THIS WEEK: An international field of adventurers and rock solid group of female pros gather in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for the sixth annual XTERRA Saipan Championship on Saturday. The race – appropriately dubbed the Crown Jewel of the XTERRA Global Tour – pits man vs. Mother Nature in a voyage through the Islands pristine tropical jungle.

UPCOMING RACES:
3/17 – XTERRA Saipan Championship – The Crown Jewel (Northern Mariana Islands)
4/1 – XTERRA Miami (North Miami, FL)
4/1 – XTERRA REAL (Granite Bay, CA)
4/21 – XTERRA Arizona Xtreme (Mesa, AZ)
4/28 – XTERRA Ft. Yargo (Winder, GA)
4/28 – XTERRA Gator Terra (Ruston, LA)
4/29 – XTERRA Castaic (Castaic, CA)
5/20 – XTERRA West Championship (Temecula, CA)

SAIPAN PRESS GUIDE: A downloadable version of the XTERRA Saipan Press Guide with details on this year’s race, the Saipan Sports Fest and Tagaman triathlon can be found at xterrasaipan.com.

THE PROS: The professionals competing in Saipan are among the best mountain bikers and triathletes on the planet. They will race for $20,000 in cash, plus the man and woman with the fastest combined XTERRA and Tagaman triathlon (March 24) time receives $500 in cash and 7-nights at the Pacific Islands Club including a Gold Card (three meals per day) for two.

The Men’s Field
Olivier Marceau (Switzerland) - 3-time XTERRA Saipan & two-time XTERRA Europe Champ (‘04 & ‘05). The two-time Olympian was second at the XTERRA World Championship last year, finishing just 19 seconds behind Hamish Carter.
Andrew Noble (Australia) - Finished 3rd on XTERRA U.S. Pro Tour last year with 7 top 5 finishes.
Sam Gardner (United Kingdom) - Seventh on the XTERRA European Tour last year (4th @ XTERRA Spain).
Sascha Wingenfeld (Germany) - Fifth on the XTERRA European Tour last year (5th @ XTERRA UK).
Taro Shirato (Japan) - Long-time professional triathlete & instructor, placed 3rd at XTERRA Saipan last year.
Kyosuke Takei (Japan) - Finished 2nd at XTERRA Japan last year, placed 6th at XTERRA Saipan in 2005.
Margus Tamm (Estonia) - Finished 4th at XTERRA Saipan last year, and 2nd in PIC Double competition.

The Women’s Field
Renata Bucher (Switzerland) - Two-time XTERRA Saipan and European Tour Champion (2005-06).
Jamie Whitmore (California) - Three-time XTERRA Saipan Champ (2002-04) and 4-time XTERRA U.S. Champ.
Sibylle Matter (Switzerland) - 3rd at XTERRA Worlds last year, 2nd at XTERRA Germany. Olympic triathlete.
Julie Dibens (United Kingdom) - ‘06 XTERRA Denmark Champ, Olympic triathlete.
Mami Saito (Japan) - Placed 4th last two years at XTERRA Saipan, and finished 8th at XTERRA Worlds.
Yuko Sasaki (Japan) - Placed 6th last year at XTERRA Saipan and was 2nd at XTERRA Japan in 2004.
Megumi Miyaura (Japan) - Professional swimmer. Won ‘05 Tokyo Triathlon Championship.
Yukako Inoue (Japan) - Finished 4th at XTERRA Japan last year.
Yasuko Miyazaki (Japan) - Finished 22nd at XTERRA World Championship last year, 3rd in Saipan in 2004.

WHERE IS IT: Saipan is located in the middle of the Western Pacific Ocean - 1,300 miles south of Tokyo, 1,400 miles east of Manila, 3,200 miles west of Honolulu, and 2,900 miles north of Sydney.

BY THE NUMBERS: A quick look at the start list for Saipan shows a diverse field with athletes representing 13 countries (USA, Singapore, Czech Republic, Japan, France, Switzerland, China, Australia, Russia, Korea, Estonia, England, Germany) plus the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

GETTING TO MAUI: XTERRA Saipan is the second event of the season giving out berths to the 2007 XTERRA World Championship (Makena, Maui on October 28). There are 34 slots available, and awarded to the top finisher(s) depending on age group. The race will also award points to amateur athletes racing in this year’s XTERRA USA Championship Series.

SIX STRAIGHT: There are eight racers on the start list for Saturday that have done all five XTERRA Saipan events since the inaugural in 2002, and they are:

Jamie Whitmore, from Somerset, CA; Taro Shirato, 40, from Tokyo, Japan; Tyce Mister, from Saipan; Jude Baker, 37, from Tumon Bay, Guam; Arthur Guerrrero, 40, from Agana, Guam; Dirk Sharer, 46, from Saipan; Christopher Fryling, 37, from Saipan; and Yoshio Gabaldon.

NOT LOST IN TRANSLATION: In Saipan, XTERRA Public Address announcer Whit Raymond is in his element. As a fluid and animated speaker of the Japanese language, Raymond keeps the 100-strong Japanese contingent amused and informed throughout the day.

DIBENS, MARCEAU WIN IN GUAM: Olivier Marceau and Julie Dibens won the pro divisions at XTERRA Guam last Saturday. Marceau finished in 2:01:49, more than three minutes ahead of runner-up Sam Gardner. Julie Dibens finished in 2:15:58, two minutes in front of Renata Bucher. Nearly the entire field from the Guam race has made their way to Saipan for an inter-island double.