The World’s Greatest Off-Road Triathlon Since 1996 2009 PRESS GUIDE 2009 XTERRA MIDWEST CUP SPONSORS The 2009 XTERRA Midwest Cup is presented by Paul Mitchell and XTERRA.TV. National sponsors include GU, XTERRAGear.com, Rodale, Zorrel, Gatorade, Choice Hotels, and the Utah Sports Commission; and local sponsors are Battle Creek Visitors Bureau, Team Active, Southwest Michigan Eye Center, BiCi Bistro, Arcadia Ales, Trikats.org, and In The Zone. XTERRA Discount Code 00224890 In 1996 mountain biking and triathlon met in a duel of the fittest on the island of Maui. The race consisted of an open- ocean swim, a mountain bike race, and a trail run. It represented a bold new racing format that attracted outdoor enthusiasts, adventure seekers, mountain bikers and triathletes. The mountain bikers brought their laid-back style and bold self-assurance. The triathletes brought their hard-core training and avid dedication. They soon discovered a common spirit and attitude that pulled them together. For as different as they are, neither could resist the challenges and thrills this new multisport offered. Since that day XTERRA has grown into the world’s leading off-road triathlon with more than 100 races in 13 countries this year, including 60 in the XTERRA America Tour alone. The typical XTERRA is comprised of the following: 1.5 kilometer (0.93-mile) swim in an ocean, lake, or river 30 kilometer (18.6-mile) mountain bike on off-road trails 10 kilometer (6.2-mile) trail run on a variety of surfaces ON THE COVER: 2008 XTERRA U.S. Pro Series Champions Melanie McQuaid and Conrad Stoltz on top, and XTERRA Amateur 2009 marks the 13th consecutive year of expansion for National Champions Joshua Olmstead and Erin Kummer on bottom. XTERRA with races in 32 states, and welcomes a new ABOVE: Shonny Vanlandingham at Southeast Cup in Pelham, AL. eight-stop nationwide Cup Series racing format. TABLE OF CONTENTS Each of XTERRA’s eight regions in the U.S. will host an XTERRA Cup championship race with $10,000 in prize XTERRA America Tour Introduction . .3 money for pros and 41 qualifying spots into the XTERRA Loews XTERRA West Cup Preview/Schedule . .4-5 World Championship for amateurs. Age group competitors Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon and XTERRA University . .6 will also earn points at the Cup Series races in pursuit of Loews XTERRA West Cup Course Map/Directions . .7 winning their region and qualifying for the invite-only Kahuna’s Korner and Pro Start List . .8-9 XTERRA USA Championship held in Utah on Sept. 26. 2009 XTERRA Cup Series for Pros . .10 XTERRA Pro Biographies . .11-25 2009 XTERRA America Tour Prize Money Breakdown . .26 This guide will breakdown the who, what, when, where and Past XTERRA U.S. Pro Series Results . .27-28 why of the XTERRA Midwest Cup race - and introduce you How the XTERRA America Tour Works (for amateurs) . .29-31 to some of the professional athletes that will race in the 2009 XTERRA America Tour Schedule . .32 world’s premier off-road triathlon at Fort Custer State Park 2008 XTERRA USA Amateur Champions . .33 on May 17. 2008 XTERRA Age Group Regional Champions . .34-35 2008 XTERRA World Tour Results . .36 2009 XTERRA World Tour Schedule . .37 2009 XTERRA USA Championship . .38 2009 XTERRA World Championship race preview . .39 Produced by XTERRA Trail Running Series Overview and Schedule . .40-41 How XTERRA started & the world of XTERRA overview . .42-43 XTERRAGear.Com News . .44 About TEAM Unlimited and XTERRA.TV . .45-46 3 XTERRA MIDWEST CUP PREVIEW The XTERRA Midwest Cup at Fort Custer State Park just outside the “Cereal City” of Battle Creek, MI will be without a doubt the biggest off-road tri in the Heartland this year. For the last three years local organizers Jim and Joyce Donaldson of Elite Endeavors have hosted the XTERRA Last Stand point series race there, and thanks to their efforts and the Battle Creek Convention and Visitors Bureau, it has been turned into a major championship event. All the big names in XTERRA like Conrad Stoltz, Melanie McQuaid, Josiah Middaugh and Shonny Vanlandingham will be here battling for their share of the money and fame up for grabs in central Michigan’s great outdoors. The run is all about XTERRA too, heading straight from transition to the sandy beach along the lakeshore then in to some hilly dirt paths that’ll make your calves cry. Last year in mid-May it was 75-degrees and sunny on race day, but still a wetsuit race as the swim in beautiful Lake Eagle will have water temps in the mid-to-upper 60s. They’re also offering up a half-distance off-road tri, a duathlon, and relay team options, and the local bike shop “Team Active Cycling and Fitness” is taking care of all the athletes bike needs. Fort Custer State Park is easy to get to and “about an hour from anywhere”. This course, this community, and this race will not The course itself is killer as the bike trails at Fort Custer are disappoint. So, calling all adventurous souls - get out and go “well-known, well-cared-for and well-loved by mountain off – live the healthy, active, outdoors lifestyle the XTERRA bikers throughout the region,” according to long-time way. Michigan-based XTERRA stud Todd Scott. The place was formerly owned by the U.S. Army and used for combat training and the trail makes use of those remnants by dropping into and riding the walls of the dugout trenches. While most of the trail is open and flowing singletrack, it’s interspersed with challenging twisty and technical rocks & roots sections like “Granny's Garden” and the “Amusement Park”, and there’s even a section called “Demons Drop”. Just to make sure you know you’re at an XTERRA there’s a water crossing or two, steep climbs, big drops, and big logs (trees, ya know, to navigate around). 4 XTERRA MIDWEST CUP SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR CUSTER STATE PARK - AUGUSTA, MI SATURDAY, MAY 16 9am-3:00pm Preview and Practice Ride Course 4-7:00pm Packet Pickup, at Team Active* (22 W. Michigan Ave, Battle Creek) Free bike safety check and bike wash station, and product demos. 4:30/6:30/7:30pm Race Briefings 6:00pm XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell Hosted by Josiah Middaugh and Shonny Vanlandingham, River Walk behind Team Active 5-8:00pm Pasta Dinner by Bici Bistro and “Battle of the Bands”, at Team Active. SUNDAY, MAY 17 8am XTERRA Midwest Cup Race Start (1K swim, 20 mi MTB, 6 mi trail run) 9:30am XTERRA Sport Start (500m swim, 10 mi MTB, 3 mi trail run) and Duathlon Race Start (2 mi trail run, 10mi MTB, 3 mi trail run) 9am-12pm Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon, a benefit for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (tentative) 10:15am Lunch by Arcadia Ales served at race site 12:30pm Awards Ceremony 2:00pm After Party – Arcadia Brewing Company (103 W. Michigan Ave, Battle Creek) Note: Park entry fee: $8 non-residents, $6 Michigan residents. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT ELITEENDEAVORS.COM OR XTERRAPLANET.COM 5 PAUL MITCHELL CUT-A-THON AND XTERRA UNIVERSITY Founded to help physically challenged athletes reach their athletic goals, the non-profit Challenged Athletes Foundation is the official charity of the Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon at each Cup stop on the XTERRA America Tour. Stylists will cut hair from 9am-12pm on Sunday, May 17 at the finish line area of the XTERRA Midwest Cup and all proceeds will go to the CAF. XTERRA UNIVERSITY Presented by Paul Mitchell Learn the art of XTERRA from the best off-road multisport athletes on the planet - USA’s own Josiah Middaugh and Shonny Vanlandingham. XTERRA University is a must for first- timers and anyone looking to sharpen their skills in swimming, mountain biking, trail running, and nutrition. Josiah and Shonny will even break down into Midwest Cup course specifics and answer any and all questions. Best part is, the clinic is FREE. Saturday Night, May 16, 6pm at the River Walk behind Team Active. 6 XTERRA MIDWEST CUP COURSE MAP 7 2009 XTERRA CUP SERIES STANDINGS Defending XTERRA U.S. Pro Series and three-time World Champions Conrad Stoltz and Melanie McQuaid proved once again to be the best in the sport by surviving major challenges from a loaded pro field at the Loews XTERRA West Cup at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2. It marks the third straight year that Stoltz and McQuaid have won the West –the first regional championship of the season and the kick-off event for the new eight-stop, nationwide XTERRA Cup Series. The 2009 XTERRA Cup Series standings below reflect each pros finishing position at the 1st race of the year in Nevada. PRO MEN Pl Name Age Hometown Time Pts Purse 1 Conrad Stoltz 35 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:16:06 100 $1,800 2 Josiah Middaugh 30 Vail, Colorado 2:16:38 90 $1,250 3 Dan Hugo 23 Stellenbosch, South Africa 2:21:12 82 $800 4 Mike Vine 35 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:24:06 75 $500 5 Jasper Blake 35 Victoria, B.C., Canada 2:25:40 69 $400 6 Steve Larsen 39 Bend, Oregon 2:26:34 63 $300 7 Justin Thomas 34 Reno, Nevada 2:28:24 58 $200 8 Brian Smith 33 Gunnison, Colorado 2:28:40 53 9 Craig Evans 31 Spring Hill, Tennessee 2:29:26 49 10 Branden Rakita 28 Manitou Springs, Colorado 2:31:20 45 Also: Ryan Ignatz (41), Seth Wealing (37), Cody Waite (34), Will Kelsay (31), Jeff Smith (28), Damian Gonzalez, Kyle Hughes, Ryan DeCook.