KEYSTONE, Colo. July 9, 2004 - More than 1,000 athletes representing 30 states and eight countries will be in Keystone, Colorado next weekend, July 17-18, for the Nissan Xterra Central Championship race and accompanying events.
The championship, featuring a $20,000 pro purse, is an OFF-ROAD triathlon comprised of three disciplines. It starts with a 1-kilometer swim in Keystone Lake, follows with a 31k mountain bike up, around, and down Keystone Mountain, and finishes with a twisting and turning 10k forest trail run.
It's the second-of-four championship events in the Nissan Xterra USA Series that boasts 45 races in 28 states. There is no venue, however, with conditions equal to that of the Rockies. The altitude (starting at 9,000 feet and climbing to 11,000 ft.) alone can turn a seasoned athlete into a pile of mush but there's also the frigid water, intense trail climbs, and bone-jarring biking.
Some of the best professional athletes from around the globe will converge on Keystone Resort for the race, including Olympic triathletes gearing up for Athens.
There is also a half-distance XTERRA Sport race, perfect for newcomers. The two XTERRA events accommodate approximately 600 racers, and more than half hail from Colorado. The races are part of an off-road sports festival weekend that includes free clinics in mountain biking, trail running, and swimming, an expo area with multisport displays and demonstrations, the Colorado State Mountain Biking Championships, trail running races, and the Nissan Kid's Base Camp which provides a whole day of fun stuff for the kids, plus there's food, drinks, and music all weekend long.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 17
Saucony XTERRA Snake River Scramble Registration
Expo Open — Exhibits, Food Booths, Climbing Wall
Saucony XTERRA Snake River Scramble Start (5K and 10K)
XTERRA and XTERRA Sport Registration and Packet Pick-up
ACA Colorado MTB Championship Registration Open
(Registration closes 30-minutes prior to each race start)
XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell — MTB Clinic with Justin Thomas & Anke Erlank
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — Pro/Semi Pro/Expert Men & Jr. Expert Men Start (16 miles)
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — Pro/ Expert Women Start (16 miles)
Saucony XTERRA Snake River Scramble Awards Ceremony
XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell — Trail Run Clinic with Tyler Johnson & Chantal Thompson
Nissan Xterra Owners Excursion and Lunch
Xterra Owners Off-road Excursion and Lunch
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — Sport Men Start (12 miles)
Kahuna's XTERRA and XTERRA Sport Race Briefing
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — Jr. Men and Jr. Expert Women Start (12 miles)
XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell — "Art of XTERRA — with Candy Angle, Josiah Middaugh, Nicolas LeBrun, and Jamie Whitmore
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — All Sport Women Start (12 miles)
XTERRA University, presented by Paul Mitchell — Swim Clinic with Dominic Gillen & Kaley Parkinson
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — Beginner Men and Women Start (12 miles)
ACA Colorado MTB Championship — Jr. Women and Jr Boys/Girls Start (8 miles)
Expo Close
Sunday, July 18
XTERRA Sport Start (0.5k swim, 15k mtb, 5k trail run)
Expo Open — Exhibits, Food Booths, Climbing Wall
Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon, a benefit for Challenged Athletes Foundation
Nissan Xterra Central Championship Start
(1k swim, 31k mtb, 10k trail run)
XTERRA Sport Awards Ceremony
XTERRRA and XTERRA Sport Athlete BBQ
Nissan Xterra Central Championship Awards Ceremony
Expo Close
NISSAN KIDS BASE CAMP SCHEDULE -
Saturday, July 17
Nissan Kids Sprint Registration
Nissan Kids Sprint
Challenge Stations Open
ABCD's of Bike Safety
Bike Skills Riding Course Open
Shimano Youth Series Bike Race
ABCD's of Bike Safety
Bike Skills Riding Course Open
Sunday, July 18
Challenge Stations Open
ABCD's of Bike Safety
Bike Skills Riding Course Open
Parents must register their children prior to participating in Base Camp activities. Participation is free.
For more information about the 7th Annual Nissan Xterra Central Championship, visit www.xterraplanet.com.
