<strong>XTERRA</strong> WEST CHAMPIONSHIP PRO PREVIEWLooks like a terrific start to the year and regardless of theoutcomes a great after party Saturday at the <strong>West</strong>in Pooldeck should be a ton of fun with adult beverages and lots ofwar stories."Here's a look at the tentative pro start lists.Note: Rank indicates their final position in 2012 <strong>XTERRA</strong>U.S. Pro Series standings, NR = not ranked.Rank – Men – Age, Hometown1 - Conrad Stoltz – 39, Stellenbosch, South Africa2 - Josiah Middaugh – 34, Eagle-Vail, Colorado4 - Craig Evans – 35, Hendersonville, Tennessee5 - Branden Rakita – 32, Colorado Springs, Colorado6 - Will Kelsay – 31, Boulder, Colorado9 - Will Ross – 23, Anchorage, Alaska11 - Damian Gonzalez – 36, Stockton, California12 - Ryan Ignatz – 34, Boulder, Colorado28 - Chris Ganter – 34, Boise, IdahoNR - Matt Lieto – 34, Bend, OregonNR - Matt Mangen – 30, Ivins, UtahNR - Joshua Merrick – 42, Alamosa, ColoradoNR - Jason Michalak – 35, Crested Butte, ColoradoNR - Erich Wegscheider – 27, San Jose, CaliforniaRank – Women – Age, Hometown1 - Lesley Paterson – 32, San Diego, California2 - Melanie McQuaid – 39, Victoria, B.C., Canada4 - Danelle Kabush – 37, Calgary, Alberta, Canada5 - Suzie Snyder – 31, Fredericksburg, Virginia6 - Tamara Donelson – 37, Edwards, Colorado9 - Caroline Colonna – 48, Taos, New Mexico10 - Shonny Vanlandingham – 43, Durango, Colorado12 - Emma Garrard – 30, Park City, Utah14 - Christine Jeffrey – 40, Guelph, Ontario, Canada22 - Brandi Heisterman – 37, Squamish, B.C., CanadaNR - Jamie Brede – 35, Breckenridge, ColoradoNR - Rachel Challis – 37, Carlsbad, CaliforniaNR - Kelley Cullen – 32, New Castle, ColoradoNR - Lauren Harrison – 35, Los Altos, California10
CONRAD “The Caveman” STOLTZStellenbosch, South Africa4-time <strong>XTERRA</strong> World Champ10-time <strong>XTERRA</strong> U.S. Pro Series Champ2012 <strong>XTERRA</strong> U.S. PRO SERIES RANK: 1PERSONAL: Born October 23, 1973...a two-time Olympictriathlete, finished 20th in 2000 when he was the first off thebike, then dnf’d in Athens...started BMX racing at ageseven, running at nine, biathlon at 13, triathlon and cyclingat 14, and pro triathlon at 18...“It’s in my blood.”WEBSITE: conradstoltz.comTWITTER: @ConradStoltzSPONSORS: Specialized, Suunto, Clif Bar, Mutual Safes,Oakley, Squirt Lube, Blue Seventy, Kelfords, Stuffitts,LOOK, Thule, GoPro.<strong>XTERRA</strong> EXPERIENCE: 13th year.RACING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Is <strong>XTERRA</strong>’s all-timechampionship race wins leader with 46 (he has 50 all-told),is the only pro to win four <strong>XTERRA</strong> World Titles, and hasan unprecedented 10 <strong>XTERRA</strong> U.S. Pro Series titles (2001-03, ‘05 & ‘07-’12). Also won the 2011 and 2012 ITU CrossTriathlon World Championships.2001: Burst onto the <strong>XTERRA</strong> scene and won three races,including the Pro Series and the World title as a rookie.2002: Won in Keystone, California, Tahoe, and Maui.2003: Won first race at Big Bear, placed 2nd in Richmond,3rd in Keystone, won in Tahoe, and won Pro Points Series.2004: Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa, placed second inRichmond, 6th in Keystone, second in Big Bear, and fifth inTahoe. Finished third in the <strong>XTERRA</strong> U.S. Pro Series, anddnf’d at <strong>XTERRA</strong> Worlds.2005: Won four straight before placing 2nd in Keystone.Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa, the <strong>West</strong>, East, and Midwest<strong>Champs</strong> in Milwaukee, was second in Keystone beforewinning the inaugural <strong>XTERRA</strong> Brazil. Placed 2nd in Tahoebut still won <strong>XTERRA</strong> Pro Series title. Placed 9th at Worlds.2006: Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa, missed the first U.S.race of the year in California with injuries, returned in timefor Alabama where he was fourth, and a week later he wonthe East Championship. Placed 8th in Milwaukee after aseries of crashes and injuries and then 4th at the MountainChampionships in Utah. A pre-ride crash at the <strong>XTERRA</strong>USA Championship kept him out of nationals and worlds.<strong>2007</strong>: Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa for fourth straight year,then the <strong>XTERRA</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Champs</strong>. Won Southeast and East<strong>Champs</strong> on back-to-back weekends. DNF’d at UtahMEET THE PROFESSIONALS11because of a mechanical. Won USA Championship, ProSeries title, then World <strong>Champs</strong> for third time. Named theOff-Road triathlete of the year at Endurance Sports Awards.2008: Placed 4th at <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa, won the <strong>West</strong><strong>Champs</strong> for 6th time in his career, won the Southeast title,DNF in Richmond, was 2nd at <strong>XTERRA</strong> UK, 6th at <strong>XTERRA</strong>Czech, and 2nd at <strong>XTERRA</strong> France. Won the <strong>XTERRA</strong>Mountain Championship in August, placed 8th at the USAChampionship but still edged countryman Dan Hugo to win<strong>XTERRA</strong> U.S. Pro Series title for the 6th time. Suffered a flatwhile leading at the <strong>XTERRA</strong> World Championship in Mauiand eventually finished 12th after a series of mechanicals.2009: Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> <strong>West</strong>, Midwest, and Southeast CupRaces, was 5th at the Northwest Cup, won the Atlantic Cup,finished 3rd in a photo-finish at the Northeast Cup, was 2ndat the <strong>XTERRA</strong> USA Championship (and won the U.S. ProSeries for the 7th time). Placed 5th at <strong>XTERRA</strong> Worlds.2010: Won all four regionals he entered - the <strong>XTERRA</strong> <strong>West</strong>,South Central, Southeast and East <strong>Champs</strong>. Placed 6th atthe <strong>XTERRA</strong> Canada Championships, won <strong>XTERRA</strong> USAChampionship (and the Pro Series for 8th time), and becamethe first pro to win a fourth <strong>XTERRA</strong> World Championship.2011: Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> Buffelspoort, was 2nd at <strong>XTERRA</strong><strong>West</strong> <strong>Champs</strong>, won his record-breaking 38th career championshipat South Central <strong>Champs</strong> in Waco, won ITU Cross TriWorld Title, won the Pacific and Southeast titles on back-tobackweekends in May, captured East title in Richmond inJune, and the <strong>XTERRA</strong> Japan Championship in August.Placed 5th at <strong>XTERRA</strong> USA Championship and won the ProSeries crown for 9th time (fifth straight). Was in third placecoming off the bike at <strong>XTERRA</strong> Worlds, but pulled with worseningasthma-type conditions on the run.2012: Won the <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa Championship for thefifth time, won the <strong>XTERRA</strong> <strong>West</strong> Championship, ITU CrossTri World <strong>Champs</strong>/<strong>XTERRA</strong> Southeast Championship, Eastand Mountain Championships, was 4th at the USAChampionship, won the U.S. Pro Series for the 10th time,and was 3rd at <strong>XTERRA</strong> Worlds.<strong>2013</strong>: Won <strong>XTERRA</strong> Buffelspoort, crossed the finish line in2nd at the <strong>XTERRA</strong> South Africa Championship but was laterDQ’d for going off-course in last stages of the run.
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