USA Triathlon recently announced that the 10th edition of the XTERRA Southeast Championship – to be held on 16 May 2015 at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County, Alabama – will double as the 2015 USA Triathlon Off-Road National Championship race.
As a result, athletes will have the chance to be crowned USAT National Champions as well as XTERRA Southeast Champions. The race will also serve as a qualifier for both the 2015 XTERRA World Championship and the 2016 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship races.
“Outdoor sports enthusiasts from around the world have discovered that Shelby County’s Oak Mountain State Park provides unparalleled resources,” said Alex Dudchock, Shelby County Manager.
“Last year we had competitors from eight countries and more than 30 States. Our collaborations with the State of Alabama, City of Pelham, Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers and other organizations have made extensive improvements possible to the already top-rated course, creating a destination for the serious competitor or for those discovering the thrills of outdoor sports.”
For amateurs, there will be 50 spots into the XTERRA World Championship, to be held on 1 November 2015, in Maui, up-for-grabs; and the top 18 racers in each age group will qualify for the 2016 ITU Cross Tri World Championship.
“The City of Pelham is proud of its relationship with XTERRA,” said City of Pelham Mayor Gary Waters. “We are equally pleased with the partnership we have with Shelby County and Oak Mountain State Park. In light of this exciting news, the city pledges to help bring an unprecedented and world class event to Pelham and Shelby County.”
The event will feature US$15,000 in prize money for elite athletes, who will compete over a 1.5K swim, 30K mountain bike and 10K trail run.
“We’re excited to bring the USAT National Championship to Oak Mountain State Park,” said XTERRA World Tour Managing Director Dave Nicholas. “The course itself is one of the best in the world and provides an honest challenge for participants. It’s also a great location to host a big event with a wealth of amenities; great food, tons of lodging options, and the most welcoming locals you’ll find anywhere.”
In 2012 Shelby County was selected to host the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship race in conjunction with XTERRA. It was the first-time the ITU Worlds was held in the US.
“Oak Mountain State Park is amazing, and I know I speak for all of us when I say we love racing there,” said four-time XTERRA World Champion Conrad Stoltz from Stellenbosch, South Africa, who won six straight races in Alabama from 2007-2012. “It’s a true XTERRA course with a nice warm water swim in a beautiful lake, a real mountain biker’s course with climbing, technical sections, and fun corners, and a tough but scenic run.”
XTERRA will also offer a shorter distance sprint race – 750m for the swim, a 15K mountain bike and a 5K trail run – as well as relay team opportunities and 5K, 10K, and 21K trail runs.
Rregistration will open soon at xterrapelham.com.
Oak Mountain State Park was honoured as one of America’s best trail destinations in Runner’s World Magazine, where the twisting, rolling trails made the ‘Crown Jewels – 25 best trail runs in America’ list. BUMP, the local trails advocacy group, has spent more than 100,000 hours in design and construction of new trails over the past 20 years.
XTERRA competitors have been praising the trails at Oak Mountain since the first XTERRA staged there in 2006. Shonny Vanlandingham, the 2010 XTERRA World Champion, said “I’ve raced all over the world, and I just love coming back to Oak Mountain every year. It is perhaps the best course in the nation.”
To complement the races, Oak Mountain offers a wealth of family activities (wildlife centre, swimming beach, fishing, horseback riding, golfing, boat rental, etc.) while lodging, eating and shopping opportunities abound right outside the park.
www.xterrapelham.com
usatriathlon.org/events/usat/2015/05/off-road-triathlon-national-championships
www.xterraplanet.com
