SOME THINGS ABOUT XTERRA

Everyone who knows me may be wondering why I am writing about XTerra, when I have no ounce of athletic bone in my body!

This is just an introduction for my next post, but I did get interested in many things about this.

What is XTerra? http://www.xterraplanet.com/maui/worldChamps. and  http://www.xterraphil.com/

Note: Most of the description actually came from what I lifted from their sites.

XTERRA Races

Uncover nature one root, rock, and mud puddle at a time with the XTERRA America and XTERRA World Tour. The schedule lists the most worthy places for adventure, from the urban cityscape of Richmond, VA to the tropical jungles of Saipan. There are races at sea level and altitude, with swims in lakes, rivers, and oceans - in big cities and small towns - from the desert to the mountains.

In 1996 mountain biking and triathlon met in a duel of the fittest on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The race was called Aquaterra. It consisted of an open-ocean swim, a mountain bike race, and a trail run. It represented a bold new racing format that attracted outdoor enthusiasts, mostly mountain bikers and triathletes. The mountain bikers brought their laid-back style and bold self-assurance. The triathletes brought their hard-core training and avid dedication. They soon discovered a common spirit and attitude that pulled them together. For as different as they are, neither could resist the challenges and thrills this new multisport offered.

The thrill of running on pure adrenaline through the mountains. The chill of fresh ocean waves streaming over a swimmer’s back. The awesome view mountain bikers get at the top of a dormant Hawaii volcano. These are the elements of a race called XTERRA.

Vicente Lorenzo Oporto Cabahug of Cebu in the XTERRA World Championships in Maui
By the way, he is Third Year Medical Student of Cebu Doctors' University and Top 1 in his class at the time he joined XTerra Maui. Here is the link:http://inpinaysfootsteps.blogspot.com/2013/01/beyond-expectations-vince-c.html

from XTerra files: http://www.xterraplanet.com/maui/worldChamps. 

WHAT IS XTERRA:  The world’s premier off-road triathlon, combining a 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) rough water swim, a 30.4-kilometer (18.89-miles) mountain bike and a 9.5-kilometer (5.9 miles) trail run best described as a tropical roller-coaster ride through pineapple fields and forests.

WHO RACES IN MAUI:  A capacity field of 800 athletes from 28 countries and 42 U.S. states including professionals and amateurs.

WHEN:  The XTERRA World Championship starts at 9:00 a.m. on October 27, 2012. 

WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii, USA

WHY:  The XTERRA World Championship race is the last in a series of nearly 100 off-road triathlon races held in 16 countries and 30+ U.S. States.  The concept is to provide a bona-fide off-road world championship for amateur and pro athletes. For pros there is $105,000 in prize money at stake. Amateurs race for the title of XTERRA World Champion. 

ENTRY: At large entry fee is US$500.00.  Entry fee for qualified athletes will be US$475.00 (or US$450.00 for Hawaii residents).  Entry includes admission to the Night of Champions Dinner and Awards 

START AND SWIM: The race starts with a 1.5-kilometer rough water swim at D.T. Flemings Beach fronting the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Pros are easy to spot with their identifying swim caps - men in blue and women in pink.  A short beach sprint mid-race between and "M" shaped course gives spectators a chance to pick out their friends and family from the field.  

BIKE: The bike is one big loop that goes up-and-down the lower slopes of the West Maui Mountains more than a dozen times. “First blush of the bike course shows 18.89 miles with more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain,” said Nicholas.  “The terrain varies from hard-packed red dirt to new single track peeled out of an abandoned golf course that now rides like high speed grassland cross-country trails.  There are major gulch crossings that drop into river beds and head-high vegetation to navigate through. One thing is for certain, to do well riders will need to bring their climbing legs and descending courage.”

RUN:  Once on the run competitors will be faced with 5.9 mile course with a whole lot of climbing while they weave along dirt trails, through Oleander forests, and into 60-foot high ironwood evergreens to an unexpected mountain lake at the 650-foot level.

In the Philippines, the qualifiers usually join the XTerra Philippines held in Liloan, Cebu last March 18, 2012 or the Vaseline Men Xterra Tri-outs Local Competition. 

By the way, Liloan, Cebu also spruced up the bike route to make the place more scenic for the athletes!

About 40 Champions from the different age-groups will represent the Philippines to the XTerra World Championships in Maui, Hawaii last October 27, 2012.

Vaseline Men XTerra Philippine Team completely finished the off-road triathlon challenge. Another young man from Cebu who joined and finished the Xterra World Championships in Maui 2012 is Vince Cabahug who belonged to the 20-24 category, the same category as actor, Matteo Guidicelli. Incidentally, Vince is a Third year Medical Student from Cebu Doctors' University College of Medicine!

The Vaseline Men XTERRA RP Team (from left) Drew Arellano, Redg Plopinio, Matteo Guidicelli, Hector Yuzon, and Coach Noy Jopson http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/11/15/vaseline-men-xterra-team-makes-waves-in-maui/

This year's triathlons are also held on almost the same dates, on March and October 2013. 

It indeed takes strong dedication and discipline aside from physical strength to be able to complete such strenuous challenges such as these triathlons!!!