This March the XTERRA World Tour hosts three exotic championship races in Asia – Guam/Philippines/Saipan – that each offer US$15,000 in prize money to professionals and qualifying spots into the XTERRA World Championship for amateurs.
The events have attracted top flight pros from around the world including Tim DeBoom (USA), Olivier Marceau (SUI), Branden Rakita (USA), Ben Allen (AUS), Cedric Lassonde (FRA), Graham Wadsworth (GBR), Jacqui Slack (GBR), Takahiro Ogasawara (JPN), Renata Bucher (SUI), Carina Wasle (AUT), Daz Parker (GBR) and a cast of others.
The off-road triathlon adventures start in Guam on 10 March, with a 1.5K ocean swim, followed by a 31K mountain bike and a memorable 8.2K trail run that has athletes navigating through jungle rivers and down slippery waterfalls. The Guam run has been described as a ‘signature test of courage’ by Inside Triathlon and the race has been dubbed one of the ‘Top 5 Off-Road Triathlons in the World’ by Triathlete Magazine.
Next up is the Philippines on 18 March. Last year’s inaugural event had the largest spectator crowd in XTERRA history with thousands lining the bike and run courses, and high school cheerleaders in uniform waving the athletes on.
“You got so much energy from the cheering of the community,” said women’s winner Shonny Vanlandingham, the 2010 XTERRA World Champ. “The kids who watched the bike and run part of the race were chanting and cheering. It’s great to come to a place like the Philippines and feel the warm reception.”
New this year will by a half-distance XTERRA Lite race and 5K, 10K, and 21K trail runs to go along with the championship.
“What a place, what a day, what a race. The province of Cebu put on one hell of a show,” said XTERRA Managing Director ‘Kahuna Dave’ Nicholas said after last year’s inaugural event. “Saturday night Cebu put on a State dinner for the competitors that was beyond spectacular. We were met by hundreds of local dancers in costumes representing their cities, music playing, fabulous colours in a festival for the eyes.”
Last, but certainly not least on the list, is the XTERRA Saipan Championship, aka the ‘Crown Jewel of XTERRA’, on 24 March. Athletes can also stick around for a week, training and having fun with the visiting internationals and locals, and then race the Tagaman road tri on 31 March.
As XTERRA points out, the entire Asian series ‘provides a wonderful opportunity to kick an athletes’ season in style with warm weather, warm people, and great races.’
