2014 PRESS GUIDE WELCOME TO THE NEW SOUTH WALES SOUTH COAST

I’m delighted to welcome athletes, officials and fans from around the world to the NSW South Coast for the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships.

We are very pleased to be hosting some of the world’s best and toughest athletes over the next two days.

The NSW Government is committed to supporting regional events through the development and promotion of the NSW Events Calendar.

Through the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the XTERRA Asia Pacific Championships will be held here in Jervis Bay for the next three years, 2014 – 2016. It will attract thousands of visitors and bring millions of dollars to the local area.

The beautiful Jervis Bay region is a playground for surfers, cyclists, runners, and nature lovers alike and therefore a fitting location to host this extreme triathlon event.

This weekend will offer something for everyone with a sprint distance off-road triathlon, trail runs, kids’ events, camps, clin- ics, and social gatherings.

I wish all competitors and their supporters all the best for the 2014 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships and trust that vis- itors will enjoy all that this beautiful area of NSW has to offer.

Shelley Hancock Member for South Coast

The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Presenting sponsors include John Paul Mitchell Systems, the world’s largest privately owned professional salon hair care company, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts - one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held leisure lodging, retail and hospitality companies in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions, Flight Centre Active Travel (the official Travel Partner) and XTERRA Wetsuits & Boards Australia - the official swim sponsor.

2 INTRODUCTION TO XTERRA

In 1996 mountain biking and triathlon met in a duel of the fittest on the island of Maui. The race consisted of a rough water 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 “Live More” spirit that pulled them together. The relationship flourished into an internationally- recognized brand called XTERRA, and today there are tens of thousands of athletes not only taking part in the races, but truly living the lifestyle.

A fitting representation of this “XTERRA Tribe” - several hundred athletes from 14 countries – will gather at Callala Beach on pristine Jervis Bay, New South Wales; and on Saturday, April 26 at 11am, they’ll put their mental and physical tough- ness up against Mother Nature at the inaugural XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship triathlon.

Two TV shows featuring the event will be producced for international distribution.

XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship TABLE OF CONTENTS Pro Purse ($50,000 AUD) Rank Men Women Media Information 4 1st $10,000 $10,000 Schedule of Events 5 nd 2 $6,000 $6,000 About the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship 6-9 3rd $3,500 $3,500 Course Facts and Maps 10-11 4th $2,000 $2,000 XTERRA APAC Pro Start Lists 12-13 th XTERRA APAC Pro Preview 14-15 5 $1,250 $1,250 Men’s Elite Profiles 16-30 6th $750 $750 Women’s Elite Profiles 31-45 7th $550 $550 2014 XTERRA World Tour Schedule 46 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour Race Reviews 47-53 8th $400 $400 About TEAM Unlimited 54 th 9 $300 $300 XTERRA TV and the XTERRA Shop 55-56 10th $250 $250 The XTERRA Story 57-64

For further information contact Trey Garman at 0011-1-808-216-8606 (within Australia) or [email protected] MEDIA INFORMATION

The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship press guide was designed to provide the media with useful information about the 2014 race, the pros competing in it, and XTERRA in general. Below are additional items of interest:

- For credentials contact Trey Garman at [email protected] or 0011-1-808-216-8606 (within Australia)

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

- During the championship race TEAM Unlimited 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. You must reserve your seat in the press van in advance.

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

- Log on to XTERRAAsiaPacific.com for race information and race coverage.

- Follow it live on xterraasiapacifc.com, on twitter @xterraoffroad, hashtgag #xterraAPAC and on facebook.com/xterraplanet starting at 11am in Sydney, Australia

- Professional, high-resolution images from the race 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 ride the bike course on their own bikes - Access to the bike course on race day is provided by chauffeured press van/SUV ONLY. - Space is limited so you must reserve your seat in advance.

DIRECT MEDIA INQUIRIES AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION TO:

Trey Garman, Vice President 0011-1-808-216-8606 (cell) or [email protected]

Karla Bunney, Limelight Sports 0424-252-776 or [email protected]

TEAM Unlimited - 720 Iwilei Road, Suite 290, Honolulu, 96817

4 2014 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Callala Beach Community Centre – Corner of Quay Rd and Centre Street

Thursday, April 24 All Day Bike course open for pre-ride

Friday, April 25 All Day Course open for pre-ride and pre-run 3 – 7pm Husky-Myola Spit Boat Shuttle operating. Departs Huskisson ¼ to hour. 2 – 5.30pm Packet pickup/Registration Open – all events 3pm XTERRA University Clinic, presented by Paul Mitchell, hosted by Ben Allen and Jacqui Slack 4pm XTERRA Sunset Trail Run 10KM Start 4:10pm XTERRA Sunset Trail Run 5KM Start 5:30pm XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship Pre-Race Briefing and Introduction of Pro Athletes 7:00pm Carbo Loading Pasta Night at Callala Bay Community Centre 42 Emmett St, Callala Bay

Saturday, April 26 - Start and T1 (also T2 for Sprint race) @ Callala Bay Community Centre Race Finish @ Callala RSL Country Club. Parking at RSL.

6:30 – 10am Run Gear Bags Accepted for Shuttle to T2 – XTERRA Championship race only 6:30 – 4pm Husky-Myola Spit Boat Shuttle operating. Departs Huskisson ¼ to hour 6:30 – 10:30 Packet Pickup for Triathlon (no day of race registration) 6 – 7:40am T1 Open for Setup/Body Marking – XTERRA Sprint race only 7:45am Sprint Athlete Briefing at Transition Area 8:00am XTERRA Sprint Start 9:15am XTERRA Sprint champion expected @ RSL 9:15 – 10:45 T1 Open for Setup/Body Marking – XTERRA Championship race 10:45am Championship race briefing at transition area 11:00am XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship Start 12:30pm XTERRA Kids Fun Sprint @ RSL finish area 1:15pm XTERRA Asia-Pacific male champion expected @ RSL 3pm Cut off at T2 (you will not be allowed to start the run after this time) 3pm XTERRA Awards Ceremonies 4:30pm Race Course Closed 7:30 – 11pm After Party and Race Highlight Video, Callala RSL Country Club

Sunday, April 27 @ Callala Beach Community Centre 7 – 11am Husky-Myola Spit Boat Shuttle operating. Departs Huskisson ¼ to hour 7am – 8.30 Packet Pickup and Registration Open 8:45am Athlete Briefing on the beach 9am XTERRA 1.5K Ocean Swim Start

5 INTRODUCING THE XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

Last October in the week leading up to the XTERRA World Championship TEAM Unlimited LLC, owners and producers of the XTERRA World Tour, announced it had reached a three-year strategic partnership agreement with Destination New South Wales to host the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship off-road triathlon and accompanying sports festival in the Jervis Bay area.

The inaugural event scheduled for April 25-27, 2014, will double as the XTERRA Australia Championship. The weekend will also include a sprint distance off-road triathlon, trail runs, ocean swim, kids events, clinics and social gatherings.

“For the next three years, the XTERRA Asia-Pacific and Australian Championships, which have never been held before in Australia, will be held exclusively in the NSW South Coast town of Jervis Bay,” said George Souris, Minister for Tourism and Major Events. “XTERRA is estimated to bring up to $5 million in the State of NSW over the next three years with over 2,000 visitors to the local region each year.”

As the most prestigious event in XTERRA’s Asia-Pacific series that includes championship races in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Guam, and the Northern Marianas – the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship will offer $50,000 in prize money to the “The NSW Government through its tourism and major sport’s top professional athletes and two television shows events agency, Destination NSW, works hard to secure will be produced for international distribution. major events for regional NSW and XTERRA is a fantastic new addition to the NSW Events calendar,” said Souris. “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Destination “The spectacular coast line of the Jervis Bay area will New South Wales and bring one of the major pillar events in provide a fitting location to host this triathlon event.” the XTERRA World Tour to the New South Wales and Jervis Bay region,” said Tom Kiely, TEAM Unlimited CEO. “Our The Australian-based operating team of Limelight Sports – athletes will be treated to a remarkable setting for a race producers of the inaugural XTERRA Great Ocean Road and perhaps more importantly, a truly amazing adventure off-road triathlon held in Anglesea, Victoria in March – will destination to explore and discover before and after the big serve as the local liaison for the event. event.” “We are very excited to partner with TEAM Unlimited and The main event will combine a one-mile swim with roughly Destination NSW to further develop XTERRA in our region,” 30-kilometers of mountain biking followed by 10km of trail said Andrew O’Loughlin, the managing director of Limelight running. The best athletes from across the region will be Sports. “This wonderful location will inspire participation invited to compete for the Asia-Pacific crown and local from Australian and international athletes alike as the off- athletes will be welcome to join in the fun and embrace the road triathlon and trail running formats continue to grow XTERRA motto to “Live More.” globally.”

6 CALLALA ON PRISTINE JERVIS BAY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Toma Iakopo Photo

Callala is renowned for its mountain biking, white sand “Australian culture is founded on stories of battlers, beaches and clear turquoise water. The area boasts bushrangers, sporting hero’s and brave soldiers. It’s all several national parks and is teeming with native wildlife as about a fair go, the great outdoors and a healthy helping of well as whales, dolphins and an amazing array of ocean life. irony.

“Sitting at the northern end of Jervis Bay in New South Come see some of our unique animals, one of the many Wales, only a couple of hours south of Sydney, best known reasons people visit our country. Australia has more than for its stunning beaches, swimming and dolphin parades, 378 mammal species, 828 bird species, 4000 fish species, the town offers plenty of holiday cottage accommodation 300 species of lizards, 140 snake species, two crocodile and a delightful Aussie beach culture atmosphere,” species and around 50 types of marine mammal. More explained XTERRA Pro Ben Allen from Australia. “There is than 80% of our plants, mammals, reptiles and frogs are excellent sailing from Callala Bay and a regional boat ramp unique to Australia and are found no-where else. Some of and jetty provide easy access to the water. Myola is a nice our best-known animals are the kangaroo, koala, echidna, and quiet, one-street village just south of Callala Bay on the dingo, platypus, wallaby and wombat. Be careful you beautiful Jervis Bay. Here is where the roads end and the might just fall into our laid back. “She’ll be right” Aussie Currambene Creek flows into the Jervis Bay. The place is lifestyle!” surrounded by beautiful bush. The bay and the creek are fantastic places for all sorts of water sport activities. You can - Ben Allen, XTERRA Pro from North Wollongong swim, fish, sail or surf as much as you like. And the bay is 7x XTERRA World Tour Race Winner in 2013 safe for children.” 7 QUICK FACTS ON THE XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

WHAT IS XTERRA: The world’s premier off-road triathlon, combining a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) swim at Callala Beach a 30-kilometer (18.6-miles) mountain bike that traverses Australia’s famous native “bush” in the Nowra State Forest, and a 10.5-kilometer (6.5-miles) run through unyielding terrain. Top pros finish in roughly two-and-a-half hours.

WHO RACES: More than 300 racers including 30 of the sports’ top professionals representing 14 countries, ages 15 (Max Stapley) to 72 (Marcus Vowels).

WHEN: The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship starts at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 26.

WHERE: Callala Beach Community Centre – Corner of Quay Rd and Centre Street, on Jervis Bay, New South Wales

WHY: The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship is the marquee event on XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour that includes races in New Zealand, Philippines, Australia, Saipan, Guam, and Malaysia. The concept is to provide a bona-fide Asia-Pacific Championship title for amateur and pro off-road triathletes. The inaugural event will double as the XTERRA Australia Championship. For pros there is $50,000 in prize money at stake. The weekend will also include a sprint distance off- road triathlon, trail runs, kids events, clinics, and social gatherings.

XTERRA BACKGROUND: This is year 19 for the sport of XTERRA. The first XTERRA race was held on November 3, 1996 on the Hawaiian Island of Maui with just 123 participants and was televised on Fox Sports Net. The demand for the sport of XTERRA exploded thereafter and there are now more than 30,000 competitors from more than 40 countries worldwide.

1996: American Jimmy Riccitello and Australian win inaugural event in Wailea, Maui. 1999: 11 races across the United States, first year of Pro Points Series. 2000: XTERRA goes global with its first international races in England, Japan, and Canada. 2001: The first year of XTERRA in Australia - Jody Mielke and Paul Amey win the XTERRA Australia Championship 2011: The first year of the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour with races in the Philippines, Saipan, Guam, and Japan 2014: Now more than 200 events in 26 countries worldwide, including expanded Asia-Pacific Tour with races in New Zealand, Philippines, Australia, Saipan, Guam, and Malaysia, and the first-ever Asia-Pacific Championship.

TELEVISION: The inaugural XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship race will be filmed and edited into two half-hour shows for international distribution. The 2014-15 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship shows will be broadcast on ESPN International stations in Australia and other countries, as well as throughout the U.S. via national syndication including Fox Sports Network.

Online Resources: www.facebook.com/XTERRAplanet ... Videos: www.xterra.tv ... Event: www.xterraasiapacific.com XTERRA APAC WEEKEND EVENTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Beyond just the main event, the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship weekend will feature fun for the whole family. New South Wales’ Jervis Bay is the ultimate destination to relax, unwind and recharge your batteries. This majestic stretch of coastline offers spectacular scenery and plenty of adventure. The Race Village set right on the beach is great place to hang out and watch the start of the race, swim and transitions. Then we’ll move to the Callala RSL for the finish and more festivities. In between all of the race action, there will be music, commentary, a BBQ, exhibition tents including XTERRA Wetsuits, and a fun run for little kids that is sure to entertain. Here’s a look at the events on tap...

XTERRA UNIVERSITY: Get to know the Pros and what the Pros know at XTERRA University. Learn the XTERRA disciplines of swimming, mountain biking, and trail running, sharpen your skills with instruction on nutrition, Callala Beach course specifics, racing tips, winning strategies, and get the inside scoop on the Asia-Pacific Championship race straight from Ben Allen and Jacqui Slack, who actually helped design this course.

XTERRA SUNSET 5K/10K TRAIL RUNS: Runners of all ages and abilities can join in the fun and discover nature’s paradise in New South Wales, and get to see what Saturday’s triathlon participants will be up against! XTERRA will give out awards to the top three in each division, and first-place finishers in each division of the 10K race win free entry to the 2014 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship (21K) to be held December 7, 2014 in Hawaii.

XTERRA SPRINT RACE: The XTERRA Sprint race is a great way for new- comers to ease their way into the sport. It combines a 750m ocean swim, with a 14.4K mountain bike and 6K trail run.

XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP: The championship combines a 1.5K ocean swim, 29K mountain bike and 10.5K trail run. Racers compete against other athletes in their same division, including Pro/elite, Age Group men and women – 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55- 59, 60-64, 65+(W), 65-69(M), 70-74(M), 75+(M), challenged and relay teams.

Top 3 in each age group division earn awards, plus random prize drawing for 2 full XTERRA Wetsuits. Australian residents racing in the championship event are eligible for the XTERRA Australia Championship title – pro and all age group divisions. It’s an official 2014 XTERRA World Championship Qualifier with 41 total slots to the top finishers in each division.

XTERRA KIDS SPRINT: Free running race for the youngsters to experience the joy of the healthy, active, outdoors lifesytle. Everyone wins!

XTERRA 1.5K OCEAN SWIM: This swim will be an XTERRA-Style event – two laps of a 750-meter course with a short beach run in between to keep you on your toes and let your friends and family cheer like crazy. 9 THE 2014 COURSE AT CALLALA CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE QUICK FACTS

XTERRA managing director “Kahuna Dave” Nicholas has SWIM DISTANCE: 1.5-kilometers (0.93 miles). high praise for the venue set to host XTERRA’s inaugural Location: Callala Beach, a long, white sand beach facing Asia-Pacific Championship race. the mouth of Jervis Bay. The Bay is renowned for its white sand beaches and clear turquoise water. Jervis Bay is “The area is gorgeous, and we’ll be racing and riding sheltered from most open ocean swells. Full course athletes through the Nowra State Forest,” explained Nicholas. “All in will swim two laps of a 750 meter triangular course with a all it will be a total Australian experience. They call it bush – short beach sprint between laps. Sprint racers swim one lap. and it is. Not a lot of total elevation change, but some steep, Water temperatures are typically 20 degrees Celsius, it will short stuff and it’s quite sandy in places that will require most likely be a wetsuit legal race. some tough pedaling.”

The bike and run trails are native bush, undulating and fast. Swim Prime: As the official swim sponsor XTERRA There are some sandy trails, even miles from the coast, and Wetsuits Australia will award AUD $300 to the pro male and it’s also rooty in spots. The trails get narrow, winding thru female athlete with the fastest swim as well as two random trees. drawings for a full XTERRA wetsuit.

“The run course is going to have nearly a mile of Swim to Bike (T1) sand/beach running and it will be tough,” said Nicholas. Location: Located at Callala Bay Community Hall

Even locals marvel at the soft, white sand that stretches for MOUNTAIN BIKE DISTANCE: 29 Kilometers (18 miles) miles. “Better than Kailua Beach sand,” exclaimed XTERRA Location:Nowra State Forest, Private Land. From T1, bikers President Janet Clark, a Canberra-native who lives near the will head north on fire trails for 6km. A 2km section of single famous Kailua Beach in Hawaii. track through eucalyptus forests follows. At the 8km mark, the course splits, with Sprint athletes returning on fire trail to Of note, the ocean temperatures measured at 20 degrees T2 at Callala Beach. Full course athletes continue on fire on their visit, which would make it a wetsuit-legal race. trail and single track towards the top section of the course in the Nowra State Forest, known as the Coondoo Trails. “It’s also worth noting the ocean was flat as a tack, and we Here riders take on a 6km single track loop and then finish were told there would be no surf to speak of during the with a mix of single track and fire trail. Right before T2 you’ll race,” said Nicholas. have to climb 100m of “Ben and Jacqui’s Revenge” where unclipping may be a necessity. No surf, but plenty of wildlife. Bike to Run (T2) Transition “Birds squawking and yodeling everywhere – sulfur crested Location: At secret forest location, spectators not allowed. cockatoos, parrots, kookaburras, it is a cacophony of a rack- et. We named one of the run trails “Squawking bird” as a TRAIL RUN DISTANCE: 10.5 Kilometers (6.5 miles) result,” said Nicholas. “The range of colors and sounds is Location: Runners in the full course make their way back to unbelievable, and the huge white gum trees (currently in the finish at the Callala Beach RSL Club on a mix of single flower) are spectacular.” track with heavy growth under feet and undulating fire roads. The sprint course run is an out and back along the Of course there is no doubt visitors will be eager to experi- beach and trails. ence the Kangaroo culture. NOTE: The Championship race is a point-to-point race “The Kangaroos are the same color as the tree trunks and course with two transitions. T1 (swim/bike) is at Callala it’s hard to see them until they move,” said Nicholas. “On the Beach, and T2 (bike/run) is in the Nowra State Forest. We golf course you can see a dozen at a time and walk right up do not encourage the public to attend this area on race day to them. as there is minimal parking and access. 10 11 MEN’S PRO START LIST

Name (Alphabetical) - Age, Hometown Ben Allen – 29, North Wollongong, NSW, Australia Mitchell Anderson - 38, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Courtney Atkinson - 34, Mermaid Waters, Queensland, Australia Braden Currie – 27, Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand Brice Daubord – 28, Orleans, Loiret, France Allen Craig Evans - 36, Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA Dan Hugo – 28, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa Todd Israel - 38, Woolloomooloo, NSW, Australia Joshua Kenyon - 20, Taupo, New Zealand Joseph Miller - 34, Baranggay Pajac, Lapu Lapu, Philippines Alex Reithmeier - 31, Loftus, NSW, Australia Roger Serrano - 23, Barcelona, Spain Olly Shaw - 22, Rotorua, New Zealand – 40, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa Bradley Weiss - 25, Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa Noah Wright - 39, Tasmania, Australia

Stoltz

BY COUNTRY (Alphabetical) AUSTRALIA: Ben Allen, Mitchell Anderson, Courtney Atkinson, Todd Israel, Alex Reithmeier, Noah Wright FRANCE: Brice Daubord NEW ZEALAND: Braden Currie, Joshua Kenyon, Olly Shaw PHILIPPINES: Joseph Miller SOUTH AFRICA: Dan Hugo, Conrad Stoltz, Brad Weiss SPAIN: Roger Serrano USA: Craig Evans 12 WOMEN’S PRO START LIST

Name (Alphabetical) - Age, Hometown Renata Bucher – 36, Lucerne, Switzerland Mieko Carey - 35, Tokyo, Japan Duffy – 26, Hamilton, Bermuda Dimity-Lee Duke - 30, Roelands, WA, Australia Rebecca Hoschke - 37, Narrabeen, NSW, Australia Penny Hosken - 26, Ringwood North, Victoria, Australia Jody Mielke - 42, Engadine, NSW, Australia Elizabeth Orchard – 28, Auckland, New Zealand – 31, Wanaka, Otago, New Zealand Jacqui Slack – 30, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom Carina Wasle – 29, Kundl, Austria

Samuels

BY COUNTRY (Alphabetical) AUSTRALIA: Dimity-Lee Duke, Rebecca Hoschke, Penny Hosken, Jody Mielke AUSTRIA: Carina Wasle BERMUDA: Flora Duffy GREAT BRITAIN: Jacqui Slack JAPAN: Mieko Carey NEW ZEALAND: Elizabeth Orchard, Nicky Samuels SWITZERLAND: Renata Bucher

13 XTERRA ASIA-PACIFIC PROFESSIONAL RACE PREVIEW

Olympians Nicky Samuels of New Zealand and Flora Duffy of Bermuda were the last two elites to confirm their intent to compete at the inaugural XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship race at Callala Beach in Jervis Bay, New Bucher South Wales, Australia on Saturday, April 26.

“It’s official, I just entered the 2014 XTERRA Asia Pacific Champs,” said Samuels, the reigning XTERRA World Champion who is a perfect 3-for-3 in her XTERRA career. She won XTERRA Motatapu in March for the second time, and is coming off a strong performance at the ITU WTS opener in Auckland on April 6 where she led off the bike.

Duffy, who was third at XTERRA Worlds last year, won the XTERRA South Africa Championship in February and dom- inated the competition at the XTERRA West Championship at Lake Las Vegas, on Sunday.

“I was keen to race Australia before this race (XTERRA West) but after today’s performance and how I felt, I think I had to book my flight and go to Australia,” said Duffy after “A lot of the XTERRA pros are doing several races on the Sunday’s race where she posted the fastest swim, bike, and Asia-Pacific Tour so having a big finale race in Australia run splits. makes the Tour more attractive and interesting,” said Bucher, winner of 33 XTERRA Championship events in 14 The pair join an already stellar cast that include this year’s countries including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, XTERRA Philippines and Guam Champion Renata Bucher Saipan, Guam, and the Philippines. of Switzerland, the XTERRA Great Ocean Road Champ “For sure, it is hard work. At the end it is not all about who Jacqui Slack of Great Britain, and the XTERRA Saipan is the most super fit athlete, it is a lot about how to manage Champion Carina Wasle of Austria. Combined, those five the travel, to recover quickly, and to get through these crazy have won seven of the nine XTERRA World Tour races injury free and happy.” Championship races this season. Others of note include Lizzie Orchard from New Zealand, who won the 25-29 division XTERRA World Title in 2011, and four-time XTERRA Japan Champion Mieko Carey.

Adding to the intrigue are several high-profile local racers Slack including defending IM Australia Champion Rebecca Hoschke, ITU standout Penny Hosken, and rookie elite Dimity-Lee Duke. Showing them the way will be Aussie leg- end Jody Mielke, who won the first-ever XTERRA Championship race in Asia at the 2000 Japan Championship.

The XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship is the marquee event on XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour that includes races in New Zealand, Philippines, Australia, Saipan, Guam, and Malaysia. 14 OLYMPIANS, WORLD CHAMPS HIGHLIGHT ELITE FIELD

Headlining the men’s race is Conrad “the Caveman” Stoltz – a 7x World Champion who has won an unprecedented four XTERRA World Championship titles and three straight Hugo ITU Cross Tri World titles, and just won the XTERRA New Zealand Championship race in Rotorua on April 12.

“My last triathlon in Australia was the Sydney Olympics so it will be interesting to see how the hotbed of triathlon embraces XTERRA now,” said Stoltz, a two-time Olympian from Stellenbosch, South Africa. “I love the sport, am extremely passionate about it and doing my best to help it advance globally.”

Stoltz’ home country will be well represented as fellow South African star Dan Hugo and young-gun Bradley Weiss are on the start list as well. The Aussies will be in full force as well with North Wollongong’s own Ben Allen, who won an unprecedented “It seems a powerful step forward for XTERRA, especially in seven XTERRA World Tour races last year and this year a nation that celebrates triathlon as much as Australia won the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off-road tri in does,” said Hugo, winner of XTERRA World Tour races in Anglesea and the XTERRA Saipan Championship in the South Africa, the Philippines, and Guam this season and Northern Marianas on back-to-back weekends before fin- was having a brilliant day at the West Championship on ishing second to Stoltz at XTERRA New Zealand on Sunday before double-flatting. “I look forward to being Saturday. there, supporting an event that wants to raise the bar. I’ve been to Australia twice to visit mates, but never raced on the “It’s so exciting to be involved in a thrilling, adrenalin pump- continent. I’ll also stay in Sydney for a few days, for which ing & action packed sport such as XTERRA,” said Allen. I’m just as excited.” “I’m “stoked” as we say in Australia, to showcase my back- yard and share the natural beauty of our culture, landscape, Weiss is also hot, fresh-off a career-best runner-up and laid back lifestyle to a big, diverse field of international performance at the XTERRA West Championship where he triathletes.” finished runner-up to American star . Other high-profile Australian racers include two-time Olympian Courtney Atkinson, who won XTERRA Great Ocean Road last year, Dr. Mitch Anderson - a former Atkinson Ironman Champion, Alex Reithmeier who just finished third at the Australian Cross Tri Championships, and Todd Israel.

Also of note, Craig Evans from the U.S., a 12-year veteran of the sport who was 2nd at ITU Cross Tri Worlds in ’02, Kiwi Braden Currie – the two-time winner of XTERRA Motatapu who finished 5th at XTERRA Worlds last year, Olly Shaw – the 20-24 XTERRA World Champ in 2012 before turning pro, Brice Daubord from France, who fin- ished in the top 10 at XTERRA Worlds last year, Roger Serrano from Spain who was recently the runner-up at XTERRA Great Ocean Road in Australia, and XTERRA Philippines two-time national champ Joe Miller. 15 MEET THE PROS BEN ALLEN North Wollongong, Australia Ben 2012-13 XTERRA Triple Crown Champ 2014 XTERRA Saipan Champion 2014 Great Ocean Road Champ

FINAL 2013 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR RANK: 4 PERSONAL: Born January 19, 1985...has raced and won many ocean swim’s, surf events, and adventure races...was named the 2012 XTERRA Warrior Award winner along with his girlfriend Jacqui Slack for perpetuating the “Live More” spirit of XTERRA. WEBSITE: benallentriathlete.com TWITTER: @Benny_Allen SPONSORS: Giant Bikes Australia, On Running, Flight Centre Active Travel, Ryder Eyewear, Dextro Energy, Alaska, Champion Systems, Connect Sport, Greepers, Lurbel. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Fourth year. 2011: Placed 4th at XTERRA New Zealand, was 3rd at XTERRA Italy, won XTERRA Brazil, placed 13th at XTERRA France, 12th at XTERRA Czech, 7th at XTERRA Germany, 4th at XTERRA Switzerland, 6th at XTERRA Canada, 7th at the XTERRA USA Championship, and 36th at XTERRA Worlds. 2012: Won the XTERRA Guam, Philippines, Saipan, and New Zealand Championship races to start the season, was 2nd at XTERRA Italy, 9th at XTERRA France, 5th at XTERRA Czech, 11th at XTERRA Germany, 3rd at XTERRA Switzerland, 2nd at the XTERRA USA Championship, and 35th (after a series of mechanicals on the bike) at XTERRA Worlds. Finished 3rd in the XTERRA European Tour. 2013: Won four of five XTERRA World Tour Championship races to start the year. Won the XTERRA Philippines, Saipan, and Guam Championships in March, finished 2nd to Olympian Courtney Atkinson at XTERRA Great Ocean Road in Australia, then won the XTERRA New Zealand road tri in Anglesea and the XTERRA Saipan Championship Championship for the second straight year. On the XTERRA on back-to-back weekends, then placed 2nd at the European Tour he placed 2nd at XTERRA Spain, won XTERRA New Zealand Championship in Rotorua. Won the XTERRA Greece, was 5th at XTERRA Germany, won Australian Cross-Triathlon Championship. XTERRA England, was 6th at the USA Championship, and QUOTE: The sport of XTERRA has provided me with life third (top Australian male ever) at the XTERRA World changing opportunities at every race I attend. The amazing Championship. He had the most XTERRA World Tour wins people I have met, the beautiful locations and the of anyone with seven. unexpected hurdles I encounter along my journey are what 2014: Finished fourth after double-flatting at the XTERRA make it so special to me. I love the laid back, easy going & Philippines Championship to start the season, was 2nd at friendly nature of everyone being able to enjoying the out- XTERRA Guam, won the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off- doors and exploring as one big happy family adventure. 16 MEET THE PROS

17 MEET THE PROS

MITCHELL ANDERSON COURTNEY ATKINSON North Melbourne, Australia Queensland, Australia

WEBSITE: mitchellanderson.com WEBSITE: courtneyatkinson.com.au XTERRA EXPERIENCE: First year, second race. Placed XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Second year. 4th at XTERRA Great Ocean Road in first race. TWITTER: @courtney_akco PERSONAL: Born June 28, 1975 ... (info from his website, SPONSORS: Redbull, Qantas Airways, Subaru, Orca, Orbea last updated in 2009) ... Earned degrees MBBS 2006, Bicyles, Oakley B.Physio Hons 1997, B.Sci (Hons) 1998 ... nicknamed The 2013: Won the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off-road tri in Major, The Kaiser, The Flying Doctor (!), or just Mitch ... Anglesea in first-ever XTERRA, won the Koh Samui Long Grew up in Geelong and was an average all-rounder at Course Tri, IM 70.3 Carins and IM 70.3 Philippines, and school on and off the track. He moved to Melbourne after placed 17th elite at the XTERRA World Championship. completing his formative years at Geelong College in 2014: First XTERRA. 1993.Mitch is now a professional triathlete and over- PERSONAL: Born August 15, 1979, Courtney started qualified to be a full-time athlete from an academic triathlon in the first years of high school around age 14 while perspective! He began as a physio, smattered some attending The Southport School on the Gold Coast, Australia exercise physiology into the mix before finishing as a ... Over his career Courtney has won and placed at some of medical doctor in 2006! He started racing as a full time the largest triathlon’s on the globe winning the world’s largest professional in 2008.Mitch has been an Ironman triathlete triathlon “The London Triathlon” in 2010, Australia’s largest since 2000 and completed 24 Ironman triathlons, almost all triathlon “The Noosa Triathlon” a record equalling 3 consec- under the magical 9 hour barrier. His fastest Ironman is 8h utive years in a row (2008-10) and in 2012 finished a close 12m and fastest bike split is 4h 18m (almost 42km/h!!). He second at the The Escape from Alcatraz triathlon before has 5 Ironman Hawaii finishes to go with 6 Ironman making his way to Europe to prepare for the 2012 London Australia triathlon palmares. He excels on the bike, Olympic games. Joining the Australian Institute of Sport regularly riding race records and bike primes, with an triathlon program in 2005, Courtney went on to become the ability to get off and run under 3 hours for the marathon. number one Australian male at both the Beijing (2008) and Mitch’s best results include an 11th overall at Ironman London (2012) Olympic Games. While also accumulating 7 Hawaii and 1st at Ironman WA 2005. He owns the bike ITU World Cup win and 15 ITU podiums in his time racing in course records at IM Australia, IM Western Australia, IM the Olympic version of the sport ... Courtney was married to Japan and Geelong 70.3. wife Kinga in 2004 and states without doubt his biggest career accomplishments are his two children daughter Chloee and son Leo who both were born in 2006 and 2012. ON WHY HE LIKES XTERRA: Put simply – because it’s different, it’s enjoyable, and it puts me that little bit on edgewhich of course means adrenaline. I still try to win, but it really doesn’t matterit’s my hobby. All I want to do is ride my MTB and run trail. There’s just something about being out in nature, in the forestits real adventure ... After the 2012 Olympics, I was dismissive of off-road as I didn’t ride the MTB variant of a bike. But then I hopped one for an adven- ture ride and my passion for new challenges took over. I can’t say I was anything flash! Actually I was probably at the other end of the scale, I was pretty average. But, this began my passion and drive to improve. It was like I started triathlon all over again training for an XTERRA. I had all the fitness need- ed in spades but new skills to learn, I was hooked ...

18 MEET THE PROS

Courtney

The biggest question I now get asked is ‘how skilled do you need to be on the MTB to race XTERRA?’ Here’s my golden rule, you can get off the bike and walk over any terrain you are not comfortable with. I had to do this to start and in my local forest still do. I would also suggest that it is best to get out on an MTB in a trail area before a race to get some confidence at least a few times. You’re not going to be starting at the UCI Downhill World Champs anytime soon, but if you’re like most triathletes the need to improve and get quicker will have you wanting more in no time ... It’s great to have skills, but in XTERRA there is still plenty of places that you need to simply ride your bike fast and strong over the non-technical fire trials. It even outs, and remem- ber most of the racers coming from a MTB background will be weaker in the swim/run areas. The race is still a triathlon and it’s all about putting the best combination swim, MTB, run together to the finish. That aspect doesn’t change ... I love to run.but I love to run trail more. If your normal triathlon training routine has you in the city most of the time, I suggest getting out on a weekend to where the mountain trails start. Not only is it great for training, and the softer sur- faces good for the legs, the real beauty is being away from the cars, concrete and buildings. It’s a sensory overload, running at your limit while being able to negotiate differing surfaces, terrain and I bet just a few unusual obstacles thrown in for good measure ... Let’s break it down one more time. XTERRA is TRIATHLON but it’s different. It’s challenging but with that comes self-reward and a whole heap of good times. More than anything if you have been at the same triathlon caper for years now I dare you to just let go, let it hang out just a little and try off-road racing. You won’t be disappointed ... I look forward to seeing you at the start line of the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships in Jervis Bay in April without a disc wheel but with big disc brakes instead! 19 MEET THE PROS

BRADEN CURRIE Wanaka, New Zealand Braden 2012-14 XTERRA Motatapu Champion

PERSONAL: Born May 30, 1986 XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Second year ABOUT: Father of two, accomplished adventure racer, winner of the Coast-to-Coast multisport race. 2012: Won the XTERRA Motatapu off-road tri on the South Island of New Zealand in March, was 17th at Worlds. 2013: Won the XTERRA Motatapu off-road tri on the South Island of New Zealand in March, then placed 5th at the XTERRA World Championship in Maui, the best finish by a Kiwi since won it all in 2006. 2014: Won the XTERRA Motatapu off-road tri on the South Island of New Zealand for the third straight year. BRICE DAUBORD Orleans, France Braden PERSONAL: Born July 25, 1985 TWITTER: @bricedaubord 2012: Placed 19th at XTERRA Worlds 2013: Placed 7th at XTERRA Spain, was 3rd at the ITU Cross Tri World Championships behind Conrad Stoltz and Ruben Ruzafa in Holland, placed 10th at XTERRA Worlds. 2014: First race. Brice

20 MEET THE PROS

CRAIG EVANS Hendersonville, Tennessee Craig

FINAL 2013 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 6 PERSONAL: Born March 29, 1978...originally from Ocala, Florida...earned a degree in healthcare administration from Western Kentucky University. WEBSITE: teamcraigevans.com TWITTER: @teamcraigevans XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 13th year. Turned pro in 2006 after winning the amateur overall at the Southeast Championship in . Won every XTERRA Points Series race he entered as an amateur in 2004 and 2005. 2006: Finished 12th in Milwaukee, then injured. 2007: Finished 16th at XTERRA West Champs, 5th in Alabama and 6th in Richmond. Had the fastest swim in both ‘Bama and Richmond. Placed 10th at Mountain Champs despite racing with a broken bone in his foot. 2008: Finished 7th at XTERRA West Champs, a career- best 3rd in Alabama and 5th in Richmond. Led the Pro Series in points heading into Mountain Champs where he placed 9th. Was 14th at USA Champs and 25th at Worlds. 2009: Finished 9th at XTERRA West and Midwest Cups, 6th at Southeast and Northwest Cup, 8th at Atlantic Cup, 6th at South Central Cup, and 11th at USA Championship. 2010: Placed 7th at XTERRA West Champs, 4th at the South Central Championship, third at the Southeast Champs, 5th at the East Champs, 13th at the USA Championship, and 22nd at the World Championship. 2011: Placed 11th at the XTERRA West Championship, 6th at the South Central Championship, 10th at ITU Cross Tri Worlds, 8th at the Pacific Champs, 4th at the Southeast Champs, 5th at the East Champs, and 16th at the USA Champs. Finished 8th in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series. 2012: Placed 7th at the XTERRA West Championship, and a career-best second at the ITU Cross Tri World Championships/XTERRA Southeast Championship in Shelby County, AL, was third at the XTERRA East Championship, 12th at the Mountain Championship, and 13th at the USA Championship. Finished tied for 3rd in the Pro Series. Was 34th among pros at XTERRA Worlds. 2013: Placed 6th at the XTERRA West Championship, 3rd at the Southeast Champs, 7th at the East Champs, 15th at the Mountain Champs, and 21st at USA Champs. 2014: Placed 5th at XTERRA Costa Rica, and 5th at the XTERRA West Championship.

21 THE EVOLUTION OF CRAIG EVANS

We love to celebrate the pursuit of excellence. It’s why so It’s awesome when we hear the decision is to chase the many of us tune-in to the Olympics, so we can bear witness dream! And, as Evans explains, timing is an interesting as athletes who have dedicated their entire lives to a goal thing go out and fight for it. “At the same time I was cutting back on the commitments I The stories are even sweeter when we can relate to the was making so I could focus on racing, Holly was taking on athlete.Take Craig Evans for example, one of XTERRA’s more responsibility in her profession. I had to take a lead ultimate time management experts. role at home in caring for our two children. It was a bless- ing, after being gone for the majority of the week for so long For the last decade Evans has balanced a high-profile I’ve really enjoyed being able to be so involved in their lives. career in the healthcare industry while raising a family and If I was still trying to juggle what was on my plate in 2013, I mixing it up with the best triathletes in the game. He’s would likely have hung up everything. Instead, as I look trained less than a lot of amateurs, and at the toughest of forward to the 2014 season, I see great things ahead and I hours. He dubbed it “ninja training” as he headed to the am more connected with my kids (Haley, 9 and Tyler, 7) than basement after putting the kids to bed – a full days’ work in ever. I can now dedicate more time to my family as they his rear view but his passion for sport still ahead. chase their own passions. It is awesome to watch the kids at swim practice, in the gym at gymnastics, and on their The unrelenting approach served him well over the years, bikes every day. I’ve got pretty cool kids!” culminating at the 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships when he finished as the top American, and Haley and Tyler have a pretty cool Dad too. It’ll be fun to 2nd overall behind only Conrad Stoltz. His celebration see what being a full-time pro will mean for Evans. His 2014 coming down the finish chute at Oak Mountain State Park schedule is ambitious, with XTERRA Costa Rica in March, that day is one of the greatest emotional displays in XTERRA West Champs and the new XTERRA Asia-Pacific XTERRA history (watch til the end of this video). Championship race in Australia this April, his home-sweet- home race at the Southeast Championship in Alabama in The moment also surely propelled Evans into the situation May, then the East Champs in Richmond this June. he found himself in last year, knowing he could be at the top of the game but at what cost? The non-stop schedule was “Based on my accomplishments and goals as the year wearing on him and his family. It was time to make a deci- progresses, I’ll solidify the second half of the year, but I sion let it go or chase the dream. hope to attend ITU Cross World Champs/XTERRA Germany and the XTERRA National Championships in “I had a tough decision to make,” said Evans. “I needed to Ogden. XTERRA racing is definitely my focus, but I may commit to one full-time profession. I was either going to mix in a road triathlon (Olympic and 70.3 distance) or two make triathlon my priority or retire from racing at an elite along the way,” said Evans. level. After roughly seven years racing as a pro, I could no longer continue to do it all successfully. I was completely What has made Evans so endearing to the Tribe is that he burned out. My health, my relationships, my results, every- wears his heart on his sleeve, never afraid of putting his thing was suffering. Ultimately, with the support of my wife dreams out there for all to see. Holly, I decided to follow my passion and see what was pos- sible if I committed to triathlon without distraction. So far it’s “I set some really big goals this year. I want to finish on the changed my life in many ways, some that I certainly podium at a world event again. I always set goals to win couldn’t anticipate. Not only am I getting stronger, faster, and will continue to focus on that. I’m giving triathlon all I and anticipate a season that exceeds my racing goals, my have, so we’ll see where it goes,” said Evans. “And, I’m relationships have improved beyond what I could have going to continue to make amazing memories and friends imagined.” along my journey. I look forward to lots of fun times ahead. Time will tell what is possible for me in 2014.”

22 THE EVOLUTION OF CRAIG EVANS

As we look forward to Evans exploits in the New Year let’s The Evolution of Craig Evans: look back on how he got here 1978 – Born March 29, grew up in Ocala, Florida 1990s – Earned degree in Healthcare Administration from It starts with an old story. Flashback to July 14, 2002. Western Kentucky University where he was an all-star Somewhere along the shoreline of Old Hickory Lake in swimmer (missed Olympic trials by 2 tenths) Gallatin, Tennessee, amidst a flurry of super-fit, speedo- 2000s – Joins a masters swim program after college, starts clad triathletes a 215-pound beast-of-a-man bounds out of mountain biking with a friend and realizes he loves it. Sees the water having just completed the swim portion of his first- an ad for the Lock 4 triathlon and signs up ever XTERRA. 2002 – First XTERRA 2003 – First XTERRA win “Who’s that fat guy coming out of the water,” questioned one 2004 – Wins every XTERRA Points Series race he enters. of the spectators. Regional Champ in 25-29 division 2005 – Wins everything again, including the XTERRA “That’s my husband,” replied Holly Evans. National Title in 25-29 division 2006 – Wins amateur title and finishes 9th overall at the Of course, the “fat guy” was Craig Evans. He finished well XTERRA Southeast Championship, ahead of a bunch of back that day at the XTERRA Lock 4 Challenge, but vowed pros. Shortly after he gets his XTERRA Pro license, and to win it the following year. He did. And, he’s won it every toes the start line with elites for the first time at the XTER- year since. RA Midwest Championship in Milwaukee 2007 – Dedicates the season to his Dad who was killed in a motorcycle accident. Finishes a career-best 5th at the SE Champs in Alabama 2008 – Turned pro as a road triathlete. Earned No.1 ranking in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series mid-season 2010 – Finished top 5 in consecutive races in Waco, Alabama, and Richmond despite working 60 hours a week and raising a young family 2012 – Best year ever, highlighted by career-best 2nd place finish at the ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships. Finishes season ranked No. 3 in XTERRA U.S. Pro Series 2014 – First year as a “real” pro

Evans best advice for newcomers When I started racing, I was as beginner as it comes. First, enjoy every minute. You will meet some of the best people on the planet in the XTERRA community who will become friends for life. I love this sport and cannot imagine how my life would look without it. Second, get a coach. Coaches provide perspective, direction, and accountability. They also can incorporate methods for balancing work, racing, family, and life into your plan. Coaches can truly make the differ- ence for an athlete not only in performance, but as the ath- lete approaches everyday life. Third, attend clinics. Use them to gain other perspectives. Learn how to make your racing day much smoother. The more prepared you are prior to the start of an XTERRA race, the more you can enjoy the ride! 23 MEET THE PROS

DAN HUGO Stellenbosch, South Africa 2014 XTERRA South Africa, Philippines, and Guam Champion

FINAL 2013 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 2 PERSONAL: Born July 1, 1985 in Worcester. WEBSITE/TWITTER: dghugo.com / @dghugo XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 10th year. Finished on the podium at the 2004 XTERRA South Africa Championship in his first-ever XTERRA. 2006: Placed 4th at the XTERRA Brazil Championship 2007: Finished 2nd at XTERRA South Africa and 6th at the XTERRA West Champs. Was in third during the bike at the Southeast Champs when he crashed and broke his hand. 2008: Won XTERRA South Africa Championship, was 2nd at XTERRA West Champs, Southeast Championship (by just 16 seconds to Stoltz) and East Championship (by 24 seconds to Middaugh). Placed 9th at XTERRA UK, DNF at XTERRA Czech, was 12th at XTERRA France-Auron, 4th at USA Championship, missed winning the Pro Series by 8 points (to Stoltz) and placed 8th at XTERRA Worlds. 2009: Placed 3rd at XTERRA West Cup, 4th at Midwest and Southeast Cups, won Northwest Cup, 5th at Atlantic Cup, 3rd at South Central Cup, 5th at Northeast Cup. Finished 5th in XTERRA U.S. Pro Series. 2010: Won XTERRA South Africa Championship, and XTERRA Estrade Real off-road tri in Brazil. Placed 2nd at XTERRA East Champs, 8th at Mountain Champs, won XTERRA Brazil, was 2nd at XTERRA Mexico, 4th at XTERRA USA Champs, 9th in final U.S. Pro Series Standings, and 35th at Worlds after series of mechanicals. 2011: Won the XTERRA South Africa Championship for the third time in four years, and was 2nd behind his fellow countryman Conrad Stoltz at the Pacific, Southeast, and East Championship races. Led for most of the race at the Champs before winning the XTERRA East Championship. XTERRA USA Championship before being passed by Then placed 3rd at XTERRA Brazil, 7th at the Mountain Nico Lebrun at mile four, and ultimately finished 2nd. Champs, 2nd at Mexico, won XTERRA Japan, and was 5th Placed 5th in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series. Finished 2nd at the USA Champs. Finished 2nd in the Pro Series, and was at the XTERRA World Championship by just 33 seconds 14th at XTERRA Worlds. despite a crash on the bike that cost him some time. 2014: Won the XTERRA Buffelsport off-road tri, the XTERRA 2012: Placed second at XTERRA Buffelspoort and third at South Africa Championship, the XTERRA Philippines XTERRA South Africa and the XTERRA West Championship, and the XTERRA Guam Championship to Championship prior to suffering a season-ending injury. start the season, then placed 2nd at XTERRA Saipan and 2013: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Buffelspoort, South Africa, 7th at the XTERRA West Championship after double-flatting Philippines, Saipan, Guam, Malaysia, and Southeast on the bike. 24 A CHAT WITH DAN HUGO

Dan Hugo was just a teenager when he did his first DH: On the racing side I am going to race in Australia for the XTERRA. It was 2004 at the inaugural XTERRA South first time, at the new XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship. Africa Championship race where he finished on the podium Also plan to get up north to the XTERRA Nordic events of right alongside SA great Conrad Stoltz who was already a Denmark, Sweden and Norway. That would be a real treat. two-time XTERRA World Champ and an Olympic veteran. XT: You’re back to exotic locales, racing the XTERRA Asia- Fast forward 10 years and you’ll find XTERRA is bigger in Pacific Tour again. Can I assume the experience last year South Africa than anywhere else in the world, Stoltz now brought you back? has seven World Titles, and the “teenager” turned into one DH: You could. Brad Weiss and I had a raucous time there, of the most recognizable and beloved athletes on the met great people and enjoyed the change of racing scene. XTERRA Planet. I would like to go back once more to try and win on some of the islands. Now 28-years-old, Hugo is a seasoned veteran and just captured the first three XTERRA World Tour majors he race XT: The new XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship race puts in to start the year. In a sport dominated mostly by pros in a crown on the region races, has more money and TV. their mid-to-late 30’s, it’s fair to say Hugo has yet to reach Does that make the XAP Tour more appealing? his full potential. Still, his results say he’s one of the best in DH: Seems a powerful step forward for XTERRA, especial- the game. He has 11 major championships under his belt ly in a nation that celebrates triathlon as much as Australia and was seconds short of winning both the XTERRA USA does. I look forward to being there, supporting an event that and World Championships in 2011. wants to raise the bar.

Last year Hugo raced at more than a dozen XTERRA’s in XT: Have you been to Jervis Bay? nine countries and posted six straight runner-up finishes at DH: No, that is part of the appeal. I’ve been to Australia XTERRA World Tour races –South Africa, Philippines, twice to visit mates, but never raced on the continent. I’ll Saipan, Guam, Malaysia, and the Southeast Championship stay in Sydney for a few days, for which I’m just as excited. in Alabama – before winning the East Championship in Richmond and XTERRA Japan, and was 2nd in the U.S. XT: Your blog is titled “Dare to Dream” – can you share Pro Series behind only Josiah Middaugh. some of your dreams for this year with us? DH: My year is shaped much like my 2013 season was. I We caught up with the star from Stellenbosch in February to just dream of executing it better this time around. I hope to get his thoughts on last year, plans for this year, the lure of be an ambassador for the three Nordic events, and get the XTERRA’s exotic destinations, the new XTERRA Asia- momentum started there for XTERRA. My old coach Pacific Championship race, and life after racing. Torbjorn Sindballe is in Copenhagen, so too some photog- rapher buddies of mine. Through them it seems I’d enjoy the XTERRA: 2013 was a rowdy year, tons of travel, lots of fun. culture and lifestyle there. During 2014 I dream of basing in Looking back, would you have changed anything about it? Spain for 6-months and racing the XTERRA Europe circuit. Dan Hugo: Agreed, I had a more colourful year in 2013 than any other. I was inspired to get travelling after missing XT: You’re a talented story teller, is there a literary future or 8-months of racing in 2012. Highlights were XTERRA ambitions for you past your athletic career? Japan, Mexico and Brazil. Change? Well perhaps the nig- DH: I doubt true writing, though I would very much like to gle side of things, and for that I should have managed my work on a global level in the sports marketing space after recovery and alignment better. After XTERRA Richmond it retiring from full time racing. I hope that through such an became a push-n-pull scenario. So yeah, that is the plan opportunity my appreciation for the power of words could be this season. Stay healthy and manage the body better. put to use. I doubt I’ll race much beyond the next three to five years. There are multiple experiences I’d want to pur- sue through my thirties, including a work stint in NYC. But XT: What’s new for you as you enter 2014? that might have to be as a barista and not a writer. 25 MEET JOE MILLER

Newly minted XTERRA Pro Joe Miller from the Philippines could be the most dedicated and grateful triathlete on the planet.

He works full time at The Brick Bike Shop in Cebu from 10am-to-9pm, 7-days a week, and when he’s not working he’s training and helping other Filipino athletes reach their goals.

His hard work paid off last weekend when he finished 3rd overall and the top Filipino for the second straight year at the XTERRA Philippines Championship.

“The guy is just amazing,” said XTERRA Pro Ben Allen, who has been so impressed with Miller over the past two years he helping him with travel arrangements to Australia to experience the culture and race in the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship event. “He’s easy going, compassionate, and always puts the needs of others first. He’s just a great guy and he loves XTERRA.”

Miller says his work-ethic and zeal for life were born out of experience.

Growing up in a small village in the Lagundi Kiamba Sarangani Province, Miller’s father worked as a bike mechanic, which was the family business.

Working hard and taking care of family are time-honored Filipino traditions and why when he was 14-years-old, Joe Miller skipped school one day to go fishing with his friend and his friends Dad in hopes of catching Tuna to support his family’s needs.

After three days at Sea in Mindanao near the Malaysia boundary the trio had reeled in nine big tuna and pleased with their catch, set sail for home in the dark of the night.

“On our way back we crashed into a big tree log and our wooden boat began to sink,” said Miller, explaining how they never saw the tree because they navigated by stars without the aid of a compass, GPS, radio, or cellphone. “People in our community are poor fisherman who can't afford gadgets like sonars and detection equipment.”

The captain calmly instructed the boys not to panic as they tied their equipment, bread, biscuits and water to the log 26 2X XTERRA PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CHAMP and took off the tarp that was serving as the boats roof. There were no life jackets on board.

“The boat sank to the bottom on our first day stranded at sea, so we stayed beside the log our supplies were tied to but couldn’t rest on it because it would sink,” said Miller. “To avoid shark attacks we stayed in the middle of the tarp and we tied ourselves to each other.”

All the while they prayed.

“On our first day our captain served us bread and water and I noticed that I’m hungry and our supply is easily consumed. We took care of each other and didn’t lose hope. At night all you could see is stars sparkling across the sky and reflections of it on the ocean. It’s a good thing the ocean was calm, like oil. We heard unusual sounds, those of cats and cows and wales. There were curious sharks cruising around us in the day time, and we were lucky to be inside the tarp as they passed by.”

On the second day the three men ran out of bread and bis- cuits, but had water to drink. They used their fishing skills to catch their ensuing meals.

“It was a good thing there were a lot of fish surrounding the log, but a bad thing because the sharks ate those fishes, so we were afraid. We had our fishing equipment with us and we used the bread we saved for bait to catch small fish, and the small fish to catch bigger fish. We were fighting for our “I remember thinking I survived the shipwreck, it’s not my lives.” time yet,” said Miller. “I believed the power of prayer. I learned to appreciate life even if we are poor. I'm thanking Miller said that on the third night they started to say good- God, this thing made my will stronger, my mind stronger. I bye to each other. don’t mind the traumas I've been through, all I know is to live the life that God gave me, my second chance.” “We noticed our skin is shrinking, our lips are cracking, our bodies are numb and we felt so weak. We confessed to Upon his return Miller dedicated himself to his family, and to each other if we die and one of us survived, please don’t sports. leave our bodies here. As long as I remembered, this is what I prayed, "LORD, THIS IS THE LIFE YOU GAVE ME “I thought God has a purpose and plan for me,” said Miller. AND I LOVE THE LIFE THAT YOU SHARED WITH ME AND IF I DIE TODAY LET ME DIE IN YOUR HANDS, “I got into mountain biking, then duathlon, and now AMEN.” triathlons. I’ve been racing triathlon for four years now and I love off-road the most, ever since XTERRA came to Cebu. The next afternoon they were rescued by fellow Filipino I pushed my luck at XTERRA, failed twice, but I'm enjoying fisherman. the sport now. This is my fourth year racing XTERRA and I want this life, to LIVE MORE!” 27 MEET THE PROS

CONRAD “The Caveman” STOLTZ Champs for 6th time in his career, won the Southeast title, Stellenbosch, South Africa DNF in Richmond, was 2nd at XTERRA UK, 6th at 4-time XTERRA World Champion XTERRA Czech, and 2nd at XTERRA France. Won the XTERRA Mountain Championship in August, placed 8th at 3x ITU Cross Tri World Champion the USA Championship but still edged countryman Dan Hugo to win XTERRA U.S. Pro Series title for the 6th time. FINAL 2013 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 11 Suffered a flat while leading at the XTERRA World PERSONAL: Born October 23, 1973...a two-time Olympic Championship in Maui and eventually finished 12th after a triathlete, finished 20th in 2000 when he was the first off the series of mechanicals. bike, then dnf’d in Athens...started BMX racing at age 2009: Won XTERRA West, Midwest, and Southeast Cup seven, running at nine, biathlon at 13, triathlon and cycling Races, was 5th at the Northwest Cup, won the Atlantic Cup, at 14, and pro triathlon at 18...“It’s in my blood.” finished 3rd in a photo-finish at the Northeast Cup, was 2nd WEBSITE/TWITTER: conradstoltz.com / @ConradStoltz at the XTERRA USA Championship (and won the U.S. Pro XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 13th year. Series for the 7th time). Placed 5th at XTERRA Worlds. RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Is XTERRA’s all-time 2010: Won all four regionals he entered - the XTERRA championship race wins leader with 49 (he has 53 all-told), West, South Central, Southeast and East Champs. Placed is the only pro to win four XTERRA World Titles, and has 6th at the XTERRA Canada Championships, won XTERRA an unprecedented 10 XTERRA U.S. Pro Series titles (2001- USA Championship (and the Pro Series for 8th time), and 03, ‘05 & ‘07-’12). Also won the 2011, 2012, and 2013 ITU became the first pro to win four World Titles. Cross Triathlon World Championships. 2011: Won XTERRA Buffelspoort, was 2nd at XTERRA 2001: Burst onto the XTERRA scene and won three races, West Champs, won his record-breaking 38th career including the Pro Series and the World title as a rookie. championship at South Central Champs in Waco, won ITU 2002: Won in Keystone, California, Tahoe, and Maui. Cross Tri World Title, won the Pacific and Southeast titles 2003: Won first race at Big Bear, placed 2nd in Richmond, on back-to-back weekends in May, captured East title in 3rd in Keystone, won in Tahoe, and won Pro Points Series. Richmond in June, and the XTERRA Japan Championship 2004: Won XTERRA South Africa, placed 2nd in Richmond, in August. Placed 5th at XTERRA USA Championship and 6th in Keystone, 2nd in Big Bear, and 5th in Tahoe. Finished won the Pro Series crown for 9th time (fifth straight). Was in 3rd in the Pro Series, and dnf’d at XTERRA Worlds. third place coming off the bike at XTERRA Worlds, but 2005: Won four straight before placing 2nd in Keystone. pulled with worsening asthma-type conditions on the run. Won XTERRA South Africa, the West, East, and Midwest 2012: Won the XTERRA South Africa Championship for the Champs in Milwaukee, was second in Keystone before fifth time, won the XTERRA West Championship, ITU Cross winning the inaugural XTERRA Brazil. Placed 2nd in Tahoe Tri World Champs/XTERRA Southeast Championship, East but still won XTERRA Pro Series title. Placed 9th at Worlds. and Mountain Championships, was 4th at the USA 2006: Won XTERRA South Africa, missed the first U.S. Championship, won the U.S. Pro Series for the 10th time, race of the year in California with injuries, returned in time and was 3rd at XTERRA Worlds. for Alabama where he was fourth, and a week later he won 2013: Won XTERRA Buffelspoort, crossed the finish line in the East Championship. Placed 8th in Milwaukee after a 2nd at the XTERRA South Africa Championship but was series of crashes and injuries and then 4th at the Mountain later DQ’d for going off-course in last stages of the run. Championships in Utah. A pre-ride crash at the XTERRA Placed 2nd at the XTERRA West Championship, had the USA Championship kept him out of nationals and worlds. lead on the run at Southeast Champs before having to pull 2007: Won XTERRA South Africa for fourth straight year, due to injury. Recovered in time to win XTERRA Brazil, then then the XTERRA West Champs. Won Southeast and East his third straight ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship, Champs on back-to-back weekends. DNF’d at Utah followed by a victory at XTERRA Italy. He placed fourth at because of a mechanical. Won USA Championship, Pro the XTERRA USA Championship and 11th in Pro Series. Series title, then World Champs for third time. Named the Finished 6th at XTERRA Worlds. Off-Road triathlete of the year at Endurance Sports Awards. 2014: Placed 3rd at XTERRA South Africa and won the 2008: Placed 4th at XTERRA South Africa, won the West XTERRA New Zealand Championship. 28 MEET THE PROS

Conrad

29 MEET THE PROS

BRAD WEISS Somerset West, South Africa Brad

FINAL 2013 XTERRA U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 5 PERSONAL: Born March 21, 1989 XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Third Year. 2012: Placed 8th at XTERRA South Africa Championship, won the ITU U23 Cross Triathlon World Championship at Pelham, Alabama, and was 7th at the XTERRA East Championship. 2013: Placed 5th at XTERRA South Africa Championship, 4th at the XTERRA Philippines Championship, 3rd at the XTERRA Saipan Championship, 3rd at the XTERRA Guam Championship, 4th at the Southeast Champs, a U.S.-best 3rd at the East Champs, 9th at the Mountain Champs, and 7th at the USA Championship. FInished 5th in the Pro Series. 2014: Placed 4th at the XTERRA South Africa Championship, was 2nd at XTERRA Philippines and XTERRA Guam, 3rd at XTERRA Saipan, and a U.S. Pro Series-best 2nd at the XTERRA West Championship.

Also of Note...

Olly Shaw: The 22-year-old from Rotorua, New Zealand won the XTERRA World Champiosnhip in the 20-24 division in 2012 before turning pro. He’s been racing XTERRA in his hometown since he was 15-years-old. This year he placed 2nd at XTERRA Motatapu, 3rd at XTERRA Guam, 4th at XTERRA Saipan, and 3rd at XTERRA New Zealand.

Roger Serrano: The 23-year-old from Barcelona, Spain is in just his second-year racing XTERRA, but was the Spanish Cross-Triathlon Champion in 2012. Last season he placed 6th at XTERRA Spain, and so far this season he placed 2nd at the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off-road tri in Anglesea and 5th at the XTERRA New Zealand Championship.

Also of note 20-year-old Joshua Kenyon from Taupo, New Zealand is the youngest elite in the field. He recently placed 9th at the XTERRA NZ Championship. Noah Wright, an Aussie based in Austin, Texas, placed 10th at XTERRA Great Ocean Road in Anglesea and 13th at the XTERRA New Zealand Championship. Olly

30 MEET THE WOMEN

31 MEET THE PROS

RENATA BUCHER won XTERRA Northeast Cup (her first win in the U.S.), won Lucerne, Switzerland XTERRA European Championship in Austria and the Euro 2014 XTERRA Philippines & Guam Champ Tour for the fourth time, was 8th at XTERRA USA Champs, and 14th at XTERRA Worlds. 4-time XTERRA European Tour Champ 2010: Won five races, starting with XTERRA Saipan for the 6th straight year, and the Pacific Islands Club Resort FINAL 2013 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR RANK: 3 Double award. Won XTERRA Guam, won inaugural PERSONAL: Born May 30, 1977...attended the University XTERRA Portugal Championship, won XTERRA South of Zuerich. Central Championship, placed 2nd at XTERRA European WEBSITE: renatabucher.ch Championship in Italy, placed 4th at the Southeast Champs, XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 10th year. won the East Champs, was 2nd at XTERRA France, won RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has won 33 XTERRA XTERRA Czech, and was 2nd at XTERRA Switzerland. Championship races in 14 countries, the U.S. Territory of Finished in a points tie for first with Marion Lorblanchet for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. the Euro Tour title, but lost tie-breaker (position at last race). SPONSORS: Intercheese, CoeurSports, Magura, Storck, DNF at XTERRA Worlds. Swiss Triathlon 2011: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Philippines, 3rd at 2004: 9th at XTERRA Germany in first-ever XTERRA. XTERRA Saipan, 2nd at XTERRA Italy, won XTERRA 2005: Won XTERRA Saipan, and was second at Tagaman France, was 7th at ITU Cross Tri Worlds, was third at to win the PIC Double with a combined time of 6:14:11. XTERRA Czech and Germany, and 5th at XTERRA Was 3rd at Temecula, won XTERRA Czech (beating three Switzerland. Placed 2nd at the XTERRA Pacific World Champs in Angle, McQuaid, and Whitmore in the Championship, third at the Southeast Championship, and process), 3rd at XTERRA Italy, 5th in Richmond, won fourth at XTERRA World Championship. Finished 2nd in XTERRA Austria, second at XTERRA Spain, and third at the XTERRA European Tour and 11th in the U.S. Pro Series XTERRA Germany. Won the XTERRA European Tour and 2012: Won the XTERRA Guam, Philippines, and Saipan was 9th in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series. Placed 4th at Championship races on consecutive weekends - a clean World Champs in Maui. sweep of the XTERRA Asia Pacific triple crown, then won 2006: Won everything she entered starting with XTERRA the XTERRA West Championship. Placed 10th at the ITU Saipan, then a clean sweep in Europe with victories at Cross Tri World Champs/XTERRA Southeast Champs, was France, Italy, Czech, Spain, and UK. Won second straight 6th at XTERRA Italy, 2nd at the East Champs, 2nd at XTERRA European Title. Placed 5th at World Champs. XTERRA France, 4th at XTERRA Mountain Champs, won Placed 4th at Tagaman and was 2nd in the PIC Double XTERRA Mexico, was 3rd at XTERRA Canada, 5th at standings behind Whitmore. XTERRA USA Champs, and 7th at XTERRA Worlds. 2007: Won XTERRA Saipan Championship then injuries Finished tied for 2nd in XTERRA U.S. Pro Series. kept her sidelined for the rest of the season. 2013: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Philippines, Saipan, and 2008: Won XTERRA Saipan for the fourth straight year, Guam Championship races in March, then won four straight plus the Tagaman Triathlon and Pacific Islands Club Double World Tour races at the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off- award, placed 2nd at XTERRA European Championship in road tri in Australia, XTERRA New Zealand, XTERRA Italy, won XTERRA France-Auron, was second at XTERRA Malaysia and XTERRA Spain. She was 4th at XTERRA Austria, won XTERRA France-Mondelieu and her third Greece and XTERRA Switzerland, secon at XTERRA Italy straight Euro Tour title. Also won XTERRA Japan, was 2nd and XTERRA Czech, and 5th at XTERRA Germany. She at XTERRA USA, and 4th at XTERRA Worlds. finished the season ranked 3rd in the XTERRA European 2009: Won XTERRA Saipan for 5th straight year, the Tour. Placed 12th at the XTERRA USA Championship, and Tagaman road tri on Saipan a week later and the Pacific was 15th at XTERRA Worlds. Islands Club Resort Double award for having the fastest 2014: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Motatapu, won XTERRA combined time in the 2 races. Finished 4th at XTERRA Philippines and XTERRA Guam Championships, and West, 2nd at Midwest, 3rd at Southeast Cup, won XTERRA placed 2nd at XTERRA Saipan. Malaysia, won XTERRA Italy, was 2nd at XTERRA Czech, 32 MEET THE “SWISS MISS”

Renata Bucher, perhaps the most well-traveled XTERRA XT: You’ve traveled all over the world with XTERRA, is it a professional in the last decade, has been a regular at fun way to adventure? XTERRA’s Asia-Pacific races, and during last year’s tour RB: Oh yes, I have traveled a lot, and for sure it is a fun way placed second at XTERRA Philippines, Saipan, and Guam to adventure. It’s not always easy, but traveling and before winning three straight at the XTERRA Great Ocean especially traveling solo, you can learn some good life Road off-road tri in Australia, XTERRA New Zealand, then lessons. It helps to prioritize what really matters, and I’ve XTERRA Malaysia. learned to have more patience. I know I can’t control every- thing, like delays, missing bags, extra bike charges, etc This is Bucher’s 10th year of XTERRA racing, and during And sometimes in a race you also can’t control everything that stretch the “Swiss Miss” has won 33 XTERRA (weather, mechanical..). Championship races in 14 countries, the U.S. Territory of Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. XT: Why should others join you at Asia-Pacific Champs? RB: It is the chance to join a high-class XTERRA event in a We caught up with Bucher to get her thoughts on racing in beautiful area, not too far from a big city, Sydney, with tough New South Wales. competition, good timing before the XTERRA Euro Tour, plus I’ll be there : ) there are thousands of reasons! XTERRA: You trained during the off-season in Australia, and will again this yearwhy Down Under? XT: Any other thoughts? Renata Bucher: Australiawhat a huge country. The RB: XTERRA is still the best choice I made in my life. I people are open minded, and is one of the biggest triathlon never thought that I would do it for so long. XTERRA nations. Every time I go to Australia I discover a lovely place opened a door for me to see the world and meet some to train, to explore, and to enjoy. I’ve had great times in amazing people. Caloundra, Noosa, Gold Coast, and then Torquay, which is my training base this year again, and I totally love it there. The conditions for training are perfect – training outside, swimming in the ocean, every weekend a race if you want to, there is lots of sunshine, markets on the weekends, BBQ’s, good wine, and an abundance of beautiful beaches.

XT: Why do you think XTERRA is a good fit for Australia? RB: Aussies are a bit crazy about endurance stuff :) And, they are very helpful and in general “good mates!”

XT: Are you excited about this new XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship? RB: Yes! A lot of the XTERRA pros are doing a several races on the Asia-Pacific Tour so having a big finale race in Australia makes the Tour more attractive and interesting. For sure, it is hard work. At the end it is not all about who is the most super fit athlete, it is a lot about how to manage the travel, to recover quickly, and to get through these crazy races injury free and happy.

XT: What do you like about XTERRA? RB: Not sure what it is exactly, but I’m still totally passion- RENATA ate about it. I have already spent so many years doing it, and I just don’t ever want to miss-out on XTERRA in my life. 33 MEET THE PROS

MIEKO CAREY QnA with fellow XTERRA Pro Charlie Epperson... Tumon, Guam Four-time XTERRA Japan Champion CE: Mieko, where are you originally from? MC: From Saitama, Japan (just 40 min from Tokyo station by train) PERSONAL: Born April 27, 1978...inspired by Jamie “J- Dawg” Whitmore, Mieko did her first triathlon in 2005 on CE: Before you got into competitive triathlons, did you play Tinian...attended Japan Sports Technical College... other sports, what is your athletic background? fromJapan, Mieko spent many years in Saipan and now MC: I grew up swimming. I started swimming when I was works as personal trainer and pilates instructor in Guam three-years-old. I attended college at a sports instruction when not racing. school. After that, I worked at a popular gym teaching XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Ninth year. Mieko has been swimming, weights, aqua aerobics and cycling. racing XTERRA since 2006 when her last name was Motoyoshi and she won the 25-29 division at XTERRA CE: What brought you to the CNMI originally and how do Saipan. She also won the 25-29 title in Saipan in 2007. you enjoy training on Guam since moving over? 2008: Placed second at XTERRA Saipan, and third in the MC: Originally, I came to the CNMI to be a Clubmate at highly competitive 30-34 division at the XTERRA World Pacific Island’s Club in Saipan. My dream was to work Championship in Maui in October. overseas. I really enjoy Guam because of all the great 2009: Placed 4th at XTERRA Saipan, won XTERRA Japan, athletes and competitions held here. was 2nd at XTERRA Malaysia, and 18th at XTERRA Worlds. CE: You are one of the few professional athletes living and 2010: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Saipan and won the training on Guam, tell us a little about how you plan out a XTERRA Japan Championship for the second straight year, season and decide your races? was 13th at XTERRA Worlds. MC: I try to do all of the Asian races because most of my 2011: Placed 5th at the XTERRA Saipan Championship, sponsors are from Japan. I really try to push to race all the won the XTERRA Japan Championship, and was 16th at Saipan and Guam races. I want to represent Guam well. XTERRA Worlds. 2012: 4th at XTERRA Guam and XTERRA Saipan, and 2nd CE: You have a wide breadth of experience in racing at XTERRA Japan Championship. swimming, road, and off-road triathlon- what is your favorite 2013: Placed 4th at XTERRA Saipan Championship, 5th at style of racing: XTERRA Guam, 2nd at XTERRA Malaysia, won XTERRA MC: I enjoy off road triathlon. It is more challenging than Japan for the fourth time, and placed 26th at XTERRA road racing. You never know what is going to happen dur- Worlds. ing the race. You really have to push yourself. 2014: Placed 3rd at XTERRA Philippines, 2nd at XTERRA Guam, and 4th at XTERRA Saipan. CE: What are your goals for 2014 and who are your sponsors for this season? MC: I would like to finish in the top 3 in the XTERRA Asian Championship in Australia. I compete for Team Aloha Racing and our primary sponsors, include; Storck bike, Coeur Sport, Catlike, and Salomon. I’m also lucky to be sponsored by IT&E, Zoot, and Suunto.

CE: Can you offer some training advice for upcoming triathletes that desire to get into the sport? MC: Pace yourself. Don’t push too hard at the beginning. It takes time to build up. Most important – Enjoy the moment!

34 GET TO KNOW MIEKO

CE: Do you have any nutritional secrets or staple items you use every race? MC: I eat whatever I want because I burn so many calories! Mieko I enjoy having a beer after long training! I usually have a peanut butter and banana sandwich before training and race mornings. Days before races I eat a lot of carbs and protein and hydrate. No beer!

CE: Go back to when you first got into the sport, what lessons or mistakes did you learn along that you want to share to up-and-coming triathletes? MC: Overtraining can take you out for a long time. Your body needs to recover every three or four weeks. I didn’t lis- ten to my body and I thought I had to push hard every day. I could barely get out of bed for a month because of that. I lost my motivation and was completely exhausted.

CE: One of the most legendary stories of XTERRA racing is of a bear attack during your pre-ride of the XTERRA Japan course. Can you tell us a little about that event? MC: OMG Bear Attack It was fist time I ever saw a bear in my life. I was lucky, I was riding behind my friend right before he got attacked by the bear. When we were pre- rid- ing the course in Japan, we saw or maybe the bear saw us after a sharp turn right. The bear started attacking my friend and I just stood there in shock. I didn’t know what to do, did- n’t have anything to fight the bear with to help my friend. I just kept screaming my friend’s name and saying “NO!!” Both of them went into the bush and I couldn’t see what was going on there BUT I could hear my friend screaming, “Hurt, Hurt”. Suddenly a baby bear came from my left side and climbed the tree very quick. I was really lucky the baby bear didn’t start attacking me. Finally my friend came from the bush and ran toward me while the bear ran the other way. We went back to the jeep road and checked his body- there was much blood all over. Unfortunately, it was at the top of a climb in the course and there were no houses and nobody around. He felt like he could ride down to the bottom where there are many houses. I went down ahead to find people to help and ask to call an ambulance. I rode very fast like it was a race! Finally we found people and they called an ambulance. It was the first time the town had ever heard of a “bear attack”.

35 THE RISE OF FLORA DUFFY

FLORA DUFFY After her first-ever XTERRA race last year at the Mountain Boulder, Colorado via Bermuda Championships in Colorado Flora Duffy wasn’t sure she ever wanted to do another one. PERSONAL: Born September 30, 1987...earned a degree in sociology from the University of Colorado-Boulder...born “I did really enjoy the vibe at the race and how friendly and raised in Bermuda and is hoping to make the 2016 everyone was though, so that helped keep the door open,” Olympic triathlon team. said Duffy, who finished 6th that day. “And, since I qualified WEBSITE: floraduffytri.blogspot.com for Maui, figured I had to give it a go.” TWITTER: @floraduffy RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has raced with the best It’s a good thing she did. Duffy finished third overall at the in ITU and represented Bermuda at the London Olympics, XTERRA World Championship, just five seconds behind where she finished 45th. two-time World Champ . XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Second year. 2013: Placed 6th at the XTERRA Mountain Championship “I loved racing in Maui. The course, the place, the people, it in her first-ever XTERRA, and was 3rd at XTERRA Worlds. was a great event. I think a combination of my performance 2014: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Buffelsport off-road tri in SA, at Maui and training with Dan Hugo and Brad Weiss then won the XTERRA South Africa Championship and the inspired me to pursue XTERRA.” XTERRA West Championship in the U.S. So from “never-again” to “nearly a world champ” Duffy’s pursuit of XTERRA led her to South Africa for some training FLORA and racing which ultimately resulted in a second-place finish at XTERRA Buffelspoort, then the XTERRA South Africa Championship on February 23.

“It was awesome to win at Grabouw,” said Duffy. “It is a huge race in South Africa and receives quite a lot of media attention, which made winning it quite attractive.”

Even more impressive was how Duffy did it, overcoming a flat early on the bike with the defending champion Carla Van Huyssteen hot on her heels.

“I had never flatted in a race before and didn’t exactly know what to do,” recalled Duffy. “I managed to keep calm though, fix the flat, and not lose too much time.”

Beyond the big win Duffy says her experience in South Africa inspired her to do more.

“My three months in SA was amazing. I was based in Stellenbosch training and living with Dan and Brad. Training with those two everyday inspired me to ride my mountain bike and pursue XTERRA. Stellenbosch is a beautiful little town great for training. The town offers an amazing lifestyle because it is safe, pretty, there are loads of great places to eat, copious amounts of vineyards to visit, and of course there is Jonkershoek – a nature reserve which offers miles 36 MEET THE PROS of great trails for riding and running. The weather in hot and sunny, and the people are friendly, it is the perfect place to train or visit.”

With the added experience riding a mountain bike, Duffy will most certainly cause trouble for the competition this season. As proof, she just posted the fastest swim, bike, and run times and won by a landslide at the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series opener in Vegas (April 13).

“You need to be a solid mountain biker for XTERRA, and I am still learning how to handle a mountain bike well,” said Duffy. “I suppose my strong swim helps because it allows me to put a few minutes on the other girls right from the start. That and I think being an all-around athlete that tends to never give up suits the XTERRA format. Ideally though, I’ll learn to ride my mountain bike well then I’ll be a lot more confident going into an XTERRA.”

After her XTERRA West Championship win on Sunday, Duffy said “I was keen to race Australia before this race but after today’s performance and how I felt, I had to book my flight and go to Australia.”

As for her plans after the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship on April 26

“I’ll do the XTERRA U.S. Series, the Lifetime Fitness Series and a few ITU events, it’s a mix bag of everything to keep it interesting.” said Duffy, who will also race at the Commonwealth Games in July as part of her drive to become a three-time Olympian (she represented her home country of Bermuda at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games).

“Rio 2016 is the big picture goal. I will dedicate all of 2015+2016 to the ITU circuit in order to gain points and qualify for the Olympics.”

Until then, Duffy just wants to “really enjoy beating most of the men out of the water at XTERRA : ) ”

37 MEET THE PROS

DIMITY-LEE DUKE Roelands, Australia DIMITY

PERSONAL: Born November 17, 1983 WEBSITE: facebook.com/dimityduke RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Just finished 3rd at the Ironman Malaysia 70.3 in Putrajaya. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: First year, second race. 2014: Placed 5th in her XTERRA debut at the Philippines Championship in March. After the race, she said “What a day! Full respect to XTERRA triathlon competitors...tougher than any Ironman race that's for sure! Stoked to walk away with 5th place overall! A bit off the pace but I know what I am in for now! I can't thank the XTERRA family enough for giving me the opportunity to race and the Filipino people for their support today! I can't wait till my next XTERRA ...loved every minute of it! Bring it on!

REBECCA HOSCHKE Narrabeen, Australia

PERSONAL: Born February 18, 1977 WEBSITE: rebeccahoschke.com SPONSORS: Specialized Australia, Scody Australia, Eyeline Australia, TriShave Australia, Compressport, SaltStick, High5, AquaShop/BlueSeventy, Asics, FuelBelt. RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The 2013 Ironman Australia Champion. This year placed 6th at IM 70.3 Auckland, 3rd at Challenge Half in Melbourne, and 2nd at IM Geelong 70.3. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: First year, second race. 2014: Finished 7th at the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off- road tri in Anglesea in her XTERRA debut.

PENNY HOSKEN Ringwood North, Australia

PERSONAL: Born April 30, 1987 WEBSITE: pennyhosken.blogspot.com RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: After winning the World Age Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships in Auckland in 2012 she started racing on the ITU triathlon circuit. Victorian Gatorade Triathlon Elite Female Series Champion. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: First year, second race. 2014: Finished 3rd at the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off- road tri in Anglesea in her XTERRA debut. REBECCA 38 MEET THE PROS

JODY MIELKE Engadine, Australia

PERSONAL: Born September 5, 1971 RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has 11 XTERRA titles to her credit. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Raced her first XTERRA in 1999, and won it. Her last XTERRA race was in 2003. HER STORY: Relative newcomers to the world of XTERRA may not know who Jody Mielke is, but they should because she is a legend, and she’s back! Mielke, one of the original Aussies of XTERRA, will return to the sport to race in the inaugural XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship at Jervis Bay in New South Wales on April 26. Her XTERRA legacy started in Ruston, Louisiana in 1999 when her name was still Jody Purcell. So that’s how Jody met and eventually stole Kenny Mielke “I remember very well the first time we laid eyes on Jody,” from the XTERRA crew. They’ve been married for 13 years explained XTERRA managing director Dave Nicholas. “She now, live in Engadine, NSW, have three girls, Connie (10), came from Australia to Louisiana and landed in Monroe, Charlie (8) and Darcy (4), and love to be outdoors and camp about 20 miles east of Ruston. Hell, nobody on earth knew as a family. where Ruston was and we were very impressed this Aussie pro came all that way so Kenny Mielke (an XTERRA Crew But enough with the personal stuff, let’s talk about Jody’s guy and medic from Canada) and I went to the small airport racing days. “When she flew over to the States to race her to get her. Her darn bike box was bigger than her – and it first XTERRA in 1999 she was the mystery woman,” wrote did not take but a week or two before she and Kenny fell in Scott Schumaker in a decade-old profile he crafted about love.” And to hear Jody tell it Mielke.

“Ha, good ol’ Ruston, Louisiana. I had flown in and I think “With an apparent endless supply of energy, the Aussie was Dave had blown me out to be a 6-foot blonde bombshell. solidly built but a bit on the short side, topping out at five feet Well, that was not me!” she said. “I remember running – a Mary Lou Retton from Down Under perhaps, but not a around with Jenny Wood and she pointed Kenny out and top-caliber triathlete. Word around the expo contended she saying that guy is very cute! I actually had already noticed was a pretty good mountain biker. Some said she was on him the day before. After our run we went over and started the Australian World Championship mountain bike team in talking to him and Chris. Kenny said he would dance with us 1998 (true). She had also supposedly done some triathlons if we came back that night to the bands. Not sure what he in the past, about ten Ironmen to be exact. Still, no one was was thinking but our race was the next day so he will say we sure how competitive she would be. She ended up winning stood him up but did he not know we were there to race! I that first race in Ruston, Louisiana. Not bad for someone won the race and he come over and said good job. That who, according to doctors on more than one occasion, night we were all hanging out around the pool, athletes and shouldn’t have been at the starting line in the first place. crew eating pizza and drinking beer. Kenny didn’t even Fourteen and a half pounds. That’s just a couple pounds come over and talk to me; I was sharing a sun bed with less than Purcell’s mountain bike weighs, and it’s exactly someone from NZ so Kenny thought we talked the same so how much she weighed when she was born. Combine that we must be together! Idiot! Then I headed over to Austin, weight with a mother who is just over five feet herself and Texas in the truck with Toby and hung out with the crew for there is the potential for problems during the delivery. In the week. Kenny asked me out one night, first date was to Purcell’s case it was a collapsed lung. the Laundromat! And the rest is history.” 39 THE LEGEND OF JODY MIELKE

“The doctor told my dad to go have a look at me as he years with the crew, even drove one of the Xterra’s from thought I would die during the night. After a couple weeks I venue to venue one year with Kenny. I was the press direc- came good and the doctor told Mum and Dad they had a tor in those days and she was always the one that got little fighter,” said Purcell. picked for interviews early in the week, early in the morning, whatever we needed – she did it. And the media loved her She’s been tenacious ever since – an attribute that has – cute little blonde with funny accent and great sense of served her athletic career well. As have her father’s genes, humor – and articulate! How can you go wrong?” which she credits for her strength. Her bloodline has also developed the capacity to take a licking and keep on ticking. Now 42 and working as a run and triathlon coach, Mielke Grandpa was an Australian boxing champion and her 231- said she was excited to get back in the pool and work on her pound brother represented the kangaroo continent in the swim in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Champs (NOT). under-19′s and under-21′s in rugby union. “Wow you guys suck! Had to get up this morning and do All of this helped lead to her success first in triathlons, then 5:30am swim squad,” wrote Mielke to the XTERRA crew on mountain biking and finally XTERRA. During her first year in her progress. “I haven’t done swim squad for triathlons in 1991 she went to the World Championships as Mmmmmmmmmm, 12 years! Yes, it hurt! Mick the coach a junior. At 21 she did her first Ironman, finishing in 9:40. was smiling at me and said “well you can only get better!” However, by 1998, burnt out on the multi-sport thing, she transferred her aerobic capacity to mountain biking. She Oh, how time flies. Her last year with XTERRA was 2003, instantly fell in love with the dirt and challenge of off-road “I had broken my ankle the day we flew to America to start racing, again finding immediate success. But her new sport the series and we went home and I didn’t came back until almost killed her XTERRA career before it started. A Worlds.” mechanical failure sent her slamming into the ground and ultimately led to a major loss of cartilage in one of her It’s certainly great to have Jody back in the XTERRA World, knees. and if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Jervis Bay for the Asia-Pacific Champs, be sure to say Hi to an Aussie “The doctors told me I would not run again,” said Purcell of great and an XTERRA Legend. the physicians who once again underestimated her. “I decid- ed I liked the sound of XTERRAs though, so I started to run Here are a few more fun facts from QnA’s past and pres- to see what would happen. I had no pain and the doc said ent go for it. So, there was a triple off-road triathlon at the end of November in Canberra. That gave me six weeks to get XTERRA: Your greatest strength as a competitor: ready. I did lots of riding and the minimum running to get Jody Mielke: My determination and my long legs – oh I through. The race took twelve-and-a-half hours. I loved it mean my strong legs! Ha! Ha! and did well, breaking the women’s record by 45 minutes.” XT: Role Model? The rest is XTERRA history. Mielke became the first non- JM: Mick Doohan American to compete in the whole series, the original ath- lete roadie you might say. She won six XTERRA XT: Favorite XTERRA memory? Championship races (out of 12) in 2000. She won the first JM: The year I won three in a row, Kerry (Classen) and I XTERRA Australia Championship in 2001. both won the first three races of the series. Oh, and doing an XTERRA camp on Molokai. XTERRA President Janet Clark remembers her as the most colorful racer on tour, with the best personality. “She always XT: Favorite XTERRA course? had the best bathing suits.every race something different JM: Richmond was always my favorite race. Swimming in a – colorful and flowery. Everyone wore blackbut not her!” river with boulders and running across an island and back in said Clark. “She traveled the entire US Series for several the water. Very cool race. 40 THE LEGEND OF JODY MIELKE

XT: Favorite part about XTERRA? JM: The athletes and crew always got on really well, we raced hard but had fun too.

XT: How excited are you to see the XTERRA family again? JM: Can’t wait to see the XTERRA family again, wow it is over 10 years. Very excited and for them to meet the girls.

XT: Is XTERRA a good fit for Australia? JM: I think XTERRA is a great fit for Australia. We have great beaches and trails, Ozzies are very outdoors people and many like an adventure.

XT: What can you tell us of Jervis Bay? JM: Jervis bay is beautiful. We have spent quite a lot of time down that way. It is great for holidays, rivers, beaches and bush. I have done a number of mountain bike races down there and the trails are great. There are plenty of beaches and also the river is lovely.

XT: Why should people join you at the Asia-Pacific Champs? JM: It is at the end of the school holidays and a great place to visit. You will not be disappointed by Jervis Bay or doing an XTERRA. They are fun, challenging races and will be superbly organized.

XT: Any last thoughts? JM: I got a lot more out of XTERRA than I thought I would

JODY

41 MEET THE PROS

LIZZIE ORCHARD Auckland, New Zealand

PERSONAL: Born November 26, 1985 WEBSITE: facebook.com/dimityduke XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Won the 25-29 division XTERRA World Championship in 2011. 2012: Won the overall amateur title at the ITU Cross Tri World Championship and finished 3rd at the XTERRA New Zealand Championship, and was 11th at XTERRA Worlds. 2013: Placed 7th at XTERRA Switzerland and was 6th at XTERRA France. 2014: Placed 4th at XTERRA New Zealand Lizzie

NICKY SAMUELS Mooloolaba. Nicky is coming off a strong performance at Wanaka, New Zealand the ITU WTS opener in Auckland on April 6 where she led 2013 XTERRA World Champion off the bike. HER MAUI EXPERIENCE: “For those who race XTERRA, PERSONAL: Born February 28, 1983 I give you a lot of respect. This is a tough event and the WEBSITE: nickysamuels.com Maui course was a brutally tough course. With the XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Is a perfect 3-for-3 in her XTERRA combination of little wind, hot humid temperatures (30 career, winning the last two XTERRA Motatapu off-road DegC), dry dusty and sandy terrain it just adds to the 1.5km triathlon titles and the 2013 XTERRA World Championship. swim, 30km mountain bike and 10km run. I came into the ABOUT NICKY: The 31-year-old placed 35th at the London race with a big question mark over the bike section... I know Olympics. She won the 5150 in Columbia (USA) and was that I can swim well, I love running on challenging off road second at St. Anthony’s and Boulder 5150s last year. She courses but with my lack of time on the mountain bike I was was 5th at WTS Austria and Auckland. She was the 2012 concerned with how my technical skills would stack up. World Aquathon Champ, NZ Road Race Cycling Champ, The World Champs starts on the DT Flemming beach in and ITU World Cup Tongeyong Champ, and in 2011 won Kapalua with a beach start into a rough shore break, the Pro the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon and ITU World Cup men and women started together and it was initially hard swimming with guys trying to sit on your hip (and even hard- er to get rid of them) but I was happy to get around the buoys without a battering (a pleasant change) so maybe being a girl amongst a combined pro start is good for one thing! But then there were some fast men swimmers who set a good pace to string the field out. Flora Duffy (BER) over took me on the third leg of the swim as my group went a bit off course in the swells and waves on the way back into the beach but I reclaimed the lead from about 1km into the bike with a quick transition as I got into my work up the hills. Not sure they could have put in any more hills if they tried but going up was never a problem for me it was the down I was concerned about.. The bike course was a solid grind to the top with a mixture of single track climbing, fire break Nicky roads, sugar cane fields and general off road (not even sure

42 MEET THE PROS there was a track there before!), After a solid 25mins of climbing (from sea level to 500m altitude!) there was a short descent then into the second of the climbs, before a long Nicky downhill section then back into the woods to finish with 5 miles of very undulating (horrible) slow single track all the way back to T2 – nothing like the berms at Deans Bank in Wanaka! It was certainly a tough mountain bike and one of the hardest triathlons I have ever done but still an amazing bucket list event!

I must admit my Giant XTC advanced 29er was amazing on the climbs, I caught Flora pretty quickly but was always aware Lesley would be chasing hard. I had 2mins on them at the top of the first climb and then 3mins at the 13mile mark where Barb Riveros had joined their group but managed to get through the single track and hit T2 still 2min 45 up.

I went into this race relatively unsure how I would go but still with the goal of a top 3 finish. I thought if I came off the bike in touch or in front I had a chance of winning this race, but I still had in the back of my mind that I only had those 3 weeks training on the mountain bike so I wasn’t sure how I would hold up against the others.. I headed out of T2 with 2-3 minutes on field, the run heads straight up the same track as the MTB start (straight uphill!) I thought we would all be running up to the lake (the top of the hill about 25mins into the run) about the same speed so once I got there and still had 2.30 minutes on the next girls I knew I just had to get to the finish line in one piece and it would be mine.

I wasn’t at all sure I had it in the bag until the last couple of km’s though because I kept cramping in my hamstrings and having that problem along with jumping obstacles (yep we jumped over fallen trees) and steep descents it was challenging to say the least! I was very happy to get to that finish line and to be greeted by my support crew of my husband, parents and Aunty and Uncle (It was actually my Aunty that got me signed up in the first place as she want- ed an excuse to have a holiday in Hawaii!) to enjoy the post- race celebrations.

The XTERRA crew put on an amazing event in a truly amazing location for a huge field of pros and age groupers, the support, coverage and hospitality was amazing!

43 MEET THE PROS

JACQUI SLACK Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom JACQUI 2014 XTERRA Great Ocean Road Champ

FINAL 2013 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR RANK: 4 PERSONAL: Born June 17, 1983...was a firefighter prior to turning pro full-time...was named the 2012 XTERRA Warrior Award winner along with her boyfriend Ben Allen for perpetuating the “Live More” spirit of XTERRA. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: Fifth year. FAVORITE XTERRA: Philippines WEBSITE: jacquisblog.com TWITTER: @jacquislack 2011: Placed 4th at XTERRA Italy and 9th at XTERRA Czech. 2012: Was 3rd at XTERRA Guam, 2nd at XTERRA Philippines and XTERRA Saipan Championships, won XTERRA New Zealand and XTERRA Italy, was 3rd at XTERRA France, 4th at XTERRA Czech, and 3rd at XTERRA Switzerland. Finished 2nd on the XTERRA European Tour. Placed 7th at the USA Championship, and was 5th at the XTERRA World Championship 2013: Finished 4th at XTERRA Philippines Championship, then won the XTERRA Saipan Championship, Saipan’s Tagaman road triathlon, and the XTERRA Guam Championship on successive weekends en route to capturing the XTERRA Triple Crown title. Finished 2nd behind Bucher at both the XTERRA Great Ocean Road and XTERRA New Zealand Championship races in April. Was 4th at XTERRA Malaysia and XTERRA Spain, 2nd at XTERRA Greece and France, and won the last two Euro Tour events at XTERRA Germany and XTERRA England. Finished 4th in the final XTERRA European Tour standings. DNF at the XTERRA USA Champs, and placed 9th at XTERRA Worlds. 2014: Placed 4th at XTERRA Philippines, won XTERRA Great Ocean road, was 3rd at XTERRA Saipan, and 2nd at XTERRA New Zealand.

44 MEET THE PROS

CARINA WASLE Kundl, Austria 2014 XTERRA Saipan Champion CARINA

FINAL 2013 XTERRA EUROPEAN TOUR RANK: 7 PERSONAL: Born October 20, 1984. XTERRA EXPERIENCE: 10th year. SPONSORS: Tiroler, Sailfish, Specialized 2005: Finished 3rd at XTERRA Austria in first-ever XTERRA then won XTERRA Germany. Placed 7th in XTERRA European Tour. 2006: Finished 2nd at XTERRA Czech and XTERRA Spain, was 3rd at Denmark and won XTERRA Germany. 2007: Placed 2nd at XTERRA Italy, 4th at XTERRA Denmark, 3rd at XTERRA Austria, and won XTERRA Germany for 3rd straight year. Was 10th at World Champs. 2008: Placed 3rd at European Championship in Italy, won XTERRA Czech, was third at XTERRA France-Auron, and second at XTERRA France-Mondelieu. Finished 2nd in XTERRA European Tour standings. Placed third at XTERRA USA Championship, and 8th at XTERRA Worlds. 2009: Placed 6th at XTERRA Italy, won XTERRA Czech, was 7th at XTERRA Germany, 2nd at XTERRA Austria, and 4th at XTERRA USA Champs. 2010: Placed 4th at XTERRA Portugal and the European Championship in Italy, was third at XTERRA France, 5th at Czech, 10th at the USA Championship, and 6th at XTERRA Worlds. 2011: Won the XTERRA South Africa Championship, was 3rd at XTERRA Philippines, 2nd at XTERRA Saipan, 5th at XTERRA Italy, won XTERRA Brazil, 2nd at XTERRA France, 4th at XTERRA Czech, 6th at XTERRA Germany, 4th at XTERRA Switzerland, and 11th at USA Champs. 2012: Placed 2nd at XTERRA South Africa Championship, was 5th at XTERRA Italy, 4th at XTERRA France, 2nd at XTERRA Czech, 4th at XTERRA Germany and XTERRA Switzerland. Finished 3rd in XTERRA European Tour. Placed 8th at XTERRA USA Championship. 2013: Placed 4th at XTERRA South Africa Championship, DNF at XTERRA Philippines, was 2nd at the XTERRA Saipan Championship, third at the XTERRA Guam Championship and XTERRA Great Ocean Road, 4th at the XTERRA New Zealand Championship, 5th at XTERRA Malaysia, 6th at XTERRA Spain, 5th at XTERRA Greece, 2014: Placed 2nd at XTERRA South Africa, 2nd at and 4th at XTERRA Czech and XTERRA Germany, 6th at XTERRA Philippines, 3rd at XTERRA Guam, and won the XTERRA USA Champs, and 11th at XTERRA Worlds. XTERRA Saipan Championship. 45 2014 XTERRA WORLD TOUR SCHEDULE

Date Event Location / Pro Winners Feb 23 XTERRA South Africa Championship Dan Hugo / Flora Duffy March 8 XTERRA Motatapu^ Braden Currie / Nicky Samuels March 15 XTERRA Philippines Championship^ Dan Hugo / Renata Bucher March 29 XTERRA Guam Championship^ Dan Hugo / Renata Bucher March 30 XTERRA Great Ocean Road^ Ben Allen / Jacqui Slack March 30 XTERRA Costa Rica Leonardo Chacon / Shonny Vanlandingham April 5 XTERRA Saipan Championship^ Ben Allen / Carina Wasle April 12 XTERRA New Zealand Championship^ Conrad Stoltz / Barbara Riveros April 13 XTERRA West Championship* Josiah Middaugh / Flora Duffy April 26 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship^ Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia May 3 XTERRA Malaysia^ Putrajaya May 17 XTERRA Southeast Championship* Pelham, Alabama May 24 XTERRA Mauritius Bois Cheri May 24 XTERRA Spain Championship+ Cartagena – La Manga, Murcia June 1 XTERRA Portugal+ Golega June 8 XTERRA Brazil Championship Ilhabela, Sao Paulo June 15 XTERRA East Championship* Richmond, June 21 XTERRA Greece Championship+ Lake Plastira June 28 XTERRA Switzerland Championship+ Vallee de Joux June 29 XTERRA Norway Championship+ Horten July 5 XTERRA Mine over Matter# Milton, Ontario, Canada July 6 XTERRA France Championship+ Xonrupt, Gerardmer July 6 XTERRA Victoria# British Columbia, Canada July 6 XTERRA Freedom Fest Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii July 13 XTERRA Sweden Championship+ Hellasgaarten July 19 XTERRA Mountain Championship* Beaver Creek Resort, Avon, Colorado July 20 XTERRA Ireland+ Killaloe, County Clare July 26 XTERRA Italy Championship+ Abruzzo, Scanno Aug 2 XTERRA Mexico Championship Tapalpa, Jalisco Aug 9 XTERRA Czech Championship+ Prachatice Aug 16 XTERRA Germany Championship+ Zittau Aug 17 XTERRA Canmore# Alberta, Canada Aug 24 XTERRA England+ Cranleigh, Surrey Aug 31 XTERRA Denmark Championship+ Tisvilde Aug 31 XTERRA Quebec# Lac Delage, Quebec, Canada Sept 7 XTERRA Sleeping Giant# Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada Sept 20 XTERRA USA Championship Ogden/Snowbasin, UT Oct 26 XTERRA World Championship Maui, Hawaii

+ XTERRA European Tour // ^ XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour // * XTERRA America Tour // # XTERRA Canada Series Schedule tentative and subject to change, as of 4.18.2014 // www.xterraplanet.com // 1-877-751-8880 46 APAC TOUR RACE #1 - XTERRA MOTATAPU REVIEW

March 8, 2014 (South Island, New Zealand) - The eight- stop XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour kicked off at the XTERRA Motatapu off-road triathlon on the South Island of New Zealand.

The race served as a celebration of sorts for reigning XTERRA World Champion Nicky Samuels and Braden Currie (5th at XTERRA Worlds) as both live right there in Wanaka. As a child Samuels used to ride her mountain bike to get to and from the school bus stop.

“It is an amazing place, although looking a little chilly this year with some fresh snow on the hills!” said Samuels, who may have caught herself by surprise when she won Worlds in October, but not her supporters in Wanaka. “The mountain bike goes through Shania Twain's property on a four wheel drive track through many river crossings “I think I was more surprised with the win than they were, it and over continuous rolling tussock covered hills then you was almost like they expected it back home. Some of my end up in Arrowtown (20km out of Queenstown), transition immediate family were there watching so they were thrilled on the flats then head up a four wheel drive track that turns I pulled it off...I was thrilled just to still be standing at the into a rugged goat trail,” said Samuels. end,” said Samuels, who called XTERRA Worlds “honestly the toughest race I have done.” The 10th anniversary event is even more special as for the first time the race is under new ownership by the While the ultimate goal for Samuels is the Rio Olympics in Queenstown Trails Trust and all net proceeds from the 2016, which calls for an ITU focused schedule, she hopes event go to the maintenance and future development of the XTERRA is a big part of her program going forward. Queenstown trail network (read the release).

“I am in for the Asia-Pacific Champs, and I’d like to get back Braden Currie and Nicky Samuels - took the top spots at to the World Champs again this year as well,” said Samuels. XTERRA Motatapu. Samuels, the reigning XTERRA World Champion, led the women’s race from start-to-finish and While this was just the third year XTERRA Motatapu has broke the course record she set last year posting a winning been part of the World Tour and offered up 14 qualifying time of 4:17:10. spots into the XTERRA World Championship, it’s the 10th anniversary for the iconic weekend of events that attracts The “Swiss Miss” Renata Bucher placed 2nd and Lizzie some 4,000 competitors with races in mountain biking, an Orchard finished 3rd. The win is Samuels’ third XTERRA off-road marathon, adventure runs and triathlons. win in as many attempts.

“It is out-of-this-world gorgeous,” said XTERRA Hall of For Currie, who lives just 15 minutes from the race start, the Famer , who took part in the mountain bike victory marked his third XTERRA Motatapu crown in a row. race last year. “We had amazing weather, perfect race conditions,” said The race is longer than your typical XTERRA, combining a Currie, an adventure racer by trade who got his XTERRA 2km swim in Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka, 47km Mountain career started in Motatapu back in 2012. Bike and a 15km mountain run over the historic Miners Trail course. Samuels, who won last year’s race in her first-ever Currie led the men’s race from start to finish (although XTERRA, describes the course as “an awesome iconic Samuels beat him out of the water), with Olly Shaw taking event, but the run is a killer on the legs.” 2nd and Axel Reiser finishing third (top amateur). 47 APAC TOUR RACE #2- XTERRA PHILIPPINES REVIEW

March 15, 2014 (Liloan, Cebu) – Dan Hugo (29, Stellenbosch, South Africa) and Renata Bucher (36, Lucerne, Switzerland) captured the 4th annual XTERRA Philippines Championship on a steaming hot day at the seafront of Barangay Jubay in Liloan (Cebu Province) on Saturday.

Ben Allen, who won the last two XTERRA Phil titles and 9- of-10 races in the Asia-Pacific region since 2002, took the early lead with the days fastest swim split (18:57). Brad Weiss and Dan Hugo were 2nd and 3rd out of the water about one-minute back.

By the end of the first-of-two laps on the bike course Allen had crashed and flatted twice allowing Hugo and Weiss to move up front. At the swim-to-bike transition Hugo had a commanding 7-minute lead on Weiss and the only question was if his ankle - that he rolled so badly in his XTERRA South Africa Championship win three weeks ago it tore his anterior talofibular ligament - would hold up.

Not only did Hugo's ankle hold, he posted the fastest run split of the day to boot. It's Hugo's third straight XTERRA win of the season (to go with titles at Buffelspoort and the SA Champs) and 9th XTERRA Championship title.

Fellow South African Bradley Weiss finished 2nd, a career- best performance. Cebu's own Joe Miller finished 3rd over- all to win the Filipino Elite Division. Allen, who carried on despite his misfortune on the bike, placed fourth overall . Pro Men In the women's race Bucher captured the XTERRA Phil Pl Name Time Swim Bike Run crown for the second time in three years but it wasn't easy. 1 Dan Hugo, RSA 2:48:48 19:56 1:43:26 45:26 Jacqui Slack led out of the water and through the first lap of 2 Brad Weiss, RSA 2:56:39 19:51 1:50:37 46:11 the bike before Bucher took over. 3 Ben Allen, AUS 3:21:52 18:57 2:11:17 51:38 4 Charlie Epperson, USA 3:30:07 24:03 2:09:19 56:45 The "Swiss Miss" had the fastest women's bike split by far 5 Shahrom Abdullah, MAS 3:32:58 28:32 2:12:44 51:42 (it was fourth best overall behind only Hugo, Weiss & Miller) to take a big lead onto the run. It nearly wasn't big enough, Pro Women however, as Austrian Carina Wasle - who had the fastest Pl Name Final Swim Bike Run run of the day - caught and passed Bucher toward the end 1 Renata Bucher, SUI 3:24:59 23:48 2:03:31 57:40 of the run but "then almost fainted 300-meters from the fin- 2 Carina Wasle, AUT 3:25:18 24:08 2:08:48 52:22 ish and Renata re-passed," explained XTERRA World Tour 3 Mieko Carey, JPN 3:27:34 23:24 2:10:29 53:41 managing director Dave Nicholas. 4 Jacqui Slack, GBR 3:29:19 22:08 2:08:03 59:08 5 Dimity-Lee Duke, AUS 3:42:16 24:59 2:24:02 53:15 Bucher took the tape in 3:24:59, 19 seconds ahead of 6 Daz Parker, GBR 3:46:45 25:27 2:21:18 1:00:00 Wasle for her 32nd career XTERRA Championship victory. 48 APAC TOUR RACE #3 - XTERRA GUAM REVIEW

March 29, 2014 (Piti, Guam) – South Africa’s Dan Hugo led from wire-to-wire, posting the fastest swim (19:39), bike (1:24:41) and run (44:20) times of the day to capture the 10th annual XTERRA Guam Championship in 2:28:40 on Saturday. In the women’s race the “Swiss Miss” Renata Bucher edged fellow Aloha Racing team member and island favorite Mieko Carey with a winning time of 3:03:52.

The victory is Hugo’s 3rd straight on the XTERRA World Tour, as he also captured the XTERRA South Africa in February and the Philippines Championship.

“It's been a stellar two weeks on Guam,” said Hugo. “It is a great training environment for Asian athletes needing to escape winter. Multiple running tracks, 50m pools, quiet roads. It has been great for both Brad and I, and that showed today.”

Hugo and his travel /training buddy Bradley Weiss, also of South Africa, pulled away from the entire field during the scenic, warm-water swim then tackled the signature hill climb right out of transition to bridge a gap.

Weiss, who just turned 25-years-old, was in a world all his own on the day - finishing second with no one in sight, while Kiwi Olly Shaw followed in third. A deep, international elite field filled in behind with Nico Sterk (RSA), Markus Benesch (AUT), Guam-based elite Charlie Epperson - the top American on the day, placing 6th overall, and Mark Leishman (NZL) rounding out the top 7. Pro Men Pl Name Time “These people are real home grown enthusiasts for the 1 Dan Hugo, RSA 2:28:40 sport, and they produce an XTERRA with soul across a 2 Brad Weiss, RSA 2:35:43 memorable swim-bike-run route,” said Hugo (read his race 3 Olly Shaw, NZL 2:39:12 recap at dghugo.com). “It’s a bucket list race destination.” 4 Nico Sterk, RSA 2:43:52 5 Markus Benesch, AUT 2:45:30 Renata Bucher is the women’s Guam champ for the third 6 Charlie Epperson, USA 2:54:05 time in five years and collected her 33rd career XTERRA 7 Mark Leishman, NZL 2:55:18 championship title. 8 Michal Bucek, SVK 3:15:33 9 Takahiro Ogasawara, JPN 3:23:53 Austria’s Carina Wasle posted the fastest bike split of the 10 Tyce Mister, USA 3:37:08 day and had the lead into the run but missed an arrow and went off course, as did local favorite Mieko Carey, who was Pro Women second out of transition. Pl Name Final 1 Renata Bucher, SUI 3:03:52 Carey, the reigning and 4-time XTERRA Japan Champion, 2 Mieko Carey, JPN 3:04:33 finished 41-seconds behind Bucher in 2nd place. 3 Carina Wasle, AUT 3:15:11 49 APAC TOUR RACE #4- XTERRA GREAT OCEAN ROAD REVIEW

March 30, 2014 (Anglesea, Victoria, Australia) – The power couple of XTERRA, Ben Allen from Australia and Jacqui Slack from Great Britain, captured the 2nd running of the XTERRA Great Ocean Road off-road triathlon amidst a perfect bright blue sky day in the seaside town of Anglesea, Victoria.

Interestingly, Allen didn’t post the fastest swim, bike, or run time but still crossed the tape nearly three minutes ahead of Roger Serrano from Spain with a winning time of 1:57:14. Drew Box, an Aussie ITU racer, was first out of the water and also posted the fastest run split (just 11 seconds faster in both disciplines than Allen) while Serrano had the best bike split.

The lead Box held out of the swim-to-bike transition area at Anglesea River-mouth Park didn’t last long as Allen and Serrano sped along the early stages of the bike route that featured breathtaking views of the Surf Coast Walk before dipping into some rugged bushland and single track.

Allen and Serrano came into the bike-to-run transition together, then Allen pulled away and put the hammer down on the 10K trail run that featured a mixture of soft sand, cliff face and headland. Pro Men Pl Name Time It’s Allen’s first major win of the season, coming off a 2013 1 Ben Allen, AUS 1:57:14 career-year when he posted an unprecedented seven 2 Roger Serrano, ESP 2:00:07 XTERRA World Tour race victories 3 Drew Box, AUS 2:02:40 4 Mitchell Anderson, AUS 2:05:27 In the women's race Aussie ITU and IM 70.3 great Annabel 5 Alex Hunt, AUS 2:07:08 Luxford started strong in her XTERRA debut using her 6 Sam Kidd, AUS 2:08:19 Aussie surf skills to lead Slack out of the water. Of note, 7 Jarad Kohlar, AUS 2:12:13 age grouper Natalie Marshall - a champion Surf Swimmer - 8 Eduardo Sturla, ARG 2:13:45 exited 1st ahead of both of them. 9 Ben Pattie, AUS 2:14:52 10 Noah Wright, USA 2:22:26 Slack showcased her XTERRA mountain bike skills right Also: Tim Beardall away by riding through the soft sand and into the trails in the first 200-meters, a spot where Luxford had to walk her bike Pro Women through, and there was no looking back after that. Slack Pl Name Final posted the quickest bike and run splits on the day to cross 1 Jacqui Slack, GBR 2:16:19 the line in 2:16:19, more than 11-minutes ahead of runner- 2 Deanna Blegg, AUS 2:27:49 up Deanna Blegg. 3 Penny Hosken, AUS 2:28:41 4 Peri Gray, AUS 2:29:51 “I had a solid ride but had no idea how far ahead I was,” said 5 Annabel Luxford, AUS 2:31:22 Slack, winner of four XTERRA World tour races last season. 6 Bernadette Dornom, AUS 2:34:52 7 Rebecca Hoschke, AUS 2:35:47 50 APAC TOUR RACE #5 - XTERRA SAIPAN REVIEW

April 5, 2014 (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) – Aussie Ben Allen and Austrian Carina Wasle won the 13th running of the XTERRA Saipan Championship on a breezy and beautiful Saturday morning in the Northern Marianas.

It’s Allen’s 3rd-straight win in Saipan, his second victory on the World Tour in as many weeks (he won XTERRA in Australia last weekend) and the 14th of his career.

“Never gets any easier, that’s for sure,” said Allen. “Dan (Hugo) and I broke away from the main pack in the swim and then went back-and-forth on the bike the whole way.”

“He had me covered,” said Hugo. “I was trying to be aggressive on the bike, and over the top I might have got 10-seconds on him and was hoping to build on that but he was superb on the technical stuff. I took a bad line at one point and that 10 seconds up turned into 10-seconds down. I’ll tell you, I enjoyed the dual, it was a great tussle.”

Allen took a 20-second lead into the signature Saipan run course and then put the hammer down.nBrad Weiss was solid all-around to finish 3rd in Saipan for the second year in a row. It’s Weiss’ fourth top 4 finish of the season.

Carina Wasle put together the “perfect day” to win her first XTERRA major since 2011 and her first in four-years of try- Pro Men ing on the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Tour. Pl Name Final Swim Bike Run 1 Ben Allen, AUS 2:34:29 20:18 1:22:20 50:35 Defending champ Jacqui Slack took the early lead out of the 2 Dan Hugo, RSA 2:39:01 20:33 1:22:26 54:41 swim, with Mieko Carey close behind, Renata Bucher more 3 Brad Weiss, RSA 2:44:11 21:18 1:26:45 54:25 than a minute back and Wasle over two minutes behind. 4 Olly Shaw, NZ 2:45:54 22:34 1:25:59 55:33 5 Olivier Marceau, SUI 2:49:48 22:45 1:28:35 56:50 Bucher, a 7-time XTERRA Saipan Champ, took the lead on 6 Nico Sterk, RSA 2:52:56 22:41 1:28:46 59:46 the bike with the fastest split of the day and headed out on 7 Takahiro Ogasawara, JPN 2:54:48 25:31 1:29:45 57:39 to the run with a two-minute gap on Wasle but it wasn’t 8 Markus Benesch, AUT 3:00:33 22:47 1:33:29 1:02:26 enough. 9 Aleksandr Dorovskikh, RUS 3:01:24 26:15 1:33:46 59:27 10 Mark Leishman, NZL 3:02:51 26:41 1:34:16 1:00:16 “I pushed really hard on the bike and felt good but Carina Also: Charlie Epperson, Michal Bucek was a lot stronger on the run today,” said Bucher, who will stay on in Saipan and race in next week’s Tagaman road tri. Pro Women “I can tell you already a fantastic week, it’s a wonderful life Pl Name Final Swim Bike Run here.” 1 Carina Wasle, AUT 3:06:31 26:23 1:40:29 57:58 2 Renata Bucher, SUI 3:07:41 25:35 1:38:54 1:01:24 Wasle posted the fastest run-split of the day, the only 3 Jacqui Slack, GBR 3:12:21 24:18 1:42:36 1:03:50 woman to run the grueling jungle course in less than an 4 Mieko Carey, JPN 3:16:32 24:43 1:44:21 1:05:56 hour. 5 Yasuko Miyazaki, JPN 4:08:42 27:19 2:31:06 1:07:36 51 APAC TOUR RACE #6 - XTERRA NEW ZEALAND REVIEW

April 12, 2014 (Rotorua, New Zealand) – Olympians Conrad Stoltz of South Africa and Barbara Riveros of Chile captured the 12th annual XTERRA New Zealand Championship race on a beautiful Saturday morning around the Blue Lake in Rotorua.

Stoltz, a four-time XTERRA World Champion and three-time ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion, set his sights on discovering the adventure and thrill of racing in some of the world’s most amazing venues in 2014 and got off to a rollicking start for that today.

“The course was phenomenal, exactly what I expected,” said Stoltz after the win. “I heard so many good things about it and saw footage of it on the internet. When I saw the course I thought wow, this is just phenomenal. I wish I could stay longer and ride some more and see the rest of the trails out here.”

“I saw a wallaby, all the tree ferns, this beautiful lake, it’s just stunningly beautiful here,” said Stoltz. “Even the run, it’s shaded the whole way, lush and green. Plus, the Kiwis are crazy about their triathlon and are very knowledgeable about the sport so it was great to come out and be part of the XTERRA family here.”

In her fourth-ever XTERRA race Barbara Riveros captured Pro Men her first-ever XTERRA Championship. “Pretty happy with Pl Name Time my performance today,” said Riveros, who placed 8th last 1 Conrad Stoltz, RSA 2:04:51 weekend at the ITU World Triathlon Series opener in 2 Ben Allen, AUS 2:05:31 Auckland, New Zealand. “It’s hard to spend much time on 3 Olly Shaw, NZL 2:07:28 my mountain bike because my focus is ITU and next month 4 Sam Osborne,NZL 2:08:55 we start qualification for Rio.” 5 Roger Serrano, ESP 2:11:27 6 Sam Shaw,NZL 2:13:14 Great Britain XTERRA star Jacqui Slack, the 2012 New 7 Sam Gardner, GBR 2:15:05 Zealand Champ, pushed Riveros to the breaking point on 8 Clark Ellice, NZL 2:16:17 the bike before succumbing to her phenomenal fitness. 9 Josh Kenyon, NZL 2:16:19 10 Nick Moore, NZL 2:16:34 “Jacqui was pushing so hard on the bike, and came so very Also: Andrew Small, Tayler Reid, Noah Wright close to dropping me,” said Riveros. “I had to put the ham- Pro Women mer down just to stay with her. I’m really happy for her Pl Name Final because she has brought her mountain bike skill to another 1 Barbara Riveros, CHI 2:18:32 level. She’s another athlete compared to last year.” 2 Jacqui Slack, GBR 2:24:14 3 Sarah Backler, NZL 2:27:44 The Paymark XTERRA Rotorua Festival is one of the single 4 Lizzie Orchard, NZL 2:30:20 biggest multisport events in the world, with more than 2,000 5 Rachel Challis, NZL 2:30:59 racers taking part in a variety of challenges. 6 Nic Leary, NZL 2:35:06 52 APAC TOUR RACE #8 - XTERRA MALAYSIA PREVIEW

On Saturday, May 3, a week after the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship race, the second-running of XTERRA Malaysia will take place in Putrajaya, just outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

The race combines a one-mile swim in the gorgeous, man- made Putrajaya Lake fronting the Maritime Centre with an 18-mile mountain bike through Challenge Park featuring world-class trails followed by one of the most diverse and adventurous six-mile trail runs on the XTERRA Planet.

“It was a fantastic event. The swim was superb, course was unreal, and there were loads of volunteers. First-class all the way,” said last year’s men’s winner Ben Allen.

Dan Hugo, who like Allen has traveled extensively across the region, also spoke highly of the course and organization.

“So much fine detail, I can’t say enough of the organization and tourism board. Massive amount of vollies, impeccable signage, they didn’t hold back on anything and went the extra yard wherever they could. It’s a phenomenal location, and a really, really fun course. When the race started the moon was visible and we hit the sunrise perfectly to see the city scape. The water was like a pool, glassy with lane rope, and the bike was almost Richmond-like, a fun mix of every- thing and never a straight line. It was super entertaining, and the culture shows through here, very courteous, warm people.” said Hugo.

Indeed for all involved it was a spectacular event and assures to be even better in 2014. The natural landscape in Putrajaya is one of pure adventure, and the mix of epic sin- gletrack switchbacks and the most diverse, remarkable run course imaginable combined for an instant classic. With an awe-inspiring host hotel at the Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside, superb organization, and so much to see and experience in the immediate and surrounding areas XTERRA Malaysia in Putrajaya is sure to become a World Tour stable.

“Lived it, loved it,” said XTERRA Pro Daz Parker. “Amazingly organized and executed by Race Director Dave Spence and his team of wonderful smiley volunteers.”

See images from last year & learn more at xterramy.com.

53 TEAM UNLIMITED

TEAM Unlimited is a Hawaii-based television events and marketing company, founded in 1988. It owns and produces XTERRA and in 2014 will offer more than 300 XTERRA off-road triathlon and trail running races in 25+ countries worldwide. In the U.S. alone nearly 200,000 participants took part in the XTERRA lifestyle last year. In addition, TEAM TV has produced more than 300 adventure television shows resulting in three Emmy’s and 42 Telly Awards for production excellence since 1990. View samples at www.xterra.tv, and learn more at xterraplanet.com and xterratrailrun.com.

XTERRA THROUGH TIME 1996: Jimmy Riccitello and Michellie Jones win inaugural event in Wailea, Maui. 1997: XTERRA adds two events in California, and one in Louisiana in addition to World Championship. 1998: The XTERRA tour goes to , Colorado, Oregon, and back to Louisiana. 1999: 11 races spanning from California to New Jersey. First year of Pro Points Series. 2000: XTERRA goes global with its first international races in England, Japan, and Canada. 2001: The first year of XTERRA in Australia - Jody Mielke and Paul Amey win the XTERRA Australia Championship 2002: The inaugural XTERRA Saipan Championship, and races in Germany and the Czech Republic. The XTERRA USA Championship Series expands to 31 races. 2003: The seventh consecutive year of expansion provides more than 50 events to compete in. 2004: Forty-five events in the U.S., plus 33 international races and a full-fledged XTERRA European Tour 2005: First year of the stand-alone XTERRA Trail Running Series and Nevada Passage Adventure Competition. 2011: More than 100 XTERRA off-road triathlon races and 70+ XTERRA Trail Runs. The first year of the XTERRA Asia- Pacific Tour with races in the Philippines, Saipan, Guam, and Japan 2012: First year for the XTERRA Guam Championship and the “Triple Crown” of Guam, Philippines, and Saipan on back- to-back-to-back weekends in March. 2014: Now more than 200 events in 26 countries worldwide, including expanded Asia-Pacific Tour with races in New Zealand, Philippines, Australia, Saipan, Guam, and Malaysia, and the first-ever Asia-Pacific Championship.

TEAM TV

Since 1990 TEAM TV has produced more than 300 television shows resulting in three regional Emmy’s and 42 Telly Awards for production excellence. XTERRA.TV - FREE 24/7 WEB TV NETWORK

Check out XTERRA.TV to watch a wide variety of XTERRA programming right now. Available content, which is updated weekly, features everything from the XTERRA World Championship show to adventures in New South Wales, Australia. To see the XTERRA broadcast schedule visit www.xterraplanet.com.

55 XTERRASHOP.COM

At XTERRAShop.com XTERRA fanatics can find everything from technical apparel to XTERRA-branded treadmills, watches, sunglasses, wetsuits, stand-up paddleboards, coffee and more

56 The Story of how a Sport was born, and a Brand evolved... XTERRA is ...

“The single best meeting ground for the

best triathletes in the world. Ironman,

ITU, Olympic, 70.3, Winter Triathlon,

and Mountain bike champs have all com-

peted at XTERRA.” – Jimmy Archer

“The Captain Morgan of triathlon!” – Christiane Reetz

“A Way of Life,” – J. Rittling

“An Epic adventure that tests your will,”– Bruce Rogers

“The coolest, most diverse, challenging and funnest competition ever!” – Molly Hummel

“An addiction,” – Jayne Peterlin “Blood, Sweat, & Beers!” – J. Walsh “An extreme test of endurance, skill, and guts.” – J. Middaugh

“Adventure!” – Mark Leishman

“One of the toughest things I’ve ever done, but well worth it,” – Chris Holt

“A gnarly way to commune with nature!” – Brandyn Roark Gray

“Living more through competition, meeting wonderful, like-minded people and traveling to beautiful venues,” – Libby Harrow The XTERRA Story PART I : THE PREQUEL

hile the first-ever XTERRA amateur status so they could race in the was “born on the beach” on Olympics. We had George Hincapie, Jan the island of Maui in 1996, Ulrich,Tyler Hamilton, and lots of others - a who's the origins of the brand who of international cycling," said Nicholas. W were rooted in events that took place in the late '80's when Tom Kiely A few years later the Olympics allowed pros to (pictured), the CEO of TEAM Unlimited, was compete, road cycling in the U.S. was on the tasked with creating more publicity for the decline, and the Tour O' Hawaii was no more. At Waikiki Oahu Visitors Association. the same time, however, mountain biking was taking off. So in 1995, in addition to 12 other TV ::: SPORTS TV WAS THE BIG IDEA ::: shows and several events, TEAM Unlimited produced the Hawaiian Mountain Tour. "First, sports are a big part of our culture in In doing so Nicholas and mountain bike Hall-of- Hawaii, and second, what looks better on TV ::: ::: than the beaches and ocean," explained Kiely. ESPN BUYS IN Famer Dean Crandall established the rules and held the first-ever mountain bike stage race. This The concept was pretty simple. Sports and ESPN approves two more shows (Waikiki King's is also where many of the XTERRA greats first entertainment is one of the biggest industries in Race and Diamond Head Wahine Windsurfing appeared. The likes of Ned Overend, Shari Kain, the world and the travel industry is THE Classic) and in 1991 TEAM Unlimited produced Melanie McQuaid, Steve Larsen, Mike Kloser, BIGGEST industry in the world. Bring those two three events and three TV shows. The concept Leslie Tomlinson, and host of others were taking together in programming, and you've got some- was working, and Hawaii was reaping the part in the Hawaiian Mountain Tour. Now these thing big. benefits of the outdoor exposure the shows were races took place at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, generating. where the Koolau mountain range meets the So, Kiely came up with the idea for the Hawaiian ocean, and the story goes that after their races International Ocean Challenge - a lifeguard "So the next year (‘92) we produced seven the mountain bikers would ride down to the skills competition that attracted water safety spe- Hawaiian Sports Adventure Shows.…multiple beach and jump in the water. It sparked an cialists from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, segments, different stories, great scenics, and idea…why not have a mountain bike triathlon? and California. Then, he forged a relationship 30-minutes of entertaining stuff," said Kiely. By 1996 TEAM Unlimited had produced more Those seven shows were in addition to the than 50 shows and sporting events, and while Ocean Challenge and a few other televised the idea of an off-road triathlon was enticing... events, including the who'd pay for it? inaugural Tour O' Hawaii. ::: LOOKING FOR A GRAND IDEA ::: "Tour O’ Hawaii, now that was a great event," said Dave Almost simultaneously, the Aston Hotel in Maui Nicholas, the race director for (now the Wailea Marriott Resort) was shopping TEAM Unlimited. for a good idea for their grand opening and the Maui Visitors Bureau was looking for a new "The Tour O' Hawaii happened before pro event that could tell a different story about Maui's cyclists were allowed to compete in the Olympics south shore because all the exposure up to that with ESPN - the worldwide leader in sports. so the top riders from every country kept their point was golf. Well, what better way to show off In 1990 the Ocean Challenge was broadcast on the hotel and south shore than 1) starting the ESPN, and millions of viewers were exposed to race at this beautiful beach in front of the spon- the beauty of Waikiki - the sun, sand, and crystal sor hotel, 2) follow a race that covers 21 miles of clear blue water of the Pacific Ocean. terrain with two dozen cameras, and 3) put it on TV for the whole world to see? "So we get into producing the Ocean Challenge," says Kiely. "And now I'm thinking I've got all Kiely likes to define luck as the "intersection of these athletes and TV crews and if it costs me opportunity and activity. So, I called Aston and this much to produce one show, it'll cost less for the MVB and said O.K., I've got the idea, here's another, and even less for a third." the thing ... bing, bang, boom," said Kiely. “XTERRA is this cosmic blend of specialized training, arduous racing, Part II : The Story incredible camaraderie and friendships with competitors and TEAM Unlimited that defies description, and it’s an irreplaceable Behind the Name component of my life,” – Kent Robison t’s well documented that for the thousands of people who wanted to get the first-ever XTERRA was back to the roots of endurance sports, go off- the World Championship in road and have fun. A bigger event plan was Maui, but that race wasn’t mandated,” said Janet Clark, President of actually called XTERRA, TEAM Unlimited. it was “AquaTerra.” I To meet the challenge TEAM Unlimited shelved Turned out, however, that AquaTerra was trade- its other event properties and concentrated on marked by a kayak company in South Carolina the growth of XTERRA. A key ingredient in that and they wanted some big-time $$$ if TEAM evolution would be Janet Clark, a former “Ad Unlimited wanted to keep using the name. Woman of the Year” while at Ogilvy and Mather. Born and raised in Canberra, Australia, Clark Instead of dishing out cash to make the kayak brought 25 years of media and marketing company famous, Kiely came up with experience to the table and together with Kiely “XTERRA”. and Nicholas - the “Big Three” put together a plan on how to take XTERRA to the next level. “I wanted something that could mean many things to many people so there would be room for expansion,” said Kiely. “The X is a numerical term which means “unknown” and Terra is Latin PART III : THE MAGIC At the finish line of that very first race in 1996 it was clear that XTERRA was going to be more than just a one-off event. There was passion in the eyes of the competitors and an unwavering feeling that XTERRA was destined to become a lifestyle…a movement.

The Fox Sports Net broadcast of that original event (which you can watch in its entirety right now on XTERRA.TV) exposed the new and exciting sport to the nation, and the response Clark is a “hands-on” executive, as seen here set the table for the future of a sport. body marking a competitor before the race Armed with the knowledge that a) XTERRA was “That race was magical, and the reaction by building from the ground up and its grass roots everyone – our staff, the competitors, the hotel, appeal was dynamic, b) the enthusiasm for the the Maui Visitors Bureau, the people that sport went beyond the U.S. borders, c) XTER- watched on TV, was that we had truly uncov- RA was turning into a media darling with signif- Conrad “The Caveman” Stoltz is a 4x XTERRA World Champ and social marketing guru - see conradstoltz.com ered something special,” explained Kiely. icant coverage in magazine, newspapers, and TV and, d) even people outside of triathlon were for land/territory, thus … “Unknown territory.” In the early days there was no grand strategy or attracted to XTERRA – the initial expansion Kiely also had the foresight to register the name master plan, rather more of a reaction to the steps were written on the chalkboard: in all major product categories including marketplace and people saying ‘bring XTERRA automobile and it was just weeks later when to our community’. - Reach as many communities as we can Nissan – after months and a million dollars - Produce a substantial national TV package worth of market research on what to name their As such TEAM Unlimited put on four XTERRA - Start planning for international growth new SUV – decided on Xterra and called him up races in 1997, five in 1998, and in 1999 the - Register and own the trademark name of XTERRA in all to secure the rights. stars aligned with Nissan and a 10-stop “XTER- of the primary countries for all appropriate categories RA America Tour” was put in place to help the - Build the foundation of the XTERRA community Long story short, TEAM kept XTERRA and car giant promote its new SUV in an authentic - Begin development of new XTERRA products, media Nissan got the license to the name for their new way. SUV in exchange for a sponsorship deal that and properties lasted nine years and spurred the growth of “What we learned after that year was that 10 XTERRA triathlons. events were not enough to satisfy the demand 60 Part IV : From a Vision to a Lifestyle

TERRA has grown at an amazing rate through the years. In 2000 the XTERRA Gear licensing X business was launched and the World Tour was born with races in England, Japan and Canada.

In 2001 the XTERRA Point Series was created with 19 races leading up to the USA Championship. The Series was (and still is) marvelously structured, providing a bona-fide Razor Ridge at the top of the XTERRA Worlds bike course in Maui championship for age-group athletes to compete within their region, then against the best across the U.S. to determine a legitimate An Emerging Lifestyle Brand... national champion. It opened the door for destinations across the country to showcase their trails and natural beauty; and it solidified the “Live More” lifestyle as like-minded athletes from all different backgrounds were creating the closest of friendships through the sport.

The XTERRA Adventures TV Series was also born in 2001 and the terms “Adventure” and “XTERRA” would be linked together forever. By 2003 there were 50 XTERRA races to compete in and by 2004 there was a full-blown XTERRA European Tour. The XTERRA Live More Membership Card XTERRA Wetsuits The Year Two Thousand and Five marked the inaugural season for the Trail Running Series. In 2008 that Series culminated with the first- ever XTERRA Trail Running World Championship – which was highlighted on XTERRA.TV, a 24/7 web TV network featuring XTERRA events and adventures from around the world.

XTERRA Watches by Rockwell XTERRA Stand Up Paddleboards

Each dirt-strewn step in XTERRA’s development built the foundation of the Brand – which XTERRA Fitness - Treadmills, Fitness Bikes, Ellipticals XTERRA technical and active lifestyle apparel revolves around its community. 61 oday, 18 years after that “XTERRA is ... family, friends, and fun. It’s always adventurous and you first race, XTERRA has never know what’s in store for you – but you can always count on a grown into a global smile or a joke or something to make your day.” – Linda Lindsay phenomenon with more than 300 events in 26 countries. It has estab- lishedT off-road tri and trail running series. It has branded products from wetsuits to watches to fitness equipment, tech wear and apparel. It produces a bevy of national and internationally broadcast TV productions and hosts an online video channel. XTERRAPlanet.com garners more than 30 million impressions per year. There are training programs across the U.S. and introductory distance races for newcomers. The sport dishes out more than a half-million dollars in prize money to attract the worlds lead- ing multisport athletes. XTERRA recognizes hometown heroes (everyday athletes from all walks of life) as national and world champions. It puts on kids races and the XTERRA Foundation provides educational opportunities for at-risk kids. And, it has an incredible line-up of sponsors & partners and tens of thousands of the most enthusiastic participants on the planet.

The executive summary for the 2013 XTERRA Annual Report shaped up like this...

- 188,000 participants - 45 million TV viewers - 29 million advertising impressions - 4 million grassroots impressions - 247 million publicity impressions - 33 million website impressions

Celebrating positive role models for the next generation Mother Nature is your toughest competitor

The Spooky Forest in Malaysia The Blood Rock section at XTERRA Alabama

The most scenic courses on the planet Block Party after USA Championship in Ogden, Utah XTERRA Kids Rock!

62 XTERRAHONOR World ROLL Tour

Feb 24 XTERRA South Africa Grabouw, Western Cape M XTERRA Philippines Cebu XTERRA Costa Rica Playa Conchal XTERRA Saipan Northern Marianas XTERRA Guam Piti XTERRA Australia Asia-PacificChampionship in NSW A XTERRA New Zealand In Motatapu and Rotorua XTERRA Malaysia Putrajaya XTERRA Spain Cieza, Murcia XTERRA Greece Lake Plastira XTERRA Brazil Ilhabela, Sao Paulo XTERRA Switzerland Vallee de Joux XTERRA France Xonrupt, Gerardmer XTERRA Canada 5 Five races from coast-to-coast XTERRA Italy Part V : The Future Scanno, L'Aquila XTERRA Mexico It was “the people” who nurtured XTERRA’s growth and it will be their desires, needs, and Tapalpa, Jalisco interests that set the path for its future. XTERRA Nordic Series Sweden, Denmark & Norway Many brands start with a product and then use marketing tools to try and build a relationship with XTERRA Czech the community. XTERRA did the reverse…it began with the community – the active lifestyle Prachatice market - and everything flowed from that first impression, that initial connection. XTERRA Germany Zittau With that comes another list, another chalkboard full of ideas and dreams and visions… XTERRA Mauritius Bois Cheri 500 Events in 50 countries XTERRA Portugal More than a million participants Golega XTERRA branded products success stories XTERRA England An XTERRA Television Network Cranleigh, Surrey XTERRA Experiential Retail Stores XTERRA Ireland XTERRA Camps, Clinics, and Travel Killaloe XTERRA Health and Fitness Mobile Marketing Tours XTERRA USA XTERRA Foundation working to make the world a better place 70-race XTERRA America Tour XTERRA World Championship “The most important thing we created was a relationship, a friendship Maui, Hawaii with our XTERRA Tribe,” said Kiely. “It is this foundation, this very real and authentic relationship, that makes us a respected and recognized emerging brand and it is what will carry us to great heights in the future.”

63