2015, did not finish in 2014, was 15th in2013, 7th in 2012, 4th in 2011, DNF in 2010, 14th in 2009, 4th in‘08, 5th in 2006, and 4th in first try in 2005.Credentials: 15th year racing XTERRA. Has won 33 XTERRAChampionship races in 14 countries, the U.S. Territory of Guamand the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. A four-timeXTERRA European Tour Champion.

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XTERRA WORLDS ELITE PRIZE PURSE

XTERRA World Championship

Pro Purse ($100,000)

Place Men Women

1st $20,000 $20,000

2nd $12,000 $12,000

3rd $7,000 $7,000

4th $4,000 $4,000

5th $2,500 $2,500

6th $1,500 $1,500

7th $1,100 $1,100

8th $800 $800

9th $600 $600

10th $500 $500

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The Double Award is given to the elite and amateur man and woman with the fastestcombined 2018 XTERRA World Championship and Ironman Hawaii Championshiptime. Elites are awarded $2,500 and the top amateur man and woman win a customracing jersey. American Ben Hoffman won the men’s double award last year for thethird year in a row with a combined time of 11:06:34 (8:19:26 IM + 2:47:08 XTERRA)while Philipp Widmann from Germany won the men's amateur double in 12:50:29,and Verena Eisenbarth won the women's amateur double in 14:15:41.

THE DOUBLE

ALL-TIME ELITE DOUBLE WINNERS

2017: Ben Hoffman (11:06:34)2016: Ben Hoffman (11:14:41)2015: Ben Hoffman (11:55:18)2014: Bart Aernouts (11:07:24) 2012: Sebastian Kienle (11:03:38)2010: Eneko Llanos (11:02:46)

Julie Dibens (12:09:36)2009: Eneko Llanos (11:15:17)2008: Eneko Llanos (11:03:39)

Sibylle Matter (13:12:08)2007: Eneko Llanos (11:17:17)

Erika Csomor (13:12:50)2006: Eneko Llanos (11:09:17)

Sibylle Matter (13:24:06)2005: Peter Reid (11:10:09)

Kate Major (12:51:01)2004: Peter Reid (11:27:59)

Heather Fuhr (13:18:17)2003: Peter Reid (11:03:50)

Heather Fuhr (12:42:03)2002: Peter Reid (11:18:23)

Arianne Gutknecht (13:30:26)2001: Cameron Widoff (11:54:30)

Wendy Ingraham (13:37:04)2000: Peter Reid (11:05:07)

Beth Zinkland (13:15:26)1999: Olivier Bernhart (11:05:09)

Uli Blank (13:09:57)1998: Peter Reid (10:59:49)

Wendy Ingraham (12:58:32)

Tentative 2018 Double Contenders

Division Name Hometown IM Time

M40-44 Jose Graca Kailua Kona, Hawaii, HI (Brazil) 8:58:58M25-29 Nico Seitter Sindelfingen, Germany 9:09:22M30-34 Jonathan Noon Encinitas, California 9:12:04M40-44 Stephane Vander Bruggen Thomson, Belgium 9:14:29M35-39 Pablo Ureta Cordoba, Argentina 9:31:21M40-44 Martin Bravo Comodoro, Argentina 9:34:03M45-49 Jason Sandquist Duncan, Canada 9:56:19M40-44 Ian Gray Seguin, Canada 10:06:40F30-34 Kate Bramley Lara, Australia 10:18:32M40-44 Daniel Redelinghuys Calgary, Canada 10:30:41M50-54 Arnaud Bouvier Digne-les-Bains, France 10:35:31F30-34 Marisol Franco Acevedo Durango, Mexico 10:44:34M50-54 Andrew Brierley St. Andrews, United Kingdom 10:51:56M35-39 Josh King Kailua, Oahu, HI 11:08:53M60-64 Ned Daily New Hyde Park, New York 11:27:45M40-44 Jefferson Oishi Lahaina, Maui, HI (Brazil) 11:28:33M60-64 Tom Monica Thousand Oaks, California 11:33:41F45-49 Tine Vogt Dusseldorf, Germany 11:42:48M35-39 Chris Calimano Staten Island, New York 13:16:57M55-59 Matthew Carr Phoenix, Arizona 14:32:48M50-54 Gregg Edelstein Newton Highlands, Mass. 14:47:53F55-59 Marilynn Laswell Wailuku, Maui, HI 15:39:40

2017 Double Results Division IM Time XTERRA Combined

Ben Hoffman USA PRO / Elite 8:19:26 2:47:08 11:06:34Braden Currie NZL PRO / Elite 8:50:05 2:39:04 11:29:09Philipp Widmann GER M30-34 9:39:15 3:11:13 12:50:28Pablo Ureta ARG M35-39 9:39:52 3:11:26 12:51:18Kenji Takeya JPN M45-49 9:51:36 3:04:54 12:56:30Marco Iseli SUI M35-39 10:21:04 3:16:42 13:37:46Arnaud Bouvier FRA M50-54 10:22:38 3:17:37 13:40:15Jose Reyes MEX M45-49 10:23:49 3:37:10 14:00:59Verena Eisenbarth FRA F30-34 10:39:32 3:36:09 14:15:41Yannick Antoine BEL M40-44 11:14:34 3:07:01 14:21:35Ashley Robota USA F30-34 10:57:07 4:15:14 15:12:21Uta Knape GER F40-44 11:25:38 3:56:34 15:22:12Brent Wong USA M35-39 12:27:13 3:55:26 16:22:39Jodi Ruby USA F55-59 12:02:29 4:29:00 16:31:29Thierry Foulounoux FRA M60-64 12:29:06 4:23:00 16:52:06Jennifer Burtner USA F45-49 13:35:53 3:53:43 17:29:36Sean Dowling USA M55-59 13:21:33 4:23:44 17:45:17Guillermo Jaramillo USA M60-64 15:43:35 4:00:58 19:44:33

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2017 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWOctober 29, 2017 (Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii) – Bradley Weissfrom Stellenbosch, South Africa and Flora Duffy fromDevonshire, Bermuda captured the 22nd XTERRA WorldChampionship elite titles on a sunny day in Kapalua, Maui.

It’s the first XTERRA World title for Weiss, and the fourth in a rowfor Duffy. With the win, Duffy joins XTERRA Hall of FamerConrad Stoltz as the only other elite to win four titles, she is thefirst female to four, and is the only elite to win four straight.

More than 800 endurance athletes – including six physicallychallenged athletes – from 52 countries competed in the event, There was more than 4,000-feet of combined climbing on thetechnical bike and run courses, which were in excellent condi-tion despite pouring rain on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

For Weiss, the day started with a magical swim. “I didn’t loseany time on the swim which was unbelievable,” said Weiss, whohas always been a strong biker and runner, but came out of thewater more than two-minutes behind the swim leaders lastyear. “I don’t know how I did it. I just felt so comfortable in thewater. I actually caught a wave at the end and caught up andgot past the group. When I stood up on the sand and saw Benand Flora and the whole group I just thought, what’s going on?”

It’s often been said that you can lose an XTERRA race on theswim but you can’t win it, but Weiss thinks he might haveproven the theory wrong. “One hundred percent I won the raceon the swim,” said Weiss, perhaps half in jest. “It’s been lettingme down all these years. When I stood up out of the water andsaw Mauricio and Ben, I thought, ‘Game on, here we go.’ And Ithink mentally I won the race there. I was just so, so confident.”

Weiss finished in 2:32:10 and was a humble champion in his firstvictory after three attempts on the Maui course. “The Maui godsdefinitely looked after me this year,” said Weiss at the awardsceremony. “I’m so happy to be here standing on the top of thepodium. Even when I was winning, I didn’t think I deserved tobe there, but I’m super proud and super grateful.”

After Weiss surprised himself with a great swim, he took achance and charged hard from the beginning of the bike course.“I got on the bike and I knew Ruben and Josiah would becoming,” said Weiss. “And I knew I had to put a gap on Mauricio.He’s proven time and time again that he’s putting the fastestrun splits in.”

On the bike course, Ruben Ruzafa, a tremendously skilledmountain biker, caught up to Weiss just before the secondwater station, but Ruzafa never had more than 30 seconds onhis competitor. “Once Ruben caught me, I thought, ‘Hang inthere as long as you can,’” said Weiss. “I made a little mistakeon the last bit of single track and Ruben got away.”

Weiss caught up to Ruzafa about one-mile into the run and puta charge into it, ultimately finishing down the chute with hisarms outstretched, sharing high fives with the crowd.

Mauricio Mendez, the 2016 XTERRA World Champ, was theeventual runner-up. He was expected to be racing from thefront, but he was in fourth place off the bike. He then posted thefastest run split, covering the 6.5-mile course in 39:49 to Weiss’41:40 and Ruzafa’s 43:41.

Ruzafa had the fastest bike split and was the first rider into T2here in Kapalua for the fifth straight year, but got caught byWeiss early on the run and got reeled in by Mendez just beforethe last stretch of sand before the finish and ended up in 3rdplace. Josiah Middaugh was the top American finisher in Mauifor the 10th time and seventh year in a row, and finished eighth.

WOMEN'S RACE: Duffy led the swim, the bike, and the run forthe women by a remarkable margin. By mile 15 on the bike,Duffy had an almost six-minute lead on runner up BarbaraRiveros from Chile.

“I did my first XTERRA World Championship in 2013, and I canvividly remember almost falling over running on that beachdown there,” said Duffy. “So, to be here today after winningfour in a row is pretty unbelievable and pretty crazy to thinkabout where I started. It’s a very special day for me, and whatmade it even cooler was that Bradley Weiss – Bad Brad I like tocall him – won his first world title. We’ve done a lot of trainingtogether over the years. He helped me in my final prep toRotterdam and I would like to think I helped him today.”

The 2017 XTERRA Chile Champion, Barbara Riveros was in sec-ond place for most of the race after a solid swim. She finished in2:56:11, about eight minutes behind Duffy. Laura Philipp wasthird in 2:57:24. “On the bike, Flora was on another level, we allknow that,” said Riveros, a three-time Olympian, who missedthe last two years at Maui because of injury.

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2017 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTSTOP 15 ELITE MEN

Pl Name Hometown Time Purse

1 Bradley Weiss Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:32:09 $20,0002 Mauricio Mendez Mexico City, Mexico 2:33:24 $12,0003 Ruben Ruzafa Malaga, Spain 2:33:45 $7,0004 Francisco Serrano Monterrey, Mexico 2:34:29 $4,0005 Cedric Fleureton Albigny, France 2:34:50 $2,5006 Sam Osborne Rotorua, New Zealand 2:36:22 $1,5007 Braden Currie Wanaka, New Zealand 2:39:03 $1,1008 Josiah Middaugh Eagle-Vail, Colorado 2:39:32 $8009 Brice Daubord Orleans, France 2:41:36 $60010 Rom Akerson Tambor, Costa Rica 2:42:23 $500Also: Arthur Forissier, Ben Hoffman, Rui Dolores, Ben Allen, Jan Kubicek

TOP 15 ELITE WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Time Purse

1 Flora Duffy Devonshire, Bermuda 2:47:47 $20,0002 Barbara Riveros Santiago, Chile 2:56:11 $12,0003 Laura Philipp Heidelberg, Germany 2:57:24 $7,0004 Brigitta Poor Gyor, Hungary 3:02:36 $4,0005 Lesley Paterson Stirling, Scotland 3:06:01 $2,5006 Suzie Snyder Reno, Nevada 3:06:27 $1,5007 Elizabeth Orchard Auckland, New Zealand 3:06:40 $1,1008 Helena Karaskova Jablonec, Czech Republic 3:08:22 $8009 Carina Wasle Kundl, Austria 3:11:34 $60010 Emma Garrard Park City, Utah 3:12:45 $500Also: Penny Slater, Julie Baker, Kara LaPoint, Debby Sullivan, Isabella Ribeiro

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Ben Allen (19:09), Flora Duffy (19:14)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Ruben Ruzafa (1:27:23), Flora Duffy (1:41:00)Fastest 10.5-kilometer run: Mauricio Mendez (39:49), Flora Duffy (45:08)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Tate Haugan Fort St. John, CAN 2:54:4120-24 Ondrej Petr Novy Bor, Czech 2:55:3125-29 Arnaud Taurelle* Nancy, France 2:49:5330-34 Pierrick Page Bressolles, France 2:52:3535-39 Francisco Gonzalez Santiago, Chile 2:52:5940-44 Marconi Ribeiro Brasilia, Brazil 3:00:5345-49 Jose Yuste Abbeville, SC 3:03:4450-54 Grzegorz Zgliczynski Elblag, Poland 3:12:0055-59 Gregory Ball (2) Noosa, Australia 3:23:4060-64 Carlos Cabrita Loule, Portugal 3:33:4665-69 Juerg Binia Dresden, Germany 4:03:2270-74 Peter Wood (10) Papeete, Tahiti 5:13:5475-79 Roger Kern (3) Scotts Valley, CA 6:05:4780+ Jon Adamson Alpharetta, GA 6:38:46PC Ed Fattoumy (11) Honolulu, HI 3:50:01

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Loanne Duvoisin* Les Geneveys, SUI 3:17:3220-24 Amanda Nadeau Calgary, Canada 3:50:1025-29 Carolina Nieva Yerba Buena, ARG 3:37:0430-34 Verena Eisenbarth La Roche, France 3:36:0935-39 Kristy Jennings Wanaka, NZL 3:39:2040-44 Tanya Sharp Auckland, NZL 3:28:3145-49 Mimi Stockton (5) Stevensville, MI 3:38:0950-54 Catherine Gance (2) Cergy, France 3:50:5355-59 Celine Hepworth Montmorency, AUS 3:59:3060-64 Martha Buttner (2) Boulder, CO 4:11:2165-69 Lynne Pattle Auckland, NZL 4:30:25

(#) denotes number of World Championships won*Top Amateurs

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2016 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWOctober 23, 2016 (Kapalua) - Mauricio Mendez, 21, fromMexico City, Mexico and Flora Duffy, 29, from Devonshire,Bermuda captured the XTERRA World Championship off-roadtriathlon elite titles on a wild, windy, and muddy day.

In the men’s race Mendez posted the fastest run split of the day(42:06) and passed three-time XTERRA World Champion RubenRuzafa from Spain with one-mile left in the run to take the tapein 2:49:38.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Mendez, the first pro from Mexicoto win an XTERRA World title. “I’ve looked up to these guys forso long and now to be up here with them is very special. I’m justhappy, really happy.”

In the women’s race Flora Duffy led from start-to-finish andposted the fastest swim, bike, and run times to take the win in3:14:59, more than 10-minutes ahead of runner-up LesleyPaterson from Scotland. It’s Duffy's third XTERRA WorldChampionship win in a row, tying Julie Dibens record of threestraight from 2007-09.

“It was really tough out there,” said Duffy. “I crashed on thebike, went over the handlebars and flying into the bushes. Mygears weren’t working, and all the while Lesley was back therecharging hard behind me. The 3-peat it really cool. It’s actuallyprobably even cooler with the fact that I also won the ITU WorldChampionship and then to back it up with this, wow, it’s reallya year I could not have asked for. And to tie Julie’s record of 3 ina row, it’s not easy to do, so many things can go wrong outthere. You really need a bit of luck, to prepare meticulously.”

MEN’S RACE: So a 21-year-old (his birthday was on Thursday)won the 21st annual XTERRA World Championship. “My firstXTERRA was in 2010 in Mexico, in the junior kids race, and I wonit, and I remember Dan Hugo was first place at the time andthinking wow, this is amazing, I want to be like him,” saidMendez. “And I just got into it and from that day I dreamedabout being the world champion. I don’t know, I feel like I amstill sleeping.”

Mendez was third out of the water, worked hard with LeoChacon on the bike to catch Courtney Atkinson at mile three,then he caught Ben Allen at about mile six and those two weretogether for the rest of the bike. Ruben Ruzafa caught them atabout that same time and rode away, coming into transitionwith more than two minutes. Mendez, who had the fastest run

last year by more than one-minute over Middaugh, had thefastest this year by just 41-seconds over Braden Currie but itwas 3:41 faster than Ruzafa.

Ben Allen came off the bike in third and stayed there. It’s thethird time in four years Allen has finished 3rd here at XTERRAWorlds. Currie and Middaugh came off the bike together at T2,both caught Leonardo Chacon, with Currie finishing fourth andMiddaugh in fifth (and top American for the ninth time and fifthtime in a row).

WOMEN’S RACE: Just a few weeks removed from upsettingOlympic gold medalist Gwen Jorgensen to win the ITU GrandFinal in Cozumel and ITU World Triathlon Series title, Duffy puther name in the record books with her third straight XTERRAcrown. It didn’t come easy.

“Just before the first bike feed on the steep section I flippedover my bars into the trees just like I've done before here, and Iwas super lucky, again. My bike is a little banged up, but I gotback on and I was like ‘dodged another bullet Flora.’ My gearsstopped working. I was stuck in easy for most of it, and I waslike, you’re done. Spinning, spinning. Not a good thing whenyou have Lesley behind you.”

Duffy, who finished 7th in her first XTERRA and said she’d neverdo another, says she’s happy that she did. “The first XTERRA Idid in 2013 in Beaver Creek, I swore I was never going to do oneagain,” she explained. “Thankfully I did, and it sort of led me tofinding myself in triathlon. Here you are racing against yourself,you have to do everything to get through the race, so I’ve kindof taken that to the road side of life. I think XTERRA has reallyaided my success on the road.”

For Paterson, the day started with a bit of a worry. “I was notcalm before or during the swim. Nothing would have helpedwith that. I had a pretty big panic attack through that, it wasawful. You’re standing at the edge seeing these big waves andyou think “Oh my God,”. And it was brutal, really brutal.”

For Suzie Snyder, who finished in third and top American, it wasthe culmination of her best year as an elite. “I kind of can’tbelieve this whole year,” she said.” It’s awesome.”

Myriam Guillot-Boisset finished 4th for the second straight year,and Helena Erbenova finished 5th for the second time in threeyears.

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2016 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTSTOP 15 ELITE MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Time Purse

1 Mauricio Mendez 21 Mexico City, Mexico 2:49:38 $20,0002 Ruben Ruzafa 32 Malaga, Spain 2:51:02 $12,0003 Ben Allen 31 Wollongong, Australia 2:53:49 $7,0004 Braden Currie 30 Wanaka, New Zealand 2:55:48 $4,0005 Josiah Middaugh 38 Vail, Colorado, USA 2:57:06 $2,5006 Leonardo Chacon 32 Liberia, Costa Rica 2:57:14 $1,5007 Ben Hoffman 33 Boulder, CO, USA 3:01:41 $1,1008 Courtney Atkinson 37 Queensland, Australia 3:02:22 $8009 Sam Osborne 25 Rotorua, New Zealand 3:02:52 $60010 Rom Akerson 32 Tambor, Costa Rica 3:05:16 $500Also: Roger Serrano, Felipe Barraza, Bradley Weiss, Karl Shaw, Felipe Moletta

TOP 15 ELITE WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Time Purse

1 Flora Duffy 29 Devonshire, Bermuda 3:14:59 $20,0002 Lesley Paterson 36 Sterling, Scotland 3:25:01 $12,0003 Suzie Snyder 34 Reno, NV, USA 3:29:03 $7,0004 Myriam Guillot-Boisset 37 Brindas, France 3:30:51 $4,0005 Helena Erbenova 37 Jablonec, Czech Republic 3:32:54 $2,5006 Michelle Flipo 28 Palma De Mallorca, Mexico 3:35:49 $1,5007 Jacqui Slack 33 Stoke-on-Trent, England 3:41:45 $1,1008 Lizzie Orchard 31 Auckland, New Zealand 3:42:14 $8009 Carina Wasle 32 Kundl, Austria 3:44:19 $60010 Joanna Brown 24 Guelph, ON, Canada 3:56:59 $500Also: Morgane Riou, Maia Ignatz, Julie Baker, Mieko Carey, Kara LaPoint

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Courtney Atkinson (20:01), Flora Duffy (21:26)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Ruben Ruzafa (1:42:42), Flora Duffy (2:05:01)Fastest 10.5-kilometer run: Mauricio Mendez (42:06), Flora Duffy (48:32)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 (2) Hayden Wilde Whakatane, NZL 3:19:3820-24 Loic Doubey Legna, France 3:09:2925-29 Pierre-Alain Nicole Varois, France 3:10:1630-34 Xavier Dafflon Fribourg, SUI 3:09:3535-39 Alejandro Bulacio Yerba Buena, ARG 3:25:3240-44 Nicolas Durin Vernioz, France 3:17:1345-49 (7) Cal Zaryski Calgary, Canada 3:24:1050-54 Guy Evans Geneva, Switzerland 3:48:1755-59 Gregory Ball Noosa, Australia 4:10:1260-64 Karsten Olsen Fredericia, Denmark 4:26:1365-69 Carl Peterson Penticton, Canada 5:00:0770-74 Roger Kern Scotts Valley, CA 7:58:2875-79 John Stover Jackson, MS, USA 8:08:00PC Michel Gonon Villard de Lans, FRA 4:31:55

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Heather Horton Draper, UT, USA 5:25:0820-24 Camille Jobard Sainte Sabine, FRA 4:37:0725-29 Ariarn Huston Perth, Australia 4:29:1830-34 Lydia Hale Rotorua, NZL 4:12:0235-39 Courtney Kaup Hinesburg, VT 4:21:3740-44 (4) Mimi Stockton Stevensville, MI 4:28:5245-49 Nathalie Pugeault Draguignan, France 4:47:1850-54 (3) Carol Rasmussen Karlslunde, DEN 4:45:2655-59 Stephanie Landy Ballston Spa, NY 4:51:2760-64 (7) Barbara Peterson Berkeley, CA, USA 5:17:0065-69 (7) Cindi Toepel Littleton, CO, USA 5:40:1370-74 (9) Wendy Minor Kamuela, HI, USA 7:50:15PC Beth Price Spanish Fort, AL 7:18:39

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2015 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWNovember 1, 2015 (Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii) - JosiahMiddaugh, 37, from Eagle-Vail, Colorado and Flora Duffy, 28,from Devonshire, Bermuda won the 20th XTERRA WorldChampionship off-road triathlon elite titles on an incrediblyscenic day in Kapalua, Maui.

It’s the first XTERRA World Title for Middaugh after 15 attempts,and he becomes the first American to win Worlds since MichaelTobin back in 2000. For Duffy, the win marks a perfect seasonwith five straight wins, her second XTERRA WorldChampionship in a row, and 12th XTERRA major victory in herlast 13 attempts since the start of 2014.

More than 800 endurance athletes from 43 countries participat-ed in the event, which started in the relatively calm waters ofthe Pacific Ocean at D.T. Fleming Beach, continued with a 20-mile mountain bike that traversed the West Maui Mountains,and finished with a grueling 6.5-mile trail run.

After 15 years of trying Josiah Middaugh has his worldtitle…“15th time’s a charm,” Middaugh said to the crowd as hecrossed the line, barefoot, holding the finish tape and anAmerican flag with his son Porter and daughter Larsen by hisside (his oldest son Sullivan and wife Ingrid were watching inadmiration). “I haven’t planned a single thing beyond this dayso this is the end and the beginning right here, it’s amazing.”

The men’s race started out as expected with all the fast swim-mers getting an early jump … Courtney Atkinson, Ben Allen,Jens Roth, Mauricio Mendez and Sam Osborne were the first tohit the 20-mile bike course.

What wasn’t expected was how well Middaugh would swim. Hewas still two minutes behind the swim leaders, but moreimportantly he was side-by-side with Ruzafa. Last year he was1:41 down on Ruzafa coming out of the water.

“You never know how you are going to feel, you always feelsluggish the morning of the race. I felt good in the water thoughand I was psyched to come out with Ruben,” said Middaugh.

Those two worked their way to the front of the pack on the bikein no time but after a crash set Middaugh back, Ruzafapounced. “I felt really good on the bike,” said Middaugh. “I wasriding with Ruben and then I had a spill on an off-camber cor-ner. It was a little wet, lost my front tire and went down. It wasjust enough to lose 20 seconds to Ruben, and I was able to stay

in that gap but some people filled in – Paco (Francisco Serrano)and Braden (Currie). Then I came down and washed out overanother corner, turned the handlebars over and was then 45seconds behind Ruben and I was just trying to keep it. Last yearhe put 45 seconds on me on the last five miles, this year he putone-minute on me. Nothing you can do, he’s an amazing rider.”

Ruzafa did indeed put some time on the pack, but the efforttook its toll. “At the top of the climb I passed Josiah and I putsome time into him and arrived 1:45 at T2, but my body was notthe same and I exploded on the run,” he explained.

“I caught Ruben right before the lake at the big climb. I wasmaking back 20-30 seconds a mile on him. I was shocked. Lastyear he was climbing at the same speed as I was. I was charg-ing as hard as I could, I was lifting my knees and pumping ashard as I could go and I knew I was coming back on him. It feltgood.”

In the women’s race Flora Duffy was determined. “I had the bigtarget on my back, and I came here with a mission. I wanted todefend, and got away with that by the skin of my teeth today,”said Duffy. “I really struggled. Hit a tree, slide out on a corner,fell in a big mud puddle, and all the while the time gap betweenme and Lesley was getting smaller and smaller.”

Duffy had the fastest women’s swim split (5th overall) and was3:45 up on two-time XTERRA World Champion Lesley Patersonout of the water. Paterson posted the best bike split to pullback a couple of minutes and was seemingly in striking dis-tance heading out on the run.

“There were moments out there when I questioned it,” saidDuffy. “I really, really struggled on the bike this year, not surewhy I just couldn’t stay on my bike, it wasn’t flowing. You haveone of those days that everything goes wrong, that was my day.There were times on that run when I had no idea if I could holdon.”

In the end Duffy took the tape in 2:54:17, five minutes in front ofPaterson. “It was a tough day. For everybody it's tough. Youhave obstacles you have to get over.”

Emma Garrard had a great race of her own to finish in thirdposition, yet another step forward in her amazing progressionthrough the years (she was 5th two years ago, and 4th last year).Garrard was once again the top American finisher.

51

2015 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTSTOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name - Age, Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Josiah Middaugh - 37, Eagle-Vail, Colorado 2:35:32 $20,000 2 Braden Currie - 29, Wanaka, New Zealand 2:38:30 $12,000 3 Ruben Ruzafa - 31, Malaga, Spain 2:40:40 $7,000 4 Mauricio Mendez - 20, Mexico City, Mexico 2:40:54 $4,000 5 Courtney Atkinson - 36, Mermaid Waters, QLD, Australia 2:42:27 $2,500 6 Francisco Serrano - 35, Monterrey, Mexico 2:42:57 $1,500 7 Yeray Luxem - 29, Merksem, Belgium 2:44:45 $1,100 8 Rom Akerson - 31, Tambor, Costa Rica 2:45:07 $800 9 Nicolas Fernandez - 32, Pelissane, France 2:46:51 $600 10 Ben Hoffman - 32, Boulder, Colorado 2:49:56 $500 Also: Jens Roth, Olly Shaw, Fabien Combaluzier, Ben Allen, Albert Soley

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name - Age, Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Flora Duffy - 28, Devonshire, Bermuda 2:54:17 $20,000 2 Lesley Paterson - 35, Sterling, Scotland 2:59:16 $12,000 3 Emma Garrard - 34, Park City, Utah 3:03:28 $7,000 4 Myriam Guillot-Boisset - 36, Brindas, France 3:07:27 $4,000 5 Lizzie Orchard - 29, Epsom, New Zealand 3:09:57 $2,500 6 Carina Wasle - 31, Kundl, Austria 3:11:23 $1,500 7 Helena Erbenová - 36, Jablonec, Czech Republic 3:17:12 $1,000 8 Jacqui Slack - 32, Stoke-On-Trent, United Kingdom 3:18:04 $800 9 Renata Bucher - 38, Lucerne, Switzerland 3:19:34 $600 10 Susan Sloan - 34, Benoni, South Africa 3:20:44 $500 Also: Elisabetta Curridori, Maia Ignatz, Kara LaPoint, Verena Eisenbarth, Alena Stevens

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Courtney Atkinson (19:23), Flora Duffy (19:57)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Ruben Ruzafa (1:27:27), Lesley Paterson (1:42:52)Fastest 10.5-kilometer run: Mauricio Mendez (40:51), Emma Garrard (46:08)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Hayden Wilde Whakatane, NZL 2:59:4620-24 Charly Sibille Montmorot, France 2:58:0825-29 (2) Martin Kostelnicak Bratislava, Slovakia 2:56:2330-34 * Christophe Betard Epinal, France 2:56:0035-39 Oscar Garcia Pilar, Argentina 2:59:2840-44 (2) Martin Flinta Molndal, Sweden 2:57:1045-49 (6) Calvin Zaryski Calgary, Canada 3:01:0950-54 (2) Benoit Lalevee Saint Nazaire, FRA 3:10:2855-59 Philippe Costet Vandoeuvre, FRA 3:27:0260-64 Peter Dann Eagle, Colorado 3:44:0765-69 (3) Bruce Wacker Kailua Kona, Hawaii 4:17:5770-74 Steffen Neuendorff Michelbach, GER 5:46:54PC (10) Fouad Fattoumy Honolulu, HI 3:47:12

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Clara Clemmensen Taastrup, Denmark 3:55:5520-24 Larissa Rabago Guadalajara, Mexico 3:40:4825-29 (3) Elizabeth Gruber Colorado Springs 3:26:4430-34 Susi Pawel Dresden, Germany 3:39:1535-39 * Julie Baker Sonora, California 3:25:5140-44 (3) Mimi Stockton Stevensville, MI 3:29:0645-49 Catherine Gance Cergy, France 3:57:4350-54 (2) Carol Rasmussen Karlslunde, DEN 3:44:3255-59 Sharon McDowell-Larsen Colorado Springs 3:51:5660-64 (6) Cindi Toepel Littleton, Colorado 4:23:3165-69 (3) Libby Harrow Fruita, Colorado 6:01:0070-74 (8) Wendy Minor Kamuela, Hawaii 6:17:18

(#) denotes number of World Championships won *Top Amateurs

52

2014 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWOctober 25, 2014 (Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui, HI) - One elitebecame an instant legend in her home country and anothersolidified his status among XTERRA’s all-time greats at the 19thrunning of the XTERRA World Championship.

Flora Duffy, who first dreamed of becoming a world championwhen she was 8-years-old, became the first pro triathlete fromBermuda to win a triathlon world title and Ruben Ruzafa fromSpain captured his third XTERRA World Championship andwrapped up a perfect season that featured nine straight wins,the XTERRA European Tour Championship, the ITU CrossTriathlon World Championship and the XTERRA USAChampionship.

More than 800 endurance athletes from around the world par-ticipated in the off-road triathlon, which started and finished atThe Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua hotel on Maui. The course consistedof a 1-mile swim, a 20-mile mountain bike, and a 6-mile run.

It used to be all about the bike for Ruben Ruzafa, who has nowposted the fastest bike split at all three XTERRA WorldChampionship races he’s entered (and won) , but now he’salmost just as strong at swimming and running.

“I feel great, it’s incredible. Until you finish the race you don'tknow if you are going to win. Today, I knew it was going to behard because Josiah was really good. I am surprised because Iswam very well… but Josiah did really well in the ride, and run-ning of course he was very fast. So, it wasn’t until the end of thecourse that I knew he was not there.”

Ruzafa came out of the water less than one-minute behind theleaders and made all that up and more to take the lead on thebike by the six-mile mark when he passed the other 11 riders infront of him and finally Ben Allen. More importantly, his 20:51swim split was 1:45 faster than his toughest opponent, JosiahMiddaugh.

He extended the gap on Middaugh by 50-seconds on the bikeand even though the American XTERRA icon ran more than aminute faster in the final leg of the race, it wasn’t enough.Here’s how Middaugh explained it…

“I knew I had to have a really good swim. I had a great starttoday and I had the best swim I’ve ever had here. I was a littleover two minutes behind the lead, but really close to the peopleI was racing with but Ruben was off ahead with an even better

swim. He wasn’t too far off the front. I caught the top 5 on thebike really early and I put together the best race I have donehere. It wasn’t quite enough to win but I'm very happy with sec-ond. I feel like I pushed really hard all the way through. I feel likeI emptied the tank like 50 times and put every single thing intothis race. Best day I’ve had.”

In the women’s race nothing could stop Flora Duffy, not amechanical, not even a wicked crash that sent her flying intothe bushes and ripped holes in her racing kit.

“I crashed so hard, I literally don't know how I got back on mybike,” said Duffy.

“You know how it’s a steep gnarly decent, I hit a root awkward-ly and just flew into the trees head first with the bike on top ofme. I was lucky I landed in the bushes. Then, five minutes laterI had a mechanical. It was a hard day out there.”

It was even harder for all the elite women trying to keep up withDuffy. Last year’s women’s winner Nicky Samuels did her best,but said she lacked the fitness after her break from ITU racing.

“I had a break after the ITU season so I think 3rd is about wheremy fitness is, and to hold on to 3rd place was good enough forme,” said Samuels.

Riveros, who was the runner-up two years ago and finishedfourth last year, worked her way back into the second spot thisyear.

“I’m very, very proud of Flora,” said Riveros.

“I'm happy for her for getting the title for her country. She’s arole model. She’s very strong and I knew she was the bigcontender here and she more than proved that today so clap forher and congratulations to everyone.”

Emma Garrard continues to shine bright as America’s topfemale racer with a fourth-place showing .

Helena Erbenova was several minutes behind the leaders afterthe swim but coupled a great bike and run to work her way intofifth despite crashing on the bike.

53

2014 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTSTOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Ruben Ruzafa 30 Malaga, Spain 2:29:56 $20,000 2 Josiah Middaugh 36 Vial, Colorado 2:31:11 $12,000 3 Ben Allen 29 North Wollongong, Australia 2:34:50 $7,000 4 Dan Hugo 29 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:36:28 $4,000 5 Mauricio Mendez 19 Mexico City, Mexico 2:38:55 $2,500 6 Bart Aernouts 30 Merksem, Belgium 2:38:56 $1,500 7 Conrad Stoltz 41 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:38:57 $1,000 8 Michael Weiss 33 Gumpoldskirchen, Austria 2:39:06 $800 9 Rom Akerson 30 Paquera, Costa Rica 2:39:40 $600 10 Bradley Weiss 25 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:40:09 $500 Also: Brice Daubord, Rob Woestenborghs, Jim Thijs, Ryan Ignatz, Albert Soley

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Flora Duffy 27 Devonshire, Bermuda 2:47:59 $20,000 2 Barbara Riveros 27 Wollongong, Chile 2:50:04 $12,000 3 Nicky Samuels 31 Wanaka, New Zealand 2:56:31 $7,000 4 Emma Garrad 33 Park City, Utah 2:56:54 $4,000 5 Helena Erbenova 35 Jablonec Nad Nisou, Czech 2:57:56 $2,500 6 Suzie Snyder 32 Fredericksburg, Virginia 2:59:53 $1,500 7 Charlotte McShane 34 Mount Taylor, Australia 3:02:59 $1,000 8 Melanie McQuaid 41 Victoria, Canada 3:03:17 $800 9 Jacqui Slack 31 Stoke On Trent, Great Britain 3:03:45 $600 10 Carina Wasle 30 Kundl, Austria 3:04:54 $500 Also: Kathrin Muller, Chantell Widney, Danelle Kabush, Sandra Koblemueller, Lizzie Orchard

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Mauricio Mendez/Ben Allen (20:01), Nicky Samuels/Flora Duffy (20:22)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Ruben Ruzafa (1:26:53), Flora Duffy (1:41:41)Fastest 11-kilometer run: Josiah Middaugh (37:58), Barbara Riveros (42:01)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Maxim Chane Falicon, France 2:55:3720-24 Thomas Kerner Burglengenfeld, GER 2:53:2725-29 Martin Kostelnicak Bratislava, Slovakia 2:52:5830-34 * Guillaume Jeannin Bergholtz-Zell, FRA 2:46:2135-39 Johann Mathis Le Tholy, France 2:57:3440-44 Martin Flinta Molndal, Sweden 2:53:1145-49 Tom Evans Penticton, Canada 2:54:4150-54 Dennis Farrell Littleton, Colorado 3:11:0055-59 (2) Dennis Brinson Carson City, Nevada 3:20:5860-64 Johnny Davis Boulder, Colorado 3:40:2765-69 (2) David Rakita Durango, Colorado 4:10:3970-74 (9) Peter Wood La Jolla, California 4:43:18CA (9) Fouad Fattoumy Honolulu, Hawaii 3:40:00

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 (5) Hannah Rae Finchamp Altadena, California 3:30:5220-24 Natia Van Heerden Hazyview, RSA 3:29:0825-29 * Brittany Webster Canmore, Canada 3:17:3630-34 Laurianne Levasseur Nantes, France 3:34:1435-39 Nadine Mueller Canmore, Canada 3:25:5740-44 Kelli Montgomery Wallingford, CT 3:40:2445-49 Riikka Vreeswijk-Kelja Gorinchem, NED 3:30:2750-54 (2) Tamara Tabeek San Diego, California 3:51:1855-59 Martha Buttner Boulder, Colorado 4:05:1060-64 (5) Cindi Toepel Littleton, Colorado 4:25:4665-69 Linda Usher West Upton, MA 5:48:52CA (2) Judith Abrahams Anchorage, Alaska 5:20:13

(#) denotes number of World Championships won *Top Amateurs

54

2013 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWRitz-Carlton, Kapalua (October 27, 2013) - Maui turned up theheat and the competition last year as more than 700 enduranceathletes from around the world participated in the ultimateXTERRA at The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua hotel on Maui.Temperatures approaching 90 degrees turned it into a race ofattrition as much as a race of competition.

Ruben Ruzafa from Spain made a triumphant return to the topof the XTERRA World Championship podium after completingthe course in 2 hours, 34 minutes, 34 seconds. Nicky Samuelsfrom New Zealand took the women’s title in her first appear-ance at the XTERRA World Championship. She finished thecourse in 2:57:48.

Ruzafa, who is 30 and resides in Malaga, Spain, won the 2013XTERRA World Championship for the second time in his careerlast year (and he hasn’t lost a race since).

“We knew that it was a really hot day,” Ruzafa said. “I drink a lot(of water). I drink three bottles on the bike so I can make it tothe run relatively fresh. I pushed hard and I’m very, very happy.”

Ruzafa trailed the leaders by around two minutes after theswim, but he more than made up for it with an astonishing bikeride. He finished with a bike split of 1:30:11, which was thefastest of the day by more than a minute. He eventually reeledin all the leaders on the bike, and had a lead of about 45 sec-onds entering the run.

“I was really surprised,” Ruzafa said of his ability to pass theother pros on the bike. Nobody got close to Ruzafa on the run,and he eventually finished 1 minute, 27 seconds, ahead of therest of the field.

“Two (XTERRA) championships is really, really good for me,” hesaid. “It’s a dream.”

The women’s race had no such drama at the front, as Samuelsjumped into the lead early in the bike and stayed somewhat-comfortably in front the rest of the way.

“A bit shocked, really,” Samuels said of her successful debut atthe XTERRA World Championship. “I didn’t know how mydescending skills, or lack of, was going to stand up to the othergirls.”

Samuels, 30, who raced for New Zealand at the LondonOlympics and normally focuses on ITU road events, and saidshe practiced her mountain biking for only three weeks prior tothis race. Still, she was able to post the second-fastest bike splitamong the females at 1:49:36.

“I thought it would be hot and thought there would be a lot ofsandy stuff on the bike,” she said. “I guess that’s what it mighthave been, but more of a mountain bike course with berms andjumps and things. It was kind of like a school cross country racewhen you’re 5 or 6. It was fun, something different and a niceway to end the season.”

She is the first female from New Zealand to win the XTERRAWorld Championship (Hamish Carter took the men’s title in2006). Her victory ended the successful run of Scotland’s LesleyPaterson, who was the two-time defending XTERRA women’sworld champ and had posted seven consecutive XTERRA racevictories leading up to this year’s Worlds.

“I just didn’t feel like I had the legs from the start and that’s ahorrible course to feel like that,” said Paterson, 33.

Paterson said she knew midway through the bike that victo-ry was probably out of reach, but she still displayed her cham-pion spirit by tracking down two fellow pros on the run to takesecond place. Paterson finished the bike in fourth, but passedBarbara Riveros first on the run, then staged a late surge to passFlora Duffy in the final 100 meters of the run.

“I came off the bike just way down, not where I wanted to be,and I just fought all the way,” she said.

Paterson finished in 3:00:14, including the fastest run split ofthe day at 43:55.

Duffy, who is an Olympian from Bermuda, finished in third – fiveseconds after Paterson – for an impressive debut of her own atthe XTERRA Worlds. “I’m shocked,” she said. “Coming into thisrace, I was kind of here just for fun.”

On Paterson’s late pass for second place, Duffy said: “I couldn’trespond. I was just hoping there was nobody behind Lesley.”Riveros, who is an Olympian from Chile and placed second atthe 2012 XTERRA Worlds, took fourth this year with a time of3:01:43.

55

2013 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTSTOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Ruben Ruzafa 29 Malaga, Spain 2:34:34 $20,000 2 Asa Shaw 29 Frejus, France 2:36:01 $12,000 3 Ben Allen 28 North Wollongong, Australia 2:36:24 $7,000 4 Josiah Middaugh 35 Vail, Colorado 2:37:44 $4,000 5 Braden Currie 27 Wanaka, New Zealand 2:39:05 $2,500 6 Conrad Stoltz 40 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:39:31 $1,500 7 Nicolas Lebrun 40 Digne-les-Bains, France 2:40:57 $1,000 8 Marvin Gruget 21 Beaumes de Venise, France 2:42:03 $800 9 Leonardo Chacon 29 Liberia, Costa Rica 2:42:08 $600 10 Brice Daubord 28 Orleans, France 2:43:00 $500 Also: Francois Carloni, Richard Murray, Kris Coddens, Dan Hugo, Jan Kubicek

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Nicky Samuels 30 Wanaka, New Zealand 2:57:48 $20,000 2 Lesley Paterson 33 Sterling, Scotland 3:00:14 $12,000 3 Flora Duffy 26 Boulder, Colorado 3:00:19 $7,000 4 Barbara Riveros 26 La Pintana, Chile 3:01:43 $4,000 5 Emma Garrard 32 Park City, Utah 3:01:49 $2,500 6 Chantell Widney 33 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 3:04:36 $1,500 7 Helena Erbenova 34 Jablonecu, Czech Republic 3:05:16 $1,000 8 Shonny Vanlandingham 44 Durango, Colorado 3:05:43 $800 9 Jacqui Slack 30 Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom 3:05:52 $600 10 Suzie Snyder 31 Fredericksburg, Virginia 3:08:32 $500 Also: Carina Wasle, Carla Van Huyssteen, Kathrin Muller, Heather Jackson, Renata Bucher

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Leonardo Chacon (18:31), Flora Duffy (19:21)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Ruben Ruzafa (1:30:11), Shonny Vanlandingham (1:49:22)Fastest 11-kilometer run: Asa Shaw (39:24), Lesley Paterson (43:55)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Mauricio Mendez* Mexico City, Mexico 2:45:4820-24 Clement Briere Bretteville, France 2:53:2325-29 Albert Soley Bigues, Spain 2:53:2730-34 Oliver Pichou Canteleu, France 2:56:1935-39 Romaric Delepine Zimming, France 2:50:4540-44 (4) Thomas Vonach Schwarzach, Austria 2:58:1045-49 (5) Calvin Zaryski Calgary, Canada 2:58:3150-54 Tim Sheeper Menlo Park, CA 3:13:3855-59 (4) Tom Monica Thousand Oaks, CA 3:28:1860-64 (4) John Royson Albany, California 3:34:5165-69 (2) Bruce Wacker Nelson, NZL 4:29:0370-74 (8) Peter Wood La Jolla, California 5:07:5975-79 (2) Ron Hill Hayden, Idaho 7:12:11PC (8) Ed Fattoumy Honolulu, HI 3:52:13

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 (4) Hannah Rae Finchamp* Altadena, California 3:11:0220-24 (2) Elizabeth Gruber Redding, California 3:29:1325-29 Kara Lapoint Truckee, California 3:28:2430-34 Debby Sullivan Roseville, California 3:37:4635-39 Jennifer Todd Newbury Parks, CA 3:39:3340-44 (2) Mimi Stockton Stevensville, MI 3:33:0945-49 Kim Beckinsale Noosa Heads, Aus 3:28:3850-54 (2) Anne Gonzales Aspen, Colorado 3:23:5355-59 (2) Lucia Colbert Cordova, Tennessee 4:11:1660-64 Beverly Watson Priddis, Canada 4:15:0565-69 (7) Wendy Minor Kamuela, Hawaii 6:09:21

(#) denotes number of World Championships won*Top Amateurs

56

2012 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEWRitz-Carlton, Kapalua (October 28, 2012) -A tsunami warningfor the Hawaiian Islands was canceled early on Sundaymorning, and then Javier Gomez Noya and Lesley Patersonwent out and stormed the competition at the 2012 XTERRAWorld Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua on the islandof Maui.

Gomez Noya was the overall winner, completing the course(1.5-kilometer swim, 30K mountain bike, 10K trail run) in2 hours, 26 minutes, 50 seconds. The 29-year-old from Spainfollowed up his silver medal performance at the 2012 Olympicswith an impressive victory in his inaugural XTERRA appearance.

Paterson was the top female, not only repeating her accom-plishment of a year ago, but bettering it. She finished with atime of 2:44:11, which was nearly two minutes faster than herwinning time of a year ago.

A capacity – and XTERRA World Championship record – field of750 athletes from around the world participated in the event,which was held on Maui for the 17th consecutive year.

As if the lead-in drama to the event were not enough, a tsunamiwarning was issued for all of the Hawaiian Island late Saturdaynight. Many of the athletes stayed up late trying to get updateson the tsunami, and some were even evacuated from theirhotels or homes.

“I think maybe some of the athletes had to evacuate or had tostay up a little bit later, but I don’t think it had a big influence onthe race,” said Conrad Stoltz, who placed third overall. “I thinkwe were lucky to have a fair world championship.”

Indeed, the conditions did not adversely affect the race,although an expected swell did create a rougher-than-normalocean swim.

All of the XTERRA pros know who Javier Gomez Noya is. He is,after all, a two-time ITU triathlon world champ in addition tothe 2012 Olympic silver medalist. They just didn’t know howgood he might be on an XTERRA course. He turned out to beexceptional. Gomez Noya made quite the XTERRA debut, run-ning away to the overall win.

“I didn’t expect that,” Gomez Noya said. “I had a really goodswim ... but I knew these guys like Conrad (Stoltz) and the goodmountain bikers, they are much better than me, especially on

the technical sections, so my tactic was try to push really harduphill because then you can go hard uphill and then on thedownhill just not even try to go crazy fast, just try to recover andavoid crashing. It worked pretty well.”

After breaking through for her first XTERRA WorldChampionship last year, Paterson did it again. She was the topfemale, finishing with a time of 2:44:11.

“It was perfect from start to finish for me,” she said. “I’ve donesome great training leading up to this. This was my big focus ofthe year, and it panned out exactly how I wanted it to.”

The 32-year-old from Scotland (pictured) took the lead early inthe bike and then ran away from the other women. She finishedmore than four minutes ahead of runner-up Barbara Riveros(2:48:18) from Chile. Marie Rabie from South Africa was third in2:53:55, and Heather Jackson from Carlsbad, Calif., was fourthin 2:54:12. Riveros, Rabie and Jackson were all making theirXTERRA World Championship debuts.

Among the age-group amateurs, a pair of California teenagerstook the spotlight. Neilson Powless (pictured) from Roseville,Calif., was the top overall amateur with a time of 2:42:35, whileHannah Rae Finchamp from Altadena, Calif., was the top femaleamateur in 3:05:55.

Powless is 16 and a sophomore at Roosevelt High School;Finchamp is 16 and a junior at Maranatha High School. They arethe youngest male and female to ever win the title of top over-all amateur at the XTERRA World Championship.

It is also the first age-group XTERRA world title for Powless.Finchamp is now a three-time XTERRA world champ in thefemale 15-19 age group.

Powless exited the water in 15th place among the amateurs,but he eventually caught them all. His overall finishing time was14 seconds ahead of New Zealand’s Oliver Shaw.

Finchamp’s win wasn’t nearly as close, as she finished morethan seven minutes ahead of the next amateur female. Herfinishing time would have placed her 13th among the prowomen.

57

2012 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTSTOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Javier Gomez Noya 29 Pontevedra, Spain 2:26:54 $20,000 2 Josiah Middaugh 34 Vail, Colorado 2:27:41 $12,000 3 Conrad Stoltz 39 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:30:04 $7,000 4 Leonardo Chacon 28 Liberia, Costa Rica 2:30:19 $4,000 5 Victor Del Correl 32 Santa Olivia, Spain 2:30:24 $2,500 6 Brent McMahon 32 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:30:56 $1,500 7 Asa Shaw 28 Frejus, France 2:32:16 $1,000 8 Tim Don 34 London, United Kingdom 2:32:41 $800 9 Yeray Luxem 26 Merkem, Belgium 2:33:10 $600 10 Olivier Marceau 39 Vallavris, Switzerland 2:33:36 $500 Also: Nicolas Lebrun, Eneko Llanos, Felix Schumann, Sebastian Kienle, Francisco Serrano

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Lesley Paterson 32 San Diego, California 2:44:12 $20,000 2 Barbara Riveros 25 La Pintana, Chile 2:48:19 $12,000 3 Mari Rabie 26 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:53:56 $7,000 4 Heather Jackson 28 Carlsbad, California 2:54:13 $4,000 5 Jacqui Slack 29 Stoke-On-Trent, United Kingdom 2:55:19 $2,500 6 Magali Tisseyre 31 St-Sauveur, Canada 3:01:11 $1,500 7 Renata Bucher 35 Littau, Switzerland 2:01:51 $1,000 8 Shonny Vanlandingham 43 Durango, Colorado 3:02:24 $800 9 Helena Erbanova 33 JabloneC, Czech Republic 3:03:48 $600 10 Marion Lorblanchet 29 Lempdes, France 3:04:21 $500 Also: Elizabeth Orchard, Danelle Kabush, Melanie McQuaid, Brandi Heisterman, Katie Button

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Javier Gomez (19:05), Mari Rabie (21:11)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Josiah Middaugh (1:23:34), Lesley Paterson (1:36:01)Fastest 11-kilometer run: Javier Gomez (37:51), Lesley Paterson (40:51)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Neilson Powless* Roseville, CA 2:42:3520-24 Oliver Shaw Rotorua, New Zealand 2:42:4925-29 (2) Jiri Klima Osek, Czech 2:44:4630-34 (3) Tim Van Daele Burcht, Belgium 2:43:5935-39 Antonio Martin Del Campo Guadalajara, Mexico 2:53:1140-44 (3) Thomas Vonach Schwarzach, Austria 2:48:2845-49 Benoit Lalevee St.Nazaire, France 2:55:4050-54 (3) Casey Fannin Birmingham, Alabama 3:09:0055-59 Dennis Brinson Carson City, Nevada 3:13:0360-64 Tryg Fortun Kenmore, Washington 3:24:1065-69 Michal Mogrovics Olomouc, Czech 3:56:5270-74 Roger Kern Scotts Valley, CA 5:30:3875-79 Nathaniel Grew Costa Rica 6:06:56CEO Mike Cabigon Edmonton, Canada 2:52:15PC (7) Fouad Fattoumy Honolulu, Hawaii 3:34:22

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 (3) Hannah Rae Finchamp*Altadena, California 3:05:5520-24 Elizabeth Gruber Redding, California 3:23:0425-29 Becci Kaltenmeier Freiburg, Germany 3:21:4830-34 Sarah Backler Tauranga, NZL 3:14:5535-39 Kristen Tamburrino St. Catharines, CAN 3:21:2540-44 Mimi Stockton Stevensville, MI 3:20:4145-49 Carol Rasmussen Karlslunde, DEN 3:33:0950-54 Anne Gonzales Aspen, Colorado 3:13:0055-59 Lucia Colbert Cordova, Tennessee 3:49:5560-64 (2) Sharon Prutton Christchurch, NZL 4:00:4365-69 (2) Kathy Frank Santa Cruz, CA 6:07:13PC Judith Abrahams Kenai, Alaska 5:41:22

(#) denotes number of World Championships won*Top Amateurs

58

October 23, 2011 (Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua - Maui) - A newvenue served as a fitting place to crown new XTERRA worldchampions. The 16th XTERRA World Championship turned intoa sweet celebration for Michael Weiss, Lesley Paterson andKapalua, Maui.

Weiss and Paterson earned their first XTERRA world titles on anew course that was described as both beautiful and brutal.After 15 previous years at Makena, the XTERRA WorldChampionship off-road triathlon moved to the Ritz-CarltonKapalua this year. A total of 675 athletes representing 28 coun-tries and 42 states participated in the event, which featured a1.5-kilometer swim, a 30-kilometer mountain bike and a10-kilometer trail run.

Weiss was the overall winner, completing the course in 2 hours,27 minutes, including an astonishing bike split of 1:19:32. Noother competitor finished with a bike time under 1:21:03. It wasa breakthrough win for the 30-year-old Weiss, who had finishedsecond at the 2008 XTERRA Worlds, and then third in 2009 and2010.

“It’s amazing,” said Weiss, who is from Vienna, Austria. “I stillcannot believe it. A big dream came true, and it was a reallytough course.”

Weiss was in the middle of the pack after the swim, but madehis remarkable move to the front on the bike. By midwaythrough the bike course, Weiss and South Africa’s Dan Hugowere riding next to each other in second place.

The only rider in front of them was the legendary seven-timeTour de France winner Lance Armstrong, who was competing inthe XTERRA World Championship for the first time. Weiss andHugo actually talked about working together so that they couldconserve energy in their pursuit of Armstrong.

“That was a critical moment for me, about three-quarters of theway through the bike and I was with Weiss, and we said let’swork together, but (Weiss) was one notch stronger and he kindof took off from me and he bridged to Armstrong,” said Hugo.

Shortly after breaking away from Hugo, Weiss closed in onArmstrong, and said it gave him an adrenaline rush that pushedhim all the way to the finish line.

“It felt amazing,” Weiss said. “I had goose bumps. It’s some-thing very special to catch Lance on a climb. It was an amazingfeeling, and even motivated me more.”

Hugo finished second with a time of 2:27:33 – 33 secondsbehind Weiss. Former three-time XTERRA world championEneko Llanos of Spain was third in 2:28:26, followed by JosiahMiddaugh of Colorado in 2:29:14.

Spain’s Ivan Rana, a three-time Olympian who was making hisXTERRA debut, placed an impressive fifth with a time of 2:29:31.

Like Weiss, it was a breakthrough win for Paterson. She hadthree previous top-10 finishes, including a runner-up showingin 2009.

She got so excited after passing McQuaid late in the run coursethat she fell on the rocks leading to the stretch run on D.T.Fleming Beach.

“What happens is your heart rate is super high, it’s at the end ofthe race, you’re dehydrated and your legs are not quite surewhat you’re doing with them,” Paterson said. “And I just got inthe lead, so you’re kind of nervous with anticipation.”

McQuaid had a large lead after the bike, but could not completethe race due to exhaustion. She collapsed just a few hundredyards from the finish line, and had to be assisted off the course.She said she was okay a few hours after the race.

Marion “Bubu” Lorblanchet of France took second with a timeof 2:48:08. She also got passed by the roadrunner legs ofPaterson during the run.

“On the run, I was good, then I see ‘beep, beep’ and it wasLesley,” Lorblanchet said. “I think it was not possible for me tofollow her.

“I’m very happy because it was a good race for me. Last year,I was third, this year second, so maybe next year?”

Helena Erbenova of the Czech Republic capped an impressiveXTERRA rookie season with a third place showing at Worlds. Shefinished with a time of 2:51:51 in her first appearance on Maui.Erbenova is a former Olympic cross country skier.

2011 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REVIEW

59

2011 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Michael Weiss 30 Vienna, Austria 2:27:00 $20,0002 Dan Hugo 26 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:27:33 $12,0003 Eneko Llanos 34 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:28:26 $7,0004 Josiah Middaugh 33 Vail, Colorado 2:29:14 $4,0005 Ivan Rana 39 Ordes, Spain 2:29:31 $2,5006 Olivier Marceau 38 Switzerland 2:29:40 $1,5007 Ronny Dietz 33 Chemnitz, Germany 2:29:47 $1,0008 Richard Ussher 35 Nelson, New Zealand 2:29:54 $8009 Jan Kubicek 31 Chodov City, Czech Republic 2:30:54 $60010 Christopher Legh 38 Lyons, Colorado 2:31:10 $500Also: Sam Gardner, Jan Frodeno, Nicolas Lebrun, Mike Vine, Tim DeBoom

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Time Purse1 Lesley Paterson 31 San Diego, Calif. (Scotland) 2:45:59 $20,0002 Marion Lorblanchet 28 Clermont Ferrand, France 2:48:08 $12,0003 Helena Erbenová 32 Czech Republic 2:51:51 $7,0004 Renata Bucher 34 Lucerne, Switzerland 2:52:02 $4,0005 Danelle Kabush 36 Calgary, Alberta, Canada 2:54:35 $2,5006 Erin Densham 26 Melbourne, Australia 2:57:46 $1,5007 Sara Tarkington 30 Boulder, Colorado 2:57:59 $1,0008 Emma Garrard 30 Park City, Utah 2:58:42 $8009 Brandi Heisterman 36 Brackendale, B.C., Canada 3:03:39 $60010 Jessica Noyola 29 San Diego, California 3:04:25Also: Brigitta Poor, Kelley Cullen, Fabiola Corona, Manuela Vilaseca, Suzie Snyder

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Richard Stannard (20:22), Erin Densham (22:32)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Michael Weiss (1:17:30), Melanie McQuaid (1:29:27)Fastest 11-kilometer run: Alejandro Santamaria (40:58), Lesley Paterson (43:54)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Marvin Gruget France 2:35:2220-24 (2) Alexander Haas Germany 2:33:3725-29 Daniel Carleton South Africa 2:49:2130-34 Ryan Ignatz Boulder, Colorado 2:36:5335-39 (2) Thomas Vonach Schwarzach, Austria 2:40:1040-44 (4) Calvin Zaryski Calgary, Canada 2:39:2845-49 (2) Mark Geoghegan Honolulu, Hawaii 2:50:1750-54 David Maclean Ludington, Michigan 3:02:3655-59 Jaroslav Balatka Czech Republic 3:19:5660-64 Mike Lyons New Zealand 3:52:5265-69 (2) Bruce Wacker Colorado Springs 3:33:2770+ (2) John Stover Jackson, Michigan 4:37:55CEO Mike Byam Grand Rapids, MI 4:10:00PC (6) Fouad Fattoumy Honolulu, Hawaii 3:32:51

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 (2) Hannah Rae Finchamp Altadena, California 3:16:1620-24 Danielle Kehoe Arvada, Colorado 3:22:1425-29 Lizzie Orchard Auckland, NZL 3:10:0530-34 Maia Ignatz Boulder, Colorado 3:12:4435-39 Tamara Donelson Edwards, Colorado 3:09:4740-44 Kim Baldwin Boulder, Colorado 3:22:5245-49 Sue Lambert Anchorage, Alaska 3:30:4250-54 Tamara Tabeek San Diego, California 3:29:0455-59 (6) Barbara Peterson Berkeley, California 3:56:5260-64 (4) Cindi Toepel Littleton, Colorado 3:59:45CEO Cheryl Iseberg Fircrest, Washington 5:51:40

(#) denotes number of World Championships won - Top Amateurs

60

2010 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Conrad Stoltz 37 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:31:07 $20,000 2 Franky Batelier 32 Rouen, France 2:36:14 $12,000 3 Michael Weiss 29 Vienna, Austria 2:36:45 $7,000 4 Olivier Marceau 37 Cannes, France 2:37:47 $4,000 5 Nicolas Lebrun 37 Digne-les-Bains, France 2:38:50 $2,500 6 Eneko Llanos 33 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:40:44 $1,500 7 Richard Ussher 34 Nelson, New Zealand 2:41:03 $1,000 8 Felix Schumann 27 Tuebingen, Germany 2:41:31 $800 9 Mike Vine 37 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:41:53 $600 10 Jim Thijs 30 Huldenberg, Belgium 2:43:26 $500 Also: Alexander Manzan ($400), Ronny Dietz ($300), Jan Kubicek, Asa Shaw, Branden Rakita

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Shonny Vanlandingham 41 Durango, Colorado 2:58:20 $20,000 2 Julie Dibens 35 Bath, United Kingdom 2:59:33 $12,000 3 Marion Lorblanchet 27 Clermont Ferrand, France 3:06:11 $7,000 4 Christine Jeffrey 37 Guelph, Ontario, Canada 3:07:22 $4,000 5 Suzie Snyder 28 Stafford, Virginia 3:08:04 $2,500 6 Carina Wasle 26 Kundl, Austria 3:08:06 $1,500 7 Lesley Paterson 30 Sterling, Scotland 3:11:37 $1,000 8 Sara Tarkington 29 Boulder, Colorado 3:11:45 $800 9 Emma Ruth Smith 27 Glos, Great Britain 3:11:53 $600 10 Emma Garrard 29 Park City, Utah 3:13:38Also: Melanie McQuaid, Danelle Kabush, Mieko Carey, Marie Helene-Premont, Darelle Parker

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Seth Wealing (19:29), Christine Jeffrey (19:41)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Conrad Stoltz (1:23:48), Shony Vanlandingham (1:40:22)Fastest 11-kilometer run: Nicolas Lebrun (44:01), Marion Lorblanchet (48:39)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Hannah Rae Finchamp Altadena, California 3:43:1020-24 Bettina Uhlig Freiburg, Germany 3:27:5525-29 Luisa Bryce Denver, Colorado 3:29:1330-34 Amber Monforte (2) Reno, Nevada 3:18:5235-39 Martina Donner Kotschach, Austria 3:33:1340-44 Kathleen Coutinho Fairfax Station, VA 3:34:3145-49 Carolina Colonna Taos, New Mexico 3:34:4750-54 Beverly Enslow Metamora, Illinois 3:42:0555-59 Beverly Watson (5) Priddis, Canada 3:56:3960-64 Libby Harrow (2) Vero Beach, Florida 5:30:0965+ Charlotte Mahan Lenoir City, TN 5:58:34(#) denotes number of World Championships won- Top Amateurs

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Div Name Hometown Time

15-19 Michael Keith Somerset, So.Africa 3:03:1320-24 Jiri Klima Osek, Czech Republic 2:57:5925-29 Pierre-Yves Facomprez Nevers, France 2:49:5430-34 Tim Van Daele (2) Burcht, Belgium 2:48:2835-39 David Ballabio Aubavilla, Italy 2:53:3540-44 Calvin Zaryski (3) Cargary, Canada 2:58:1645-49 Mark Geoghegan Honolulu, Hawaii 3:06:2650-54 Tom Monica (3) Thousand Oaks, Calif. 3:21:2655-59 Valerio Curridori Villacidro, Italy 3:35:4060-64 David Rakita Durango, Colorado 3:45:2165-69 Peter Wood (7) La Jolla, California 4:06:1970+ Ron Hill Hayden, Idaho 5:44:54PC Fouad Fattoumy (5) Honolulu, Hawaii 3:44:08

61

2009 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Eneko Llanos 32 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:37:22 $20,000 2 Nico Lebrun 36 Digne, France 2:38:17 $12,000 3 Michi Weiss 28 Vienna, Austria 2:40:24 $7,000 4 Olivier Marceau 36 Cannes, France 2:41:06 $4,000 5 Conrad Stoltz 36 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:41:40 $2,500 6 Franky Batelier 31 Normandy, France 2:42:15 $1,500 7 Felix Schumann 26 Tuebingen, Germany 2:42:57 $1,000 8 Seth Wealing 30 Boulder, Colorado 2:43:58 $800 9 Josiah Middaugh 31 Vail, Colorado 2:44:14 $600 10 Nico Pfitzenmaier 38 Besigheim, Germany 2:44:31 $500 Also: Richard Ussher ($400), Mike Vine ($300), Scott Thorne, Matthew Murphy, Brian Smith

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Julie Dibens 34 Bath, England 2:56:42 $20,000 2 Lesley Paterson 29 Sterling, Scotland 3:04:16 $12,000 3 Melanie McQuaid 36 Victoria, B.C., Canada 3:05:46 $7,000 4 Carina Wasle 25 Kundl, Austria 3:07:23 $4,000 5 Shonny Vanlandingham 40 Durango, Colorado 3:08:00 $2,500 6 Marion Lorblanchet 26 Clermont Ferrand, France 3:13:15 $1,500 7 Danelle Kabush 34 Canmore, Alberta, Canada 3:13:50 $1,000 8 Christine Jeffrey 36 Guelph, Ontario, Canada 3:15:01 $800 9 Sara Tarkington 28 Boulder, Colorado 3:15:56 $600 10 Rebecca Dussault 28 Gunnison, Colorado 3:17:22Also: Emma Garrard, Marie-Helene Premont, Jenny Tobin, Renata Bucher, Sabrina Enaux

Fastest 1.5-kilometer swim: Luke McKenzie (19:30), Christine Jeffrey (19:42)Fastest 30-kilometer bike: Michi Weiss (1:28:11), Julie Dibens (1:42:48)Fastest 11-kilometer run: Chris Legh (43:59), Lesley Paterson (49:45)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Hometown Time

15-19 Sebastien Antony Goupillieres, France 3:19:2220-24 Alexander Haas Georgensgmuend, GER 2:56:2325-29 Tim Van Daele Burcht, Belgium 2:53:4630-34 Cedric Lassonde London, England 2:55:2035-39 Thomas Vonach Schwarzach, Austria 3:00:4940-44 (2) Calvin Zaryski Calgary, Canada 2:56:3245-49 (2) Casey Fannin Hoover, Alabama 3:14:1850-54 (2) Tom Monica Thousand Oaks, California 3:18:1955-59 (3) John Royson Albany, California 3:31:0260-64 (6) Kent Robison Reno, Nevada 3:46:3765-69 (6) Peter Wood La Jolla, California 4:09:2570+ (4) Hans Dieben Chula Vista, California 5:03:46PC (4) Ed Fattoumy Honolulu, Hawaii 3:51:33

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Hometown Time

15-19 Shea Reardon Taupo, New Zealand 4:08:4320-24 (2) Monique Avery Rotorua, New Zealand 3:47:1525-29 Bridget Keegan Napier,New Zealand 3:39:2930-34 Martina Donner Kotschach, Austria 3:34:3335-39 Sheri Foster Calgary, Canada 3:38:3140-44 Darrelle Parker London, England 3:34:2445-49 (2) Kaja Polivkova Prague, Czech Republic 3:41:3050-54 (4) Beverly Enslow Metamora, Illinois 3:51:1555-59 Sharon Prutton Christchurch, New Zealand 4:14:3860+ Kimiko Matsuda Osaka, Japan 5:55:00PC (2) Megan Fisher Missoula, Montana 5:22:10

(#) denotes number of World Championships won - Top Amateurs

62

2008 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Ruben Ruzafa 24 Malaga, Spain 2:37:36 $25,0002 Michael Weiss 27 Vienna, Austria 2:38:10 $15,0003 Brent McMahon 28 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:40:56 $8,0004 Mike Vine 35 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:41:37 $5,0005 Olivier Marceau 35 Vallavris, Switzerland 2:42:01 $3,0006 Eneko Llanos 31 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:42:49 $1,7507 Josiah Middaugh 30 Vail, Colorado 2:42:56 $1,2008 Dan Hugo 23 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:43:28 $1,0009 Brian Smith 32 Gunnison, Colorado 2:43:47 $80010 Chris Legh 35 Melbourne, Australia 2:45:20 $700Also: Seth Wealing ($600), Conrad Stoltz ($500), Jim Thijs ($400), Ryan Ignatz ($300), Franky Batelier ($300)

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Julie Dibens 33 Bath, United Kingdom 3:03:57 $25,0002 Danelle Kabush 33 Canmore, Alberta, Canada 3:04:56 $15,0003 Shonny Vanlandingham 39 Durango, Colorado 3:10:49 $8,0004 Renata Bucher 31 Lucerne, Switzerland 3:11:06 $5,0005 Christine Jeffrey 35 Guelph, Ontario, Canada 3:11:50 $3,0006 Jennifer Smith 35 Westport, New Zealand 3:15:59 $1,7507 Jenny Tobin 39 Boise, Idaho 3:16:08 $1,2008 Carina Wasle 22 Kundl, Austria 3:17:31 $1,0009 Sara Tarkington 26 Boulder, Colorado 3:19:16 $80010 Lesley Paterson 27 Sterling, Scotland 3:19:53 $700Also: Kristy Lanier, Fabiola Corona, Emma Garrard, Sibylle Matter, Sari Anderson.

Fastest swim (1-mile): Brent McMahon (18:13), Linda Gallo (18:16) taken out of T1Fastest bike (20-miles): Ruben Ruzafa (1:30:25), Shonny Vanlandingham (1:48:12)Fastest run (7-miles): Brent McMahon (43:18), Danelle Kabush (49:55)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

DivisionName Time Hometown

15 - 19 Julian Langer 3:01:35 Vienna, Austria20 - 24 Francois Carloni 2:54:26 Saint Raphael, France25 - 29 Peter Hawkins 2:58:24 Gloustershire, GBR30 - 34 James Walsh 2:55:17 Carlsbad, CA35 - 39 Patrick Harvey 2:59:46 Auckland, New Zealand40 - 44 Dirk Pauling 2:56:24 Rupperswil, Switzerland45 - 49 (7) Tom Lyons 3:13:51 Reno, Nevada50 - 54 Franz Pretzl 3:23:00 Teublilz, Germany55 - 59 Randy Beckner 3:26:32 Helena, Montana60 - 64 Bruce Wacker 4:02:08 Colorado Springs, CO65 - 69 (5) Peter Wood 4:09:11 La Jolla, California70+ Manfred Klittich 5:18:25 Eschborn, GermanyPC David Kyle, 4:59:04, Athens, FL

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

DivisionName Time Hometown

15 - 19 Charlotte McShane 3:35:01 Victoria, Australia 20 - 24 Erin Kummer 3:36:31 Boulder, Colorado25 - 29 Emma Smith 3:40:25 London, United Kingdom30 - 34 Dominique Angerer 3:44:43 Elsbethen, Austria35 - 39 Sarah McMahan 3:45:04 Incline Village, Nevada40 - 44 Keri Grosse 3:34:04 Leavenworth, Washington45 - 49 Ulrike Striednig 3:53:56 Klagenfurt, Austria50 - 54 (3) Beverly Enslow 3:55:47 Metamora, Illinois55 - 59 Beverly Watson 4:19:39 Priddis, Alberta, Canada60+ Kathy Frank 5:51:52 Bend, OregonPC: Megan Fisher, 5:09:47, Missoula, MT(#) denotes number of World Championships wonTop Amateurs

63

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Time Hometown15 - 19 Monique Avery 3:56:35 Rororua, New Zealand 20 - 24 Erin Beresini 4:06:11 Hermosa Beach, California25 - 29 (2) Marion Summerer 3:29:35 Honolulu, Hawaii30 - 34 Susie Wood 3:31:54 Nelson, New Zealand35 - 39 Lisa Lieb 3:39:09 Durango, Colorado40 - 44 Kaja Polivkova 3:41:05 Prague, Czech Republic45 - 49 Meiling Yee 3:54:57 Sunnyvale, California50 - 54 (2) Beverly Enslow 3:56:52 Metamora, Illinois55 - 59 (3) Cindi Toepel 4:24:55 Littleton, Colorado

(#) denotes number of World Championships wonTop Amateurs

2007 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Conrad Stoltz 34 Stellenboch, South Africa 2:40:54 $25,0002 Olivier Marceau 34 Cannes, France 2:42:05 $15,0003 Brian Smith 32 Gunnison, Colorado 2:42:35 $8,0004 Chris Legh 35 Lyons, Australia 2:44:26 $5,0005 Bevan Docherty 30 Taupo, New Zealand 2:44:54 $3,0006 Felix Schumann 25 Germany 2:45:04 $1,7507 Nicolas Lebrun 34 Digne-Les-Bains, France 2:45:19 $1,2008 Mike Vine 34 Victoria, Canada 2:45:57 $1,0009 David Henestrosa 30 Manresa, Spain 2:47:04 $80010 Nico Pfitzenmaier 36 Besigheim, Germany 2:47:53 $700Also: Hektor Llanos - Spain ($600), Lieuwe Boonstra - South Africa ($500), Eneko Llanos – Spain ($400), Sam Gardner – United Kingdom ($300), Jim Thijs – Belgium ($300)

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Julie Dibens 32 Bath, United Kingdom 3:01:24 $25,0002 Melanie McQuaid 34 Victoria, Canada 3:09:52 $15,0003 Jamie Whitmore 31 Mt. Aukum, California 3:11:37 $8,0004 Shonny Vanlandingham 38 Durango, Colorado 3:12:44 $5,0005 Candy Angle 38 Weymouth, Massachusetts 3:13:14 $3,0006 Dara Marks Marino 32 Flagstaff, Arizona 3:14:41 $1,7507 Sibylle Matter 34 Bern, Switzerland 3:15:56 $1,2008 Michelle Lombardi 39 Somerset West, South Africa 3:19:47 $1,0009 Daniela Campuzano 21 Tulancingo, Mexico 3:22:02 $80010 Carina Wasle 23 Kundl, Austria 3:22:33 $700Also: Anna Scheiderbauer - Germany, Sara Tarkington - USA, Amber Monforte – USA, Kristy Lanier - USA

Fastest swim: Jordan Bryden, (19:47), Julie Dibens (20:16)Fastest bike: Brian Smith (1:30:51), Shonny Vanlandingham (1:46:32)Fastest run: Chris Legh (45:11), Julie Dibens (49:58)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Time Hometown15 – 19 Martin Jiskra 3:05:01 Karlovy Vary, CZE20 - 24 Nicolas Fernandez 3:01:14 Pelissannee, France25 - 29 Lars Fricke 3:00:01 Apolda, Germany30 - 34 Alexander Eiler 2:57:34 Kailua, Hawaii35 - 39 Laurent Beuzeboc 2:58:04 Saint Bonnet, France40 - 44 Ulrich Katzer 3:02:02 Anger, Austria45 - 49 (6) Tom Lyons 3:09:01 Reno, Nevada50 - 54 Tom Monica 3:25:19 Walnut Creek, California55 - 59 James Lewis 3:45:39 Broomfield, Colorado60 - 64 (5) Kent Robison 3:43:37 Reno, Nevada65 - 69 Art Gardenswartz 4:27:07 Albuquerque, New MexicoPC (3) Ed Fattoumy 3:46:33 Honolulu, Hawaii

64

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Time Hometown15 - 19 Valeria Curridori 4:10:50 Villacidro, Italy20 - 24 * Suzie Snyder 3:36:19 Colorado Springs, CO25 - 29 Kim Hill 3:50:48 Honolulu, HI30 - 34 * Laura Home 3:40:35 Santa Cruz, CA35 - 39 Janice Fliegler 3:53:46 Carson City, NV40 - 44 Barbara Alber 3:56:18 Dettingen, Germany 45 - 49 Catherine Dunn 3:52:50 Wellington, New Zealand50 - 54 $ Barbara Peterson 4:08:44 Berkeley, CA55 - 59 * Cindi Toepel 4:25:14 Littleton, CO60+ Wendy Minor 5:53:53 Honolulu, HI

* Two-time XTERRA World Champ # Four-time XTERRA World Champ$ Five-time XTERRA World Champ Top Amateurs

2006 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Hamish Carter 35 Auckland, New Zealand 2:42:36 $25,0002 Olivier Marceau 33 Cannes, France 2:42:55 $15,0003 Seth Wealing 27 Boulder, Colorado 2:44:05 $8,0004 Josiah Middaugh 28 Vail, Colorado 2:45:51 $5,0005 Eneko Llanos 29 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:46:49 $3,0006 Brent McMahon 26 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:46:58 $1,7507 Greg Krause 29 Denver, Colorado 2:48:47 $1,2008 Nicolas Lebrun 33 Digne-les-Bains, France 2:50:51 $1,0009 Ryan Ignatz 28 Boulder, Colorado 2:52:16 $80010 Nico Pfitzenmaier 34 Besigheim, Germany 2:52:28 $700Also: Michael Simpson ($600), Andrew Noble ($500), Hektor Llanos ($400), Jimmy Archer ($300), and Sam Gardner ($300)

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Melanie McQuaid 33 Victoria, B.C., Canada 3:07:53 $25,0002 Danelle Kabush 31 Canmore, Alberta, Canada 3:15:58 $15,0003 Sibylle Matter 31 Bern, Switzerland 3:19:50 $8,0004 Jennifer Smith 33 Westport, New Zealand 3:20:08 $5,0005 Renata Bucher 28 Lucerne, Switzerland 3:22:14 $3,0006 Jenny Tobin 38 Boise, Idaho 3:22:42 $1,7507 Michelle Lombardi 38 Somerset West, South Africa 3:23:44 $1,2008 Mami Saito 29 Kawasaki, Japan 3:24:32 $1,0009 Shonny Vanlandingham 37 Durango, Colorado 3:24:58 $80010 Cameron Randolph 36 Ridgway, Colorado 3:30:17 $700Also: Carina Wasle (AUS), Ingrid Rolles (RSA), Nicole Newton (USA), Imke Schiersch (GER), Jackie Burt (USA)

Fastest swim: Brent McMahon (19:41), Sibylle Matter (20:51)Fastest bike: Josiah Middaugh (1:35:08), Melanie McQuaid (1:49:55)Fastest run: Brent McMahon (45:05), Danelle Kabush (53:51)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Time Hometown15 - 19 Kyle Kennedy 3:33:37 West Vancouver, Canada 20 - 24 Rom Akerson 2:57:43 Costa Rica25 - 29 Trevor Glavin 3:11:38 Salinas, CA30 - 34 Conrad Snover 3:01:50 Truckee, CA35 - 39 Calvin Zaryski 3:04:51 Calgary, Canada40 - 44 Tim Johnston 3:11:10 Los Gatos, CA45 - 49 $ Tom Lyons 3:14:24 Reno, NV50 - 54 * Ian Davidson, Jr. 3:22:59 Clemson, SC55 - 59 # Kent Robison 3:38:47 Reno, NV60 - 64 # Peter Wood 3:59:46 La Jolla, CA65+ John Stover 4:51:22 Jackson, MIPhysically Challenged Division

* Fouad Fattoumy 4:07:40 Honolulu, HI

65

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Time Hometown15 - 19 Kate Chapman 3:57:01 Breckenridge, Colorado20 - 24 Marion Summerer 3:21:03 Freiburg, Germany

25 - 29 Louisa Davis 3:41:03 Wadestown, New Zealand30 - 34 Laura Home 3:30:54 Santa Cruz, California35 - 39 Beate Kleindienst 3:52:56 Dachau, Germany40 - 44 Rita Haerteis 3:44:24 Penzberg, Germany45 - 49 # Barbara Peterson 3:59:52 Berkeley, California50 - 54 Cindi Toepel 4:12:16 Littleton, Colorado55 - 59 Susan Swan 5:17:22 Coromandel, New Zealand60+ $ Wendy Minor 5:06:43 Honolulu, Hawaii# Four-time XTERRA World Champion$ Five-time XTERRA World ChampionTop Amateur Female

2005 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE RESULTS

TOP 15 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Nicolas LeBrun 32 Villeneuve-Loubet, France 2:38:19 $25,0002 Eneko Llanos 28 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:41:41 $15,0003 Brent McMahon 24 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:42:01 $8,0004 Mike Vine 31 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:42:22 $5,0005 Chris Legh 32 Melbourne, Australia 2:43:32 $3,0006 Nico Pfitzenmaier 34 Besigheim, Germany 2:43:48 $1,7507 Olivier Marceau 32 Cannes, France 2:45:29 $1,2008 Ronnie Schildknecht 25 Thalwil, Switzerland 2:45:43 $1,0009 Conrad Stoltz 32 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:46:23 $80010 Josiah Middaugh 27 Vail, Colorado 2:47:33 $700Also: Greg Krause ($600, 2:47:42), Jimmy Archer ($500, 2:49:32), Francisco Serrano ($400, 2:49:52), Peter Reid ($300, 2:50:05),Robert Latschen ($300, 2:51:18)

TOP 15 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Melanie McQuaid 31 Victoria, B.C., Canada 3:07:16 $25,0002 Sibylle Matter 31 Bern, Switzerland 3:08:00 $15,0003 Jamie Whitmore 29 Elk Grove, California 3:13:51 $8,0004 Renata Bucher 27 Lucerne, Switzerland 3:17:14 $5,0005 Jenny Tobin 35 Boise, Idaho 3:17:17 $3,0006 Danelle Kabush 30 Canmore, Alberta, Canada 3:19:45 $1,7507 Shonny Vanlandingham 36 Durango, Colorado 3:20:01 $1,2008 Monique Merrill 36 Breckenridge, Colorado 3:25:08 $1,0009 Melissa Thomas 35 Boulder, Colorado 3:25:49 $80010 Lisa Isom 33 Vail, Colorado 3:26:08 $700Also: Sonia Foote (3:30:35), Ingrid Rolles (3:32:21), Mami Saito (3:33:45), Kate Major (3:38:22), Imke Schiersch

Fastest swim: Brent McMahon (19:42), Sibylle Matter (20:47)Fastest bike: Nicolas LeBrun (1:29:13), Shonny Vanlandingham (1:45:40)Fastest run: Brent McMahon (44:01), Sibylle Matter (51:53)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE AGE GROUP)

Division Name Time Hometown15 - 19 Jordan Bryden 3:09:20 Calgary, Canada 20 - 24 Scott Thorne 3:03:58 Hamilton East, New Zealand25 - 29 Ryland Garnett 3:02:02 Seaford, Australia30 - 34 Jason Jablonski 3:01:48 Wenatchee, Washington

35 - 39 Michael Nahom 3:03:28 New Milford, Connecticut40 - 44 # Tom Lyons 3:08:21 Reno, Nevada45 - 49 Casey Fannin 3:13:57 Birmingham, Alabama50 - 54 Ian Davidson, Jr. 3:21:29 Clemson, South Carolina55 - 59 Gary Mercer 3:59:56 Anderson, California60 - 64 % Peter Wood 3:53:53 La Jolla, CaliforniaChallenged Athletes Division

Fouad Fattoumy 3:50:44 Honolulu, Hawaii% Three-time XTERRA World Champion# Four-time XTERRA World ChampionTop Amateur Male

66

2004 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

TOP 10 PRO MEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Eneko Llanos 27 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:28:44 $25,0002 Olivier Marceau 31 Cannes, France 2:29:45 $15,0003 Josiah Middaugh 26 Vail, Colorado 2:33:28 $8,0004 Dominic Gillen 27 Washington, Connecticut 2:33:53 $5,000 5 Justin Thomas 29 Fairfax, Virginia 2:34:31 $3,0006 Nicolas LeBrun 31 Villeneuve-Loubet, France 2:36:58 $1,7507 Sylvain Dodet 28 Antibes, France 2:38:26 $1,2008 Hektor Llanos 32 Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2:39:04 $1,0009 Jimmy Archer 32 Boulder, Colorado 2:40:39 $80010 Robert Latschen 33 Graz, Austria 2:40:41 $700

TOP 10 PRO WOMEN

Pl Name Age Hometown Final Time Purse

1 Jamie Whitmore 28 Elk Grove, California 3:01:35 $25,0002 Melanie McQuaid 31 Victoria, B.C., Canada 3:04:25 $15,0003 Danelle Kabush 29 Victoria, B.C., Canada 3:05:19 $8,0004 Melissa Thomas 33 Boulder, Colorado 3:05:38 $5,0005 Katrin Helmcke 29 Buchenbach, Germany 3:07:43 $3,0006 Sibylle Matter 31 Bern, Switzerland 3:08:17 $1,7507 Erika Csomor 30 Budapest, Hungary 3:14:14 $1,2008 Lynley Allison 31 Auckland, New Zealand 3:15:28 $1,0009 Candy Angle 34 Weymouth, Massachusetts 3:16:34 $80010 Stefania Bonazzi 34 Ferrara, Italy 3:16:39 $700

Fastest swim: Jan Sibbersen (18:45), Megan Melgaard (20:13)Fastest bike: Josiah Middaugh (1:27:12), Melissa Thomas (1:41:02)Fastest run: Jan Rehula (33:14), Erika Csomor (38:18)

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALES)

Division Name Time Hometown

15 - 19 Jana Chocholova 4:22:29 Hluboka, CR20 - 24 Suzi Snyder 3:36:03 Springfield, MA25 - 29 Amber Monforte 3:21:29 Reno, NV30 - 34 Ingrid Rolles 3:15:23 Honolulu, HI35 - 39 Birgit Johnston 3:27:32 Los Gatos, CA40 - 44 Josie Sinclair 3:42:25 Epsom, AUS45 - 49 # Barbara Peterson 3:43:21 Berkeley, CA50 - 54 ! Lorenn Walker 4:08:27 Waialua, HI55 - 59 $ Wendy Minor 4:40:23 Honolulu, HI

#Two-time Champ, *Three-time Champ $Four-time Champion!Five-time Champ TOP AMATEURS

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALES)

Division Name Time Hometown

15 - 19 # Taylor Tolleson 2:51:56 Pacific Grove, CA20 - 24 Petr Vejvoda 2:59:41 Liberec, CR25 - 29 Jim Vance 2:45:06 San Diego, CA30 - 34 # Matt Boobar 2:53:17 Plymouth, NH35 - 39 Curt Chesney 2:46:38 Boulder, CO40 - 44 * Tom Lyons 2:59:04 Reno, NV45 - 49 Bruce Wilson 3:11:10 Temecula, CA50 - 54 Chris Robinson 3:45:46 Vancouver, WA55 - 59 * Kent Robison 3:23:27 Reno, NV60+ Peter Wood 3:44:18 La Jolla, CA65+ Armin Beyrich 4:09:36 Eresing, GER

67

1996-2002 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (AMATEUR WOMEN)

DIV 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

15-19 Allegra Erisman Allegra Erisman Allegra Erisman Brandy Bounds Tulsi McCarthy N/A N/A

20-24 Rebecca Bashton Cara Coolbaugh Jaymi Cowan Kerry Barnholt Lucia Kuhner Lucia Kuhner Kelly Rees

25-29 Zoe King Jessica Burwell Catherine Phillips Yvonne Timewell Lindsay Price Amy Patz Amy Patz

30-34 Tina Eakin Amy Patz Erin McCarty Katrin Tobin Lynn Martin Rikke Johansen Chantal Ratte

35-39 Serena Warner Sabine Greipel Chantal Ratte N/A Monika Birk Shannon Oliver Sue Forbes-Kikukawa

40-44 Jodi Ruby Devyani Kamdar Monika Birk Lorenn Walker Susy Jones Laurie Woodbury Sally Hill

45-49 Beverly Enslow Barbara Peterson Lorenn Walker N/A N/A N/A N/A

50-54 Lorenn Walker Libby Harrow N/A N/A N/A Wendy Minor N/A

55-59 Wendy Minor N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

60+ N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

1996-2002 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (AMATEUR MEN)DIV 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

15-19 Hunter Claxton Pearce Creasman Eliot Challifour Tyler Smith N/A N/A N/A

20-24 Josiah Middaugh Rohin Adams Andy Blow Jeff Cormack Jason Irons Luis Canales N/A

25-29 Andrew Wadsworth Bernard Hug Keith Meter Ben Travis Karl Schultz Charles Smith Masco Wieser

30-34 Matt Boobar Benoit Dussault Norman Thiabult Dave Bonetti Dave Bonetti Gerry Clark Paul Hopwood

35-39 Mark Gavach Paul Hopwood Richard Ely Paul Hopwood Paul Hopwood Paul Hopwood Richard Knight

40-44 Tom Lyons Dave Ruby Joseph Zwack Howard Jones Steve Cole Patrick Follett David Fonseca

45-49 Keiji Matsuba John Royson John Royson Reed Johnson Kalli Nottrodt Otto Lingk Bob Macy

50-54 Jiri Kokes Dave Kinsey Kent Robison Bob Macy Bob Macy Mike Malloy Dan Neyenhuis

55-59 Richard Wall Leo Meeuwisse Brian Parkinson Peter Wood Wilburn Powell Ed Hudcovic Ed Hudcovic

60+ David Sharp Hans Dieben Hans Dieben N/A N/A N/A N/A

CA Paul Martin Paul Martin Joel Sampson Paul Martin N/A N/A N/A

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (FEMALE)

Division Name Time Hometown20 - 24 Shae Rainer 3:26:28 Austin, Texas25 - 29 Sonia Foote 3:28:55 Rotorua, NZ30 - 34 Katrin Hockenjos 3:25:49 Konstanz, Germany35 - 39 Riikka Kelja 3:24:37 Netherlands

40 - 44 Maria Raether 3:33:13 Weinheim, Germany45 - 49 Barbara Peterson 3:38:37 Berkeley, California 50 - 54 $ Lorenn Walker 4:01:03 Waialua, Hawaii55 - 59 * Wendy Minor 4:49:12 Honolulu, HawaiiPRO Melanie McQuaid 2:57:08 Victoria, BC, Canada* Three-time XTERRA World Champion$ Four-time XTERRA World ChampionTop Amateur Female

XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONS (MALE)

Division Name Time Hometown15 - 19 Taylor Tolleson 3:00:13 Pacific Grove, CA20 - 24 Chad Seymour 2:57:04 Honolulu, Hawaii25 - 29 Greg Krause 2:53:42 Denver, Colorado30 - 34 Robert Latschen 2:47:30 Graz, Austria

35 - 39 Michael Nahom 2:54:02 New Milford, CT40 - 44 # Tom Lyons 2:55:18 Reno, Nevada45 - 49 Leo McCarthy 3:11:06 Kapaa, Hawaii50 - 54 Guenther Weber 3:17:25 Roth, Germany55 - 59 # Kent Robison 3:37:18 Reno, Nevada60+ * Hans Dieben 4:14:07 Chula Vista, CAPRO Eneko Llanos 2:32:56 Spain# Two-time XTERRA World Champ* Three-time XTERRA World ChampionTop Amateur Male

2003 XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

68

TOP 3 ELITES ALL-TIME2017 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Bradley Weiss 2:32:09 1. Flora Duffy 2:47:472. Mauricio Mendez 2:33:24 2. Barbara Riveros 2:56:113. Ruben Ruzafa 2:33:45 3. Laura Philipp 2:57:24

2016 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Mauricio Mendez 2:49:38 1. Flora Duffy 3:14:592. Ruben Ruzafa 2:51:02 2. Lesley Paterson 3:25:013. Ben Allen 2:53:49 3. Suzie Snyder 3:29:03

2015 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Josiah Middaugh 2:35:32 1. Flora Duffy 2:54:172. Braden Currie 2:38:30 2. Lesley Paterson 2:59:163. Ruben Ruzafa 2:40:40 3. Emma Garrard 3:03:28

2014 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Ruben Ruzafa 2:29:56 1. Flora Duffy 2:47:592. Josiah Middaugh 2:31:11 2. Barbara Riveros 2:50:043. Ben Allen 2:34:50 3. Nicky Samuels 2:56:31

2013 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Ruben Ruzafa 2:34:34 1. Nicky Samuels 2:57:482. Asa Shaw 2:36:01 2. Lesley Paterson 3:00:143. Ben Allen 2:36:24 3. Flora Duffy 3:00:19

2012 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Javier Gomez 2:26:54 1. Lesley Paterson 2:44:122. Josiah Middaugh 2:27:41 2. Barbara Riveros 2:48:193. Conrad Stoltz 2:30:04 3. Mari Rabie 2:53:56

2011 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Michael Weiss 2:27:00 1. Lesley Paterson 2:45:592. Dan Hugo 2:27:33 2. Marion Lorblanchet 2:48:083. Eneko Llanos 2:28:26 3. Helena Erbenova 2:51:51

2010 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Conrad Stoltz 2:31:07 1. Shonny Vanlandingham 2:58:202. Franky Batelier 2:36:14 2. Julie Dibens 2:59:333. Michi Weiss 2:36:45 3. Marion Lorblanchet 3:06:11

2009 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Eneko Llanos 2:37:22 1. Julie Dibens 2:56:422. Nico Lebrun 2:38:17 2. Lesley Paterson 3:04:163. Michi Weiss 2:40:24 3. Melanie McQuaid 3:05:46

2008 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Ruben Ruzafa 2:37:36 1. Julie Dibens 3:03:572. Michi Weiss 2:38:10 2. Danelle Kabush 3:04:563. Brent McMahon 2:40:56 3. Shonny Vanlandingham 3:10:49

2007 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Conrad Stoltz 2:40:54 1. Julie Dibens 3:01:242. Olivier Marceau 2:42:05 2. Melanie McQuaid 3:09:523. Brian Smith 2:42:35 3. Jamie Whitmore 3:11:37

2006 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Hamish Carter 2:42:36 1. Melanie McQuaid 3:07:532. Olivier Marceau 2:42:55 2. Danelle Kabush 3:15:583. Seth Wealing 2:44:05 3. Sibylle Matter 3:19:50

2005 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Nicolas Lebrun 2:38:19 1. Melanie McQuaid 3:07:162. Eneko Llanos 2:41:41 2. Sibylle Matter 3:08:003. Brent McMahon 2:42:01 3. Jamie Whitmore 3:13:51

2004 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Eneko Llanos 2:28:44 1. Jamie Whitmore 3:01:352. Olivier Marceau 2:29:45 2. Melanie McQuaid 3:04:253. Josiah Middaugh 2:33:28 3. Danelle Kabush 3:05:19

2003 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Eneko Llanos 2:32:56 1. Melanie McQuaid 2:57:082. Nicolas LeBrun 2:36:31 2. Jamie Whitmore 3:01:143. Justin Thomas 2:37:31 3. Candy Angle 3:06:09

2002 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Conrad Stoltz 2:22:55 1. Candy Angle 2:57:332. Eneko Llanos 2:23:57 2. Jamie Whitmore 2:59:103. Nicolas LeBrun 2:27:37 3. Shari Kain 3:03:20

2001 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Conrad Stoltz 2:28:48 1. Anke Erlank 3:00:592. Kerry Classen 2:37:02 2. Cherie Touchette 3:11:513. Jimmy Riccitello 2:37:31 3. Kerstin Weule 3:12:37

2000 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Michael Tobin 2:30:53 1. Kerstin Weule 3:07:042. Mike Vine 2:33:10 2. Melanie McQuaid 3:09:173. Michael Pigg 2:33:43 3. Uli Blank 3:17:32

1999 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Ned Overend 2:32:50 1. Shari Kain 3:04:192. Michael Tobin 2:34:26 2. Kerstin Weule 3:06:273. Jimmy Riccitello 2:35:54 3. Jody Purcell 3:08:42

1998 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Ned Overend 2:24:46 1. Sue Latshaw 2:58:492. Wes Hobson 2:29:16 2. Uli Blank 3:00:053. Michael Tobin 2:31:22 3. Caroline Rahner 3:06:27

1997 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Mike Pigg 2:28:48 1. Cameron Randolph 3:04:252. Ned Overend 2:32:12 2. Lesley Tomlinson 3:04:313. Jimmy Riccitello 2:34:49 3. Sue Latshaw 3:11:32

1996 -----------------------------------------------------------------

Men Women1. Jimmy Riccitello 2:27:42 1. Michellie Jones 3:04:532. Mike Pigg 2:31:13 2. Shari Kain 3:05:053. Ned Overend 2:33:39 3. Sian Welch 3:20:55

69

ALL-TIME XTERRA WORLD CHAMPS (ELITES)

70

2018 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR ELITE STANDINGSELITE MEN S S S S S S S G S S S S G S S G

Pl Name, NAT TOT MLT CYP GRE ITG POR BEL SUI FRA CZE ITA ROM POL GER FIN NOR DEN

1 Francois Carloni, FRA 628 56 x 51 47 x 75 x 69 x 51 67 x 69 x 61 822 Roger Serrano, ESP 605 75 75 56 x x x 67 x x 75 x x 82 x 75 1003 Peter Lehmann, GER 511 33 x 39 30 67 x 43 x 39 x 51 47 28 67 67 x4 Xavier Dafflon, SUI 456 x x 43 56 x 47 47 x x 67 x x 58 75 x 635 Maxim Chane, FRA 451 51 67 23 27 x x x 53 47 x x 61 53 x x 696 Rui Dolores, POR 420 36 x x x 61 30 27 28 x 39 x 39 49 x 36 757 Arthur Serrieres, FRA 393 x x 61 75 x x 56 75 x x 75 51 x x x x8 Bradley Weiss, RSA 324 x x x x x x x 82 67 x x 75 100 x x x9 Dominik Wychera, AUT 313 x x 36 x x x x x x 43 x 27 37 61 56 5310 Arthur Forissier, FRA 307 x x 75 67 x x 75 90 x x x x x x x x11 Sam Osborne, NZL 290 x x x x x x x x 43 x x 67 90 x x 9012 Geert Lauryssen, BEL 267 47 x x 43 x 61 x 58 x x x x x x x 5813 Ruben Ruzafa, ESP 250 x x x x 75 x x 100 75 x x x x x x x14 Marcello Ugazio, ITA 250 x x 67 61 x x 61 x x 61 x x x x x x15 Doug Hall, GBR 233 39 51 x x x x 21 x 33 x x 33 x 56 x xAlso: Jan Kubicek, Tomas Kubek, Tim Van Daele, Fausto Fognini, Victor del Corral, Clement Briere, Ben Allen, Karel Zadak,Anthony Pannier, Henry Sleight, Theo Dupras, Filippo Rinaldi, Lukas Kocar, Francesco Figini, Yeray Luxem, Christophe Betard,Pavel Andreev, Will Crudgington, Hannes Wolport, Veit Hoenle, Jose Estrangeiro, Olly Shaw, Pierrick Page, Corentin Duclos, GregSouvatzoglou, Francisco Serrano (Plus 50 more). Find complete standings at xterraplanet.com.

ELITE WOMEN S S S S S S S G S S S S G S S G

Pl Name, NAT TOT MLT CYP GRE ITG POR BEL SUI FRA CZE ITA ROM POL GER FIN NOR DEN

1 Carina Wasle, AUT 893 67 x 61 67 67 61 61 82 67 67 x 61 82 75 75 x2 Brigitta Poor, HUN 788 75 75 56 x 75 x 75 100 x x 75 67 100 x x 903 Helena Karaskova, CZE 589 61 x 67 75 x x 56 90 75 x x 75 90 x x x4 Nicole Walters, GBR 503 47 61 75 61 x 67 67 x x x x x 58 67 x x5 Morgane Riou, FRA 393 56 x 51 x x 75 47 x x x 67 56 41 x x x6 Ania Tomica, POL 296 x 51 x x x x 30 53 43 x 56 x x x x 637 Jessica Roberts, GBR 288 x x 30 30 x 47 x 58 x x x x x 56 67 x8 Elizabeth Orchard, NZL 269 x x x x x x x x 61 51 x x 75 x x 829 Sandra Mairhofer, ITA 223 x x 43 56 x x x x x 61 x x 63 x x x10 Renata Bucher, SUI 209 x x x 36 x x x x 56 56 x x x 61 x x11 Eva Garcia Gonzalez, ESP 205 x x x x 61 x x x x 75 x x 69 x x x12 Penny Slater, AUS 197 x x x x x x x 69 47 x x 47 34 x x x13 Bianca Morvillo, ITA 155 x x x 51 x x x x 51 x x x 53 x x x14 Maud Golsteyn, NED 154 51 x 47 x x 56 x x x x x x x x x x15 Angela Niklaus, SUI 130 x x x x x x 39 63 x x x x 28 x x xAlso: Cecilia Jessen, Samantha Kingsford, Diane Luethi, Michelle Flipo, Daria Rogozina, Loanna Duvoisin, Diane Lee, SabinaRzepka, Lesley Paterson, Ine Couckuyt, Mikaela Jonsson, Heidi Thranum, Barbara Riveros, Anna Brychtova, Aina Picas, MarianaBrugger, Yulia Surikova, Johandri Leicester, Maria Doring, Ksenia Chemykh, Eleonora Peroncini, Sarah Tavecchio, Tina Toivonen,Megane McDonald, Isabelle Ferrer, Marta Menditto, Joanna Kuronen, Lenka Cibulkova, Elisabeth Gruber, Ladina Buss, DariaRadczuk, Bianca Reitwiessner.

Gold Points: 1=100, 2=90, 3=82, 4=75, 5=69, 6=63. 7=58, 8=53, 9=49, 10=45, 11=41, 12=37, 13=34, 14=31, 15=28Silver Points: 1=75, 2=67, 3=61, 4=56, 5=51, 6=47, 7=43, 8=39, 9=36, 10=33, 11=30, 12=27, 13=25, 14=23, 15=21

71

2018 XTERRA PAN AMERICAN TOUR ELITE STANDINGSELITE MEN S S S S G G S S G G S DG

Pl Name, NAT TOT CHI ARG CRC URU BRA OKM DMR VIC BCR MEX QBC USA

1 Kieran McPherson, NZL 829 67 75 x 67 100 69 51 75 58 90 61 1162 Josiah Middaugh, USA 774 x x 67 x x 100 75 67 90 100 75 2003 Karsten Madsen, CAN 729 x x 61 75 90 90 61 x 53 82 67 1504 Branden Rakita, USA 652 61 56 x x 75 58 47 61 63 69 56 1065 Alex Roberts, NZL 368 x x x 61 58 37 56 47 34 28 47 x6 Brian Smith, USA 335 x x x x x 82 x x 69 58 x 1267 Rafael Juriti, BRA 335 51 43 x 47 63 x x x x 49 x 828 Sam Long, USA 309 x x x x x 63 x x 82 x x 1649 Ian King, USA 221 x x 36 x x 41 x 27 x x 43 7410 Rom Akerson, CRC 217 x x 75 x x 75 67 x x x x x11 Will Kelsay, USA 195 x x x x x 53 x 43 31 x x 6812 Alejandro Sfriso, ARG 192 x 51 x 51 49 x x x x 41 x x13 Bradley Weiss, RSA 180 x x x x x x x x x x x 18014 Mauricio Mendez, MEX 175 75 x x x x x x x 100 x x x15 Humberto Rivera, USA 140 x x 47 x x 31 x x x x x 62Also: Walter Schafer, Joshua Merrick, Maxi Morales, Nelson Hegg, Will Ross, Hans Ryham, Brent Mattison, Alexandre Manzan,Ryan Petry, Francisco Serrano, Diogo Malagon, Gonzalo Tellechea, Irving Perez, Ryan DeCook, Luis Piedra, Andres Darricau,Brent McMahon, Felipe Moletta, Esteban Rojas, Federico Venegas, Carlos Chang, Brad Zoller, Gustavo Torres, Lucas Mendez,Eduardo Lass, Leonardo Saucedo, Andres Zuniga, Gabriel Angeloro (Plus 15 more) Find complete standings at xterraplanet.com.

ELITE WOMEN S S S S G G S S G G S DG

Pl Name, NAT TOT CHI ARG CRC URU BRA OKM DMR VIC BCR MEX QBC USA

1 Fabiola Corona, MEX 768 67 75 x x x 82 75 61 69 100 75 1642 Kara LaPoint, USA 686 x x x 67 75 75 67 47 82 90 67 1163 Kelli Montgomery, USA 520 x x 75 61 58 49 56 27 x 69 51 744 Lesley Paterson, GBR 400 x x x x x 100 x x 100 x x 2005 Allison Baca, USA 392 75 61 x x x x x 43 75 x x 1386 Julie Baker, USA 361 x x x x x 90 x 75 90 x x 1067 Carito Nieva, ARG 274 61 56 x 75 82 x x x x x x x8 Katie Button, CAN 273 x x x x x 63 x 51 x x 61 989 Jessie Koltz, USA 243 x x 61 x x 69 x 23 x x x 9010 Suzie Snyder, USA 236 x x x x x x x 56 x x x 18011 Heather Zimchek-Dunn, USA 220 x x x x x 45 x 30 63 x x 8212 Rebecca Blatt, USA 211 x x 56 x x 41 x x 58 x x 5613 Anne Usher, USA 154 x x x x x 53 x 39 x x x 6214 Magali Tisseyre, CAN 150 x x x x x x x x x x x 15015 Laura Mira Dias, BRA 146 x x x 56 90 x x x x x x xAlso: Tess Amer, Anne-Sophie Marechal, Emanuela Bandol, Sabrina Gobbo, Nike Matanza, Maria Barrera, Andrea Gutierrez, LuizaZanini, Adilia Jimenez, Melanie McQuaid, Camila Nicolau, Paolo Reyes, Erin Storie, Evelyne Blouin, Tatiana Queiroz, Maria LujanSoto, Ana Prade, Brisa Melcop, Vanessa Teixeira, Lisa Helmer.

Double Gold Points: 1=200, 2=180, 3=164, 4=150, 5=138, 6=126, 7=116, 8=106, 9=98, 10=90, 11=82, 12=74, 13=68, 14=62, 15=56Gold Points: 1=100, 2=90, 3=82, 4=75, 5=69, 6=63. 7=58, 8=53, 9=49, 10=45, 11=41, 12=37, 13=34, 14=31, 15=28Silver Points: 1=75, 2=67, 3=61, 4=56, 5=51, 6=47, 7=43, 8=39, 9=36, 10=33, 11=30, 12=27, 13=25, 14=23, 15=21

72

2017 XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC ELITE TOUR STANDINGSElite Men S G S G

PL Name, NAT TOT NZL DAN TAH ALB

1 Sam Osborne, NZL 332 75 90 67 1002 Bradley Weiss, RSA 190 DNS 100 DNS 903 Ben Allen, AUS 187 56 75 56 DNS4 Olly Shaw, NZL 149 67 DNS DNS 825 Kieran McPherson, NZL 143 61 82 DNS DNS6 Joe Miller, PHI 120 DNS 45 DNS 757 Takahiro Ogasawara, JPN 104 DNS 41 DNS 638 Alex Roberts, NZL 101 43 58 DNS DNS9 Mauricio Mendez, MEX 75 DNS DNS 75 DNS10 Fabien Combaluzier, FRA 69 DNS 69 DNS DNS11 Akihiko Maeda, JPN 69 DNS DNS DNS 6912 Brodie Gardner, AUS 63 DNS 63 DNS DNS13 Maxim Chane, FRA 61 DNS DNS 61 DNS14 Will Ross, USA 53 DNS 53 DNS DNS15 Hayden Wilde, NZL 51 51 DNS DNS DNS16 Jacky Boisset, FRA 49 DNS 49 DNS DNS17 Lewis Ryan, NZL 47 47 DNS DNS DNS18 Rodney Bell, AUS 39 39 DNS DNS DNS

Elite Women S G S G

PL NAME, NAT TOT NZL DAN TAH ALB

1 Penny Slater, AUS 297 56 90 61 902 Leela Hancox, AUS 251 43 75 51 823 Samantha Kingsford, NZL 223 67 DNS 56 1004 Kristy Jennings, NZL 191 DNS 69 47 755 Jacqui Allen, GBR 150 75 DNF 75 DNS6 Carina Wasle, AUT 100 DNS 100 DNS DNS7 Laura Mira Diaz, BRA 99 36 63 DNS DNS8 Myriam Guillot-Boisset, FRA 82 DNS 82 DNS DNS9 Lesley Paterson, GBR 67 DNS DNS 67 DNS10 Hannah Wells, NZL 61 61 DNS DNS DNS11 Deborah Lynch, NZL 51 51 DNS DNS DNS12 Lydia Hale, NZL 47 47 DNS DNS DNS13 Mary Gray, NZL 39 39 DNS DNS DNS

73

2018 XTERRA WORLD TOUR ELITE RACE WINNERSDate Race Location Elite Winners

Feb 24 XTERRA South Africa Grabouw, Western Cape Brad Weiss/Carina Wasle

March 10 XTERRA Motatapu South Island, New Zealand Dougal Allan/Paties Alizue

March 18 XTERRA Chile # Silver San Bernardo, Santiago Mauricio Mendez/Allison Baca

March 24 XTERRA Argentina # Silver Dique Ullum, San Juan Kieran McPherson/Fabiola Corona

March 25 XTERRA Costa Rica # Silver Playa Reserva Conchal Rom Akerson/Kelli Montgomery

April 7 XTERRA New Zealand + Silver Rotorua Sam Osborne/Jacqui Allen

April 15 XTERRA Malta * Silver Majjistral Nature Reserve Roger Serrano/Brigitta Poor

April 22 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship + GOLD Danao, Cebu, Philippines Brad Weiss/Carina Wasle

April 22 XTERRA Cyprus * Silver Akamas Roger Serrano/Brigitta Poor

April 29 XTERRA Greece * Silver Vouliagmeni Arthur Forissier/Nicole Walters

May 5 XTERRA Uruguay Silver Punta del Este Karsten Madsen/Carito Nieva

May 11 XTERRA Tahiti + Silver Moorea Mauricio Mendez/Jacqui Allen

May 12 XTERRA Brazil # GOLD Ilha Bella, Sao Paolo Kieran McPherson/Sabrina Gobbo

May 19 XTERRA Oak Mountain # GOLD Pelham, Alabama, USA Josiah Middaugh/Lesley Paterson

May 27 XTERRA Garda * Silver Lake Garda, Italy Arthur Serrieres/Helena Karaskova

June 2 XTERRA Portugal * Silver Golega Ruben Ruzafa/Brigitta Poor

June 3 XTERRA Dominican Republic # Silver Samana Josiah Middaugh/Fabiola Corona

June 9 XTERRA Belgium * Silver Namur Francois Carloni/Morgane Riou

June 17 XTERRA Albay + GOLD Legaspi, Philippines Sam Osborne/Penny Slater

June 23 XTERRA Switzerland * Silver Vallee de Joux Arthur Forissier/Brigitta Poor

July 1 XTERRA France * GOLD Xonrupt Ruben Ruzafa/Brigitta Poor

July 8 XTERRA Victoria # Silver Victoria, B.C., Canada Kieran McPherson/Julie Baker

July 15 XTERRA Czech * Silver Prachatice Ruben Ruzafa/Helena Karaskova

July 21 XTERRA Beaver Creek # GOLD Beaver Creek, CO, USA Mauricio Mendez/Lesley Paterson

July 22 XTERRA Abruzzo * Silver Scanno, Italy Roger Serrano/Eva Garcia Gonzalez

August 4 XTERRA Mexico # GOLD Tapalpa Josiah Middaugh/Fabiola Corona

August 5 XTERRA Romania * Silver Tirgu Mures, Transylvania Arthur Serrieres/Brigitta Poor

August 12 XTERRA Poland * Silver Krakow Bradley Weiss/Brigitta Poor

August 18 XTERRA Quebec # Silver Quebec City, QC, Canada Josiah Middaugh/Fabiola Corona

August 18 XTERRA European Championship * GOLD Zittau, Germany Bradley Weiss/Brigitta Poor

August 26 XTERRA Finland * Silver Imatra Xavier Dafflon/Carina Wasle

Sept 1 XTERRA Norway * Silver Norefjell Roger Serrano/Carina Wasle

Sept 9 XTERRA Denmark * GOLD Mons Klint Roger Serrano/Michelle Flipo

Sept 15 XTERRA Pan American Championship Ogden, Utah, USA Josiah Middaugh/Lesley Paterson

October 28 XTERRA World Championship Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii $100,000 Prize Purse

* XTERRA European Tour / # XTERRA Pan American Tour / + XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour

GOLD = Min. $15,000 pro prize purse & 100-point scale / Silver = Min. $7,500 pro prize purse & 75-point scale

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NED OVEREND (2005)After retiring from mountain biking in 1996 at the age of 40 (he won six national titles and becamemountain bikings first world champion in 1990), Overend competed in the first-ever XTERRA in 1996,finishing third. In ‘97 he was second, and in ‘98 and ‘99 he won consecutive World Championships atthe ripe young age of 42 & 43. He was also the XTERRA USA Series Champion in 2002. At the 2004 WorldChampionship, at age 50, Overend posted the 9th fastest bike split and placed 21st overall. Midwaythrough the bike course Peter Reid was overheard saying “There’s a 50-year-old in front of me!” He wasso devastating on the mountain bike that he earned the nicknames of “Deadly Nedly” and “The Lung.”At the end of his career, commentators respectfully called him “The Old Man of the Mountain.”

SCOTT TINLEY (2006)In 1996, Scott competed in XTERRA's inaugural event, known as Aquaterra at the time. That day, hefinished in 4th place and went on to finish in the top 10 in both 1997 and '98. But more than just anathlete, Scott was one of the early ambassadors for the sport. Tinley was at the sharp end of gettingathletes to Maui. When you look at the high level pro's that came 10 years ago, it is far more impressivethan what one, solitary, unusual race with a $5,000 prize list should have attracted. Jimmy Riccitello,Mike Pigg, Wes Hobson, Ray Browning, Pat Brown, Scott Molina, Emilio Desoto, Jeff Devlin, Kenny Glah,Paul Huddle, Michellie Jones, Paula Newby, Sian Welch, Karen Smeyers and more. A lot of thatparticipation is because of ST, who helped found and develop the sport of off-road triathlon.

KERSTIN WEULE (2007)Kerstin Weule, using equally deadly swim, mountain bike and run speed, won more XTERRA races thananyone (until Jamie Whitmore took on the challenge). She won 19 XTERRA titles, including the US. ProSeries in 1999 and 2000, and the 2000 World Championship. Born in Braunlage, Germany in 1966,Weule’s name was synonymous with XTERRA for years. The winning started in 1998 in Louisiana andshe won the next two big races. In her career, Kerstin won at almost every U.S. venue where XTERRAtraveled too, including races in the UK and Canada. Weule brought much to XTERRA – an opendisposition, the ability to share all that she knew at XTERRA University clinics, a great laugh, hercartwheel at the finish line, & blue painted toenails on raceday.

JIMMY RICCITELLO (2008)Flash back to 1996… AquaTerra…the first XTERRA…123 Speedo-clad racers on the start line at dawnon the beach in Wailea, Maui. A who’s who of triathlon and mountain biking showed up to try some-thing completely new…off-road triathlon. And, it turned out that XTERRA with its catch phrase “Yourtoughest competitor is Mother Nature” was right up Riccitello’s alley. He took the inaugural XTERRAWorld Championship by more than three minutes over triathlon great Mike Pigg. After the win, he said“Man this race is a bitch, but it’s the true spirit of triathlon – the athlete against the course”. Over sevenyears Riccitello raced XTERRA all over the U.S., including six more Maui World Championships, and wasalways the life of the party.

MICHAEL TOBIN (2009)Tobin won at everything he tried, posting championships in running (and not your usual 5K but runningup mountains for a couple hours); duathlon, where he was Powerman Champ twice with 14 interna-tional victories; XTERRA with 16 victories and a World Championship; and adventure racing – where hehas won all over the world. Tobin dominated XTERRA for years. He won Kirkwood in 1997; won 3 of 4 in1998; and won 9 out of 10 in 1999. To that point, the one prize that eluded Tobin was Maui. He was 4thin 1997 – 3rd in 1998 – 2nd in 1999 and finally won it all in 2000.

XTERRA HALL OF FAME

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SHARI KAIN (2010)Shari Kain came to XTERRA as an accomplished mountain biker – a U.S. champion in both cycling andcyclocross and she was to have a major impact on XTERRA. Kain had an epic duel with Michellie Jonesin the inaugural XTERRA of 1996 but came up 12 seconds short. In 1999 “Sharoo” won it all in style bydoing the hula across the finish line in a grass skirt. That fabulous finish wasn’t Shari’s onlycontribution to the XTERRA Legend that day. It is said she is responsible for the post-race game ofnaked touch football - a hallmark of the early days of XTERRA

SCOTT SCHUMAKER (2011)Scott Schumaker is perhaps THE pioneer of XTERRA racing. He could race, and he could write with thebest of them. He was part of the inaugural class of one hundred and twenty three who started the firstXTERRA (or AquaTerra as it was then know) in Wailea in 1996 – and he took 4th behind some of thebiggest names in the sport - Jimmy Riccitello, Mike Pigg and Ned Overend. In the first four years ofXTERRA, he was a factor in just about every race…and introduced the sport to the triathlon world bywriting about his experiences for industry magazines. His race reports were irreverent and oftenhilarious, introducing technical terms such as “Umpa-lumpa” to the sport.

JAMIE WHITMORE (2012)Jamie “J-Dawg” Whitmore career was kick-started at the “Crown Jewel” XTERRA SaipanChampionship race back in 2002 when she upset the reigning world champ at the time, Anke Erlank.Over the next six years she won 37 championships in a dozen different countries, including theXTERRA World Championship in 2004. She is still the most successful female pro the sport has everknown. Her accomplishments in the sport, however, pale in comparison to her achievements in life.

NICO LEBRUN (2013)Nicolas "The Professor" Lebrun from France crossed the Atlantic and landed in Richmond, Virginia forhis first XTERRA race in 2001. He finished 3rd behind another, first-timer - Conrad Stoltz in 2nd, andCanada’s Mike Vine in first. It was the start of something big for him, and for XTERRA….The followingyear he returned to Richmond and scored his first XTERRA win. Over the next 13 years he was a majorand consistent force in XTERRA racing in Europe and in America with 90 top five finishes, including 32wins and four European Tour Championships. But the crowning moment in his XTERRA career, was inMaui in 2005 when he won the XTERRA World Championship.

CONRAD STOLTZ (2015)In 2015 XTERRA inducted the most decorated XTERRA athlete of all-time, Conrad “The Caveman”Stoltz. Stoltz collected an unprecedented 53 career championship wins and seven world titles (4from XTERRA and 3 from ITU) in his illustrious 15-year career. The reception he received was goose-bump worthy … a well-deserved standing ovation from an adoring crowd. “XTERRA has been anintegral part of my life,” he said, holding back tears. “We always talk about XTERRA being family, andit is. It really is. What Tom and Dave and Julie created is simply amazing, and I’m beyond grateful.”

XTERRA HALL OF FAME

DAN HUGO (2016)At just 31-years-old Hugo is the youngest athlete ever inducted to the Hall, but he was just a teenagerwhen he did his first XTERRA in 2004 at the inaugural XTERRA South Africa Championship. He finished3rd that day and over the next 11 years finished in the top 5 over 70 times. Among those podiumpositions was an agonizing 22nd runner-up finishes, but he also won his fair share with 15 majors. inhis last two years – 2013/14 – he did two dozen XTERRA races on six continents and during that stretchwon races in eight countries including the prestigious XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship.

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FLASHBACK TO ‘96 : FROM AN ORGANIZER’S PERSPECTIVEWE JUST DIDN’T KNOW ANY BETTER

By “Kahuna Dave” Nicholas

“Hey Boss” said Jerry Pupillo. “Look at those guys down on thebeach washing the mud off. Why don’t we do one of thoseIronman things but on mountain bikes”? It sounded like a goodidea to me and here we are 20 years later. This all happened atthe 1995 Hawaiian Mountain Tour bike race at Kualoa Ranchwhen a bunch of pro men rode their bikes down to the oceanafter a very muddy cross country race.

Every swim we had done for Ocean Challenge or the King’s Racewas point-to-point. So not knowing any better we did the firstswim from Ulua Beach to Wailea Beach. It was 1500m or so andI recall we started the race – picked up the signs and quicklycarried them to swim out and transition.

I did a ton of homework to find out about triathlon. Tinley andThe Grip (Mark Allen) all agreed it was the best runner that usu-ally won Ironman or the shorter distances. We were bike guysand when I designed our race (AquaTerra now XTERRA) I madesure the bike took up a lot more of the total time than a roadtriathlon. I figured the triathlete would win the swim, themountainbiker would get the lead on the bike and the triathletewould catch up on the run and they would cross the line togeth-er. Damn if it did not work first time out. Shari Kain andMichellie Jones did exactly as I predicted with Michellie passingShari about 200m from the finish. Notorious cyclist JimmyRiccitello won but mountainbiker Ned Overend came in 3rd andwon it all a few years later and he was a rock in the water.

Kiely planned parties, we gave away some comp rooms, we hadreally nice meals and even cocktail parties. The atmospherewas completely different from triathlon. The biggest commentwe heard was “why are you treating us so nice?” The answerwas we didn’t know any better. We figured the athlete was thereason for the event and we had best treat them well.

After the race old John Cobb who had a big online bike shoptold me we had to take this to the mainland and he knew theperfect place. There was a new park in Ruston, Louisiana thathad a world class trail builder who had created that perfectplace. Cobb put up $5,000 and the America Tour was created.We had mtb friends in Big Bear & I convinced them to helporganize one. Tinley knew somebody at Kirkwood resort andthat became our 3rd race for 1997.

The park manager was James Ramsaur and he truly did createan amazing set of trails. He had 250 acres and somehow madea 9 mile loop. We later named him Kimo as that’s Hawaiian forJames. That first year we took some white trellis Kimo used forweddings and made the finish arch. That race was calledGatorTerra. We bought a few kids blowup pool alligators andput them out on the trails on race morning. Definitely scared afew athletes.

XTERRA would have never started if TK had not found out thatMaui was looking for a TV event. He came back and told me ourcrazy idea of a triathlon on mountainbikes was going to happenon Maui. It had to be in Wailea-Makena so go over there andmake it work.

We knew it was a made for TV event and we had to fit it in a onehour show. Ironman distances were way too long and frankly,their TV show was pretty boring. I figured we had to have thewinners take about 2 ½ hours. Given that total time for the racewe could easily edit the footage to make an interesting onehour show. We had done a lot of mountain bike races, lots ofocean swims and even 10K runs that went around DiamondHead so we knew how to figure total time for each leg. That’show the distances for XTERRA were determined. We went overto Maui a lot of times but could not find any trails. We hadworked with a Maui windsurf organizer named Paul Ehman foryears on our ocean and cycling events and Paul had a great con-nection with Ulupalakua ranch. We went onto the ranch andfound miles and miles of dirt roads. Some wide open but manygnarly, lava rock hard smaller roads as well. From our experi-ence creating mountain bike races I knew this would be onetough race. Not one foot of single track but tough riding.

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FLASHBACK TO ‘96 : FROM AN ORGANIZER’S PERSPECTIVEThere was about a mile of road we had to use to get from theAston resort (later Outrigger) to the dirt road leading to theranch. This road was as wide as a 4 lane highway. We found outlater this was made to handle huge trucks bringing cindersdown from the volcano to fill in the area that became Wailea.There was too much traveled dirt road so we started looking forcow trails or smaller, older routes to follow. We found one andit worked well and led to what would become Heartbreak Hill.The problem was that when we came back to mark it we could-n’t figure out which small trail it was. Then one of us remem-bered an old abandoned car was on the trail we used. We foundthe car, an old Plymouth Valiant, and that is how Valiant Parkgot its name and that cool, twisty bit came to be.

Another problem cropped up when we couldn’t bring the bikeback to the hotel in the distance we wanted . Going back wouldmake the bike too long. Plus, there was no good run routearound the hotel. The solution was a small horse stable busi-ness out past Makena. We could tie the bike route to comedown to the stables for T2 and then create a run back to thehotel. The stable owner was a great guy and helped a lot.

The only problem was not enough space at T2 to put bike racks.I took a chapter out of the original Ironman T2 and we put uptents, built big bag racks and hired a couple flatbed trucks totake the bikes back to the start. Riders would come screamingdown Cactus Alley into T2. We posted a marshal just up theroad and he would call the bike number on a 2-way radio.Another vollie would yell out the number at T2 and a volunteerwould grab that bag and have it waiting. At the dismount lineanother volunteer would take the bike and the athlete wouldgrab their transition bag and go into a tent with benches tochange. Like I said, we just didn’t know any better & it seemedlike the right thing to do.

There was no real route from the ranch to the stables. We foundremnants of an old road but it was totally overgrown. I had abunch of Marines that worked with us on the NFL Pro Bowl andwe took a dozen or so to Maui with us to work on the course andmarshal points. Those guys are workers. We blasted throughthe bush cutting trees, pulling crap out of the way and uncover-ing the old route. About half way down we ran into hundreds ofhuge cactus. Some had been growing there for years & were 10-12 feet high. It was christened “Cactus Alley” and was part ofthe course for years.

The run was harder to make than it seemed as most of it wouldhave to be on the road. Not what we wanted. So we scoutedwoods and beaches and although we had to cross a coupleroads, Ted Kozlo got the Maui police to approve it and help.Scary forest was created with a rake. It was nothing but scrubkiawe trees and other woody weeds. We wanted to go over thepu’u past little beach but it was too dangerous. I rememberdoing it and sliding and tumbling down that damn thing toblack sand beach. What we did was leave Makena Beach (BigBeach) through the parking lot and then started walking intothe woods. We eventually found our way back to black sandbeach and Scary Forest was created. How did we mark it? Witha rake making a path through the leaves and hundreds ofarrows.

Ulupalakua allowed us one day on their ranch for the race. Thisis how the no advance look or practice on the trails happened.They are a full, working ranch and I did not blame them in theleast. They did allow us access to mark the course and I recallwondering why our stakes and marks kept being knockeddown. What we found is the cattle saw the arrows and thoughtthey were food ! That’s why in those first years before the ranchstarted moving the cattle for the race week we had to hangarrows from tree branches or screw them into fence posts.

XTERRA racing was the work-life passion of Dave Nicholas for twodecades. He was the race director at every XTERRA World Championshipfrom 1996 to 2017, and is the driving force behind the ever-expandingXTERRA World Tour. He’s also one heck of a race-car driver, and at theyoung age of 75 drove his 1960 MGA to several class victories this year.

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FLASHBACK TO ‘96 : FROM A RACER’S PERSPECTIVEAQUATERRA FLASHBACK

By Scott Schumaker

I’ll tell you one of the reasons I loved racing XTERRAs back whenit all began, the late race starts and sleeping in until theluxurious time of 7am! November 3, 1996, 9 AM

BOOM!

The cannon fires. I charge down Wailea beach and into thetranquil Pacific with 122 athletes. It’s the first Aquaterra, nowXTERRA. Well-known multi-sport names like Newby-Fraser, Pigg,Jones, Hobson, Tinley, Smyers and Riccitello are in the scantily-clad mob. There are a few notable mountain bikers too. Overend.Kain. Kloser. It’s not the first off road triathlon*, but with its Mauilocation, end-of-the-season date, big name athletes, TV coverageand prize money, it has definitely garnered the most buzz. I diveinto the water and think, “If this thing takes off it could changethe face of triathlons!”

It’s one big triangle of a swim and I need to stay on BrentImonen’s feet. He’s a damn fine ocean swimmer. With the likes ofOverend and Kloser back there I need as much of a lead as possi-ble. Shit, Riccitello is back there too. I know he can ride a moun-tain bike. Most triathletes can’t. Most triathletes seem to preferglass-smooth pavement. Yawn. Boring. Not me. I’m excited to geton the dirt. I’m excited to get dirty! Swim faster, Brent.

Did Dave “Kahuna” Nicholas have his mini-cannon that firstyear? Was the Pacific tranquil? Did I really think Aquaterra couldchange triathlons as I dove into the water? Was the swim onebig triangle? I have no idea. It was 20 years ago. Memory fogs.Let me check the tape. Stand by.

OK, I just checked the tape. Was there a mini-cannon? Nope. Itwas a conch shell being blown. Was the Pacific tranquil? Yes.Was the swim a triangle? No. It was a point-to-point swim fromUlua Beach to Wailea Beach. Was I thinking about Aquaterrapossibly bringing a whole new dimension in multi-sport? I hopenot. I hope I was focused on the race.

I’m right on Brent’s feet. Perfect. Look! There’s a giant turtleswimming underneath us**. That is sooo cool. Scott, stay focusedon the race, man! Swim faster, Brent. Should I try to go aroundhim? No, I need to conserve my energy. I probably can’t getaround him anyway. He’s fast.

The tape shows that I tried to go around him. I think I wantedthe swim prime. We exit the water side by side, but he’s on hisfeet a half stride before I am.

Sprint! I can get this.A wave breaks. It’s tangles up my legs. Brent is already chargingup the beach.

Looking back, I suppose could blame that wave for not gettingthe prime. Or I could blame the extra drag of the bike shorts Ichose to wear. But, really, Brent was just a damn fine oceanswimmer. I’m sure he still is. Hobson came out of the waterclose behind me. Pigg came out close behind him. Riccitellowas a minute back. Tinley, 1:20. Overend nearly 3 minutes. Irecall the run to the transition area feeling long.

OK, there’s my transition space. Finally. C’mon, bike jersey! Geton my wet body. I’m glad I cut the sleeves off! GU packets…staystuffed in those back pockets. OK, shoes are on. Grab the moun-tain bike. It’s a Scott hardtail. Aluminum frame. 26-inch wheels.V-brakes. Handlebar that round into bar ends. It’s a mere 30pounds of XC awesomeness!

I’m sprinting out across the bike mount line and launch myselfcyclocross-style onto my bike. I’m first out of transition. I am theNo Fear Bike Leader!

There’s a section of paved road before the dirt begins. I’m ridinghands free putting on the bike gloves that had been danglingfrom my bar ends. There goes Hobson. Shit!…and Pigg! So muchfor being the bike leader. That didn’t last long. I’m a better tech-nical rider than Hobson. Not sure about Pigg. But there is 3000feet of climbing before the big descent.

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FLASHBACK TO ‘96 : FROM A RACER’S PERSPECTIVEThat big descent would become known as The Plunge and Iwouldn’t see Hobson or Pigg on it. In fact, I wouldn’t see eitherof them again until after the finish line. A half-dozen otherswould pass me on the climb to The Plunge, including Riccitelloand, eventually, Overend. Those two were moving incrediblyfast. If Phil Liggett had been commenting he would have saidthey were dancing on their pedals.

Whew. That was tough. Here we go the big descent! It’s doubletrack and fast. It’s not all that technical, but the lava rocks arebouncing my bike around like a pinball and rattling my brain!Just don’t crash. Just don’t crash. Just don’t crash.

I didn’t crash but it wasn’t the best bike ride of my life either. Itwas, however, a hell of a lot more exciting and challenging—mentally and physically—than road triathlons. Plus drafting,which was a heated debate in road triathlons at the time, wasimpossible. It was pure. It was bliss. By the time I hit the bike-to-run transition I was in love.

OK, I’m off the bike in one piece and in eighth place. Or is it ninth?I don’t know. There’s sweat in my eyes; I’m sweating like a whorein church***. I’m covered in a fine film of red dust. It’s f’ing hot!Why did they start this race so f’ing late in the morning? I mightstill be able to pull out a top ten finish though. C’mon, swimmerlegs, work for me.

I’m weaving down through a forest of stunted growth. There’svery little shade. There’s a fallen tree marked with yellow hazardtape. Duck! And another one. Jump!

I’m on Big Beach. Plod. Plod. Ugh, this is a long beach. Plod. Plod.Plod. Damn you swimmer legs!

There’s a rocky ledge. More sand. Pavement. More trail. A“beach” made of baby-head sized rocks. Sweating. Sunbathersare looking at me like I’m nuts. My legs are really failing now.There’s the finish line. Hallelujah!

2:49:12. 12th place.

It wasn’t my best race speed-wise. I had really been hoping tofinish in the top 10, and if all pistons were firing, top 5. Still,compared to my current 2015 speed, I was kind of, sort of fast.I didn’t appreciate it then. I appreciate it now. Perspective mat-ters.

I’m in the post-finish line tent dropping another cupful of icewater over my head. This really could take off, I think. This wholemountain bike, Aquaterra triathlon thing. How amazing wouldthat be?! I would totally do these all the time over road triathlons.It was way more fun. And crazy challenging. And those TeamUnlimited people seem really nice. They’ve treated us all likekings and queens. And they know how to put on a well-organizedrace. It’s too bad they are based in Hawaii though. There’s noway they’ll make anything big happen stuck out here in themiddle of the Pacific.

*The Kirkwood Enduro-X went down in August 6, 1994. - Scott Tinley’s Dirty Adventures followed in the fall of 1995.**I’m relatively sure a turtle actually did swim underneath us.***Credit for the line “sweating like a whore in church” : Jimmy

Riccitello.

Scott Schumaker (pictured above interviewing Michellie Jones after thatfirst race) would go on to race almost every XTERRA Triathlon held overthe next five years, writing about each one for multisport magazines andXTERRA, and he is a member of the XTERRA Hall of Fame. While he neverwon the big one, or even any of the smaller ones—Kahuna calls him theDan Marino of XTERRA—he was a consistent top finisher and his articleshelped grow the sport. Currently Scott is the managing partner at BrightAntenna Records and recently put out a children’s book called Henry’sBig Star Adventure. instagram: @scottschumaker