PRESS GUIDE 1 EVENT PARTNERS The 23rd annual XTERRA World Championship is presented by Paul Mitchell and the Maui Visitors Bureau. Other partners include Suunto, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Gatorade Endurance, OOFOS, Kapalua Resorts, the Maui Motorcyle Company, and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. 4 WELCOME TO MAUI, HOME TO THE XTERRA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP When you think of Maui, cascading waterfalls, white sand beaches, and breathtaking sunsets come straight to mind. This magical Hawaiian island is also the birthplace of the most notorious off-road triathlon on earth…XTERRA! From a one-off race held on the most remote island chain in the world, XTERRA evolved into an endurance sports lifestyle with worldwide appeal. Over the past 20+ years XTERRA transcended its status as 'just a race' to become a bona fide way of life for thousands of intrepid triathletes and trail runners across the globe. A fitting representation of this “XTERRA Tribe” - 800 athletes from 44 countries - will gather at Kapalua Resort, and on Sunday, October 28, they’ll put their mental and physical toughness up against Mother Nature at the 23rd edition of the XTERRA World Championship. Follow the race online at Facebook.com/xterraplanet and Twitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am Hawaii time (12pm PST, 3pm EST, 9pm Paris, 3am Monday in Shanghai, and 6am Monday in Sydney). TABLE OF CONTENTS Press Information . .6 Schedule of Events, Spectators Guide, Quick Facts . .7-9 XTERRA Kapalua Trail Runs Overview . .10-11 Course Description, Course Map, and Elevation Gain Profiles . .12-13 Maui No Ka Oi translates to Elite Start Lists . .14-15 "Maui is the Best" Past Elite Champions and Unofficial Course Records . .16 Men’s Elite Race Preview . .17-18 With 120 linear miles of Women’s Elite Race Preview . .19-21 shoreline and more miles of Profiles on the Men’s Elite Contenders . .22-33 swimmable beach than any Profiles on the Women’s Elite Contenders . .34-43 other Hawaiian island it's no Elite Prize Purse Breakdown and Double Award Information . .44-45 surprise Maui has regularly Past XTERRA World Championship Results . .46-67 been voted "Best Island in the All-time Top 3 finishers . .68-69 World" by the readers of 2018 XTERRA European, Pan Am, and Asia-Pacific Tour Elite Results . .70-72 Condé Nast Traveler 2018 XTERRA World Tour Championship Races with Elite Winners . .73 magazine. Come see it for XTERRA Hall of Fame . .74-75 yourself, and to learn more Flashback to 1996, from an organizer perspective . .76-77 log-on to visitmaui.com. Flashback to 1996, from a racer’s perspective . .78-79 PastXTERRA World Championship results . .Addendum 5 PRESS INFORMATION The XTERRA World Championship press guide was designed to provide the media with useful information about the 2018 race, the athletes 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 [email protected] 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 President 808-216-8606 (mobile) or at the hotel 808-669-6200 (ask for the Director’s Room) [email protected] // www.xterraplanet.com 6 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 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 Open 10:00am-2:00pm Upper Bike Course Open* to registered athletes only Thursday, October 25 9:00am-2:00pm Registration and Packet Pick-up 9:00am-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 only 9:00am-5:00pm Registration, Packet and Timing Chip Pick-up 2:00pm XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – Mountain Bike Clinic with Josiah Middaugh and Brigitta Poor 3:00pm XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell – Trail Run Clinic with Mauricio Mendez and Lesley Paterson 6:30pm 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 Village 7:00-8:30am 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 kids 9:00am-12:00pm Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Cut-a-thon, a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation 9:00am-4:00pm Triathlon Registration, Packet and Timing Chip Pick-up in the XTERRA Expo Village 9:00am 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 Ceremonies 11:00am 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 Ballroom 12:00pm 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 line 8:30am Transition Closed 9:00am XTERRA World Championship Start 10:00am-3:00pm XTERRA Spectator Village Open at the finish – games, bounce house, and face painting for kids 10:00am-3:00pm Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Cut-a-thon, a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation 1:30pm Elite awards for the top 5 Men and Women at the finish area 2:15pm Cut-off at T2 6:30pm Awards Dinner and Dance Party at the Aloha Garden Ballroom 10:00pm-2:00am After Party! Halloween costumes welcome but not required. At the XTERRA Expo Village. 7 SPECTATORS GUIDE Maui’s World Championship XTERRA course covers 28 miles of unyielding terrain. The experience is a sensory riot, featuring fragrant 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 to watch the mass start from the lawn above or down on the beach. Pros are easy to spot with their identifying swim caps - men in blue and women in pink. A short beach shuffle mid-race between two 750-meter laps of an “M” shaped course gives spectators a 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 for competitors 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 single loop 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-burning section 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 premium performance apparel and accessories for the trail and beyond, great food and drinks, and a full slate of fun activities for the family 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 at Facebook.com/xterraplanet and Twitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am Hawaii time (12pm PST, 3pm EST, 9pm Paris, 3am Monday in Shanghai, and 6am Monday in Sydney).