2013 XTERRA West Champs Guide:2007 XTERRA Saipan Press ...

XTERRA WEST CHAMPIONSHIP KICKS OFF 2013 PRO SERIESForget the glitz and glamour, the world’s greatest athletesare headed to Vegas for the dust and dirt of the XTERRAWest Championship off-road triathlon at Aston MonteLagoVillage Resort at Lake Las Vegas on April 13.StoltzSome of the best triathletes, mountain bikers, andadventure racers on the planet are headed to Henderson forthe showdown that entails a one-mile swim in Lake LasVegas, an 18-mile mountain bike up, down, & around theexpansive and private desert surrounding the resort, and a6.2-mile trail run that will test the endurance anddetermination of even the fittest athletes.Among them are two-time Olympian and four-time XTERRAWorld Champ Conrad “the Caveman” Stoltz from SouthAfrica, and his chief nemesis in Vegas - America’s best offroadtriathlete Josiah Middaugh.In the women’s race you’ll find three-time XTERRA WorldChampion Melanie McQuaid from Canada head-to-headagainst the reigning and two-time XTERRA World ChampLesley Paterson from Scotland.This race is the first of four regional championship races inthe nationwide XTERRA America Tour that boasts 70 racesin 38 states across the country.The course itself is nothing short of spectacular, a virtualmoonscape with the various shades of red, sand, and greyof the southern Nevada desert juxtaposed with the luxury ofLake Las Vegas Resort.PatersonThere is $15,000 in prize money for pros and 47 qualifyingslots into the XTERRA World Championship up for grabs toamateur racers. More than 300 athletes representing 20+U.S. States and several countries are signed up for themain event.Aside from the championship race there is also a halfdistanceXTERRA Sprint race, relay team competitions, and5, 10, and 21km trail runs. In addition, the best Paul Mitchellstylists in Nevada will be onsite giving haircuts in exchangefor a $15 donation to the Challenged Athletes Foundation.“There could be no better place to kick off the season thanat Lake Las Vegas,” said David Nicholas, the managingdirector of the XTERRA World Tour. “Whether you gambleor not, Las Vegas is one fascinating place. The lights, theshows, the restaurants are absolutely world class, and wehave an XTERRA race just minutes from the Strip and theairport. This event will be epic.”4