THIS WEEK: Sage Grossi gives advice on the XTERRA West Championship race in Temecula, we introduce you to the XTERRA Green Team, preview the three XTERRA Points Series races this weekend, see who won in Arizona and what’s on the XTERRA TV schedule.

UPCOMING RACES:
4/28 - XTERRA Ft. Yargo (Winder, GA)
4/28 - XTERRA Gator Terra (Ruston, LA)
4/29 - XTERRA Castaic (Castaic, CA)
5/6 - XTERRA Uwharrie (Uwharrie, NC)
5/12 - XTERRA Malibu Creek Trail Challenge (Malibu, CA)
5/19 - XTERRA Seven Islands Sunblast Trail Run (Knoxville, TN)
5/19 - XTERRA Vail Lake Trail Run/Walk (Temecula, CA)
5/20 - XTERRA West Championship (Temecula, CA)
5/20 - XTERRA Patanella's King of the Hill (Lebanon, NJ)
5/20 - XTERRA Last Stand (Augusta, MI)
5/20 - XTERRA Dirty (Canyon Lakes, TX)
5/26 - XTERRA Italy - EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP (Gulf of Orosei)
5/27 - XTERRA Smith Lake (Fort Bragg, NC)
SAGE ADVICE: This week XTERRA caught up with Sage Grossi, an all-star

XTERRA age group competitor and all-around happening ambassador for the sport, to talk about the upcoming XTERRA West Championship in Temecula. Her resume includes division (25-29) wins at the XTERRA Mountain Championship in ’05 (on her birthday no less) and in Temecula last year. This past Saturday she was the top female amateur at the XTERRA Arizona Xtreme, and she holds a masters degree in atmospheric science so is clearly qualified to speak on all matters related to the XTERRA Planet.

XT: Does Temecula suit a full-suspension or hard-tail bike?
Sage: I think with the lightweight technology now everyone should be riding a full suspension bike. Now, coming from a 118-pound girl I am sure big guys might disagree. Temecula is a rolling course (big rollers) but not technically rocky so a hard tail will work great. I would suggest gears; looks like single speeders are finding XTERRA – more power to them - that is tough!
XT: What type of tires work best? How technical is the bike course? Is it fast or slow?
Sage: I ride Hutchinson Piranhas; a lightweight semi-slick tire. Perfect for hard packed conditions like in Temecula. The bike course is not technical like hike-a-bike, rather it is a series of long rollers – with great views – and little short steep downhills that can be dusty. I would say the course is fast. The hills are steep so it can be slow going but there are no obstacles to hold you back.
XT: How would you rate the Temecula course in terms of difficulty?
Sage: XTERRA is like an analogy for “difficult triathlon”. Yes it is hard! Aren’t they all? Again, in Temecula you aren’t battling high elevation or “the wild thing” (tech. section from old Keystone course) all you have to do is scrunch forward on your saddle and burn up your quads for 5 minutes at a time.
XT: At what point in the race were you suffering the most?
Sage: The run. I love to run as it is one of my strengths but the new run course last year put me to the test. A lot more hills and one right out of transition just like on the bike.
XT: Most memorable part of your race last year?
Sage: The campground party! I am not a big camper so I think I was fighting to the end. But all the hotels in town sell out really fast. For something like $10 per night, a fun group of people and some beer the campground lights up with XTERRA fun!
XT: How should a first timer approach Temecula? From the swim, the bike, etc.
Sage: Run and hide…No, just kidding I love first timers because they are trying. No matter what Regional XTERRA event you choose as your first one you will be brought to your knees. These races drive you way past what you ever thought you could do or was legal by a race director. It is that challenge that keeps bringing your back though. First timers – go hard, stay safe and please, please have fun!
XT: Is heat a problem?
Sage: Last year a storm blew in, it was cloudy and windy – great conditions for racing. I don’t remember the heat ever being a problem but I am from the desert and like it hot.
XT: From the pictures on the website it looks like the run course is just a series of rolling hills, is this the case? What’s the best approach for the run?
Sage: The run course, as with the bike course, is a series of rolling hills. My general approach to a hilly run is finding a good pace to get yourself up the hill and then fly down the backside. The downhills are very steep as well but it gives you a nice recovery if you just let your legs go.
XT: Any cool things to see or do, or good places to eat that you remember?
Sage: The town of Temecula is very unique. I liked it very much and have since been back to see more. Temecula is Southern California’s vineyards so there are wine tastings to go to and there are shops and restaurants for great food and last minute needs – like a sleeping bag if you decide to join to campground party at the last minute!

GOING GREEN: The XTERRA Green Team is an athlete-initiated program, the brainchild of Yvonne Kraus with the support of Barbara Peterson, to engage the XTERRA community in environmental initiatives to help protect and preserve the areas we race in, and give back to the communities that host us. The program will start with two initiatives: Organizing ecological restoration work parties at or near our race venues and conducting gear recycling programs for donation to local bicycle advocacy organizations.

“XTERRA Green Team athletes will make a difference ecologically by offering a few hours of time to local environmental initiatives near our race courses,” said Kraus. “This could be anything from trail maintenance to park clean-up, ecological restoration, or tree planting work parties.”

The first project is July 15 at the XTERRA Vashon Island race in Washington, where the Green Team has partnered with a Seattle non-profit organization called BikeWorks (see bikeworks.org) to collect donated used gear – water bottles, stickers, bike shoes, clothing, tubes, tires, and any bike component still in decent shape.

The second project is a stream restoration work party in Incline Village, Nevada - home to the XTERRA USA Championship.

“Donate your time, your brawny back, and your enthusiasm to help restore the banks of the stream we cross multiple times during our run, and show your appreciation to Incline Village for hosting us year after year,” urged Kraus. “And if you really love the idea, help us coordinate more work parties at other races this year and/or or next year.”

While these two projects are the first two to be embraced – athletes have already signed-up for the stream restoration project and pledged items for the collection in Vashon Island – the XTERRA Green Team intentions are to make the concepts staples of every XTERRA race on the schedule.

If you’ve got an idea, are interested in getting involved or coordinating other events, you’ll find contact information for Barbara and Yvonne and more information on the program at xterraplanet.com/greenteam/.
“I believe sustainability, thinking green, 'giving back' and generosity of spirit is the absolute next step for everyone on this planet,” said Peterson. “And I think the XTERRA Green Team concept has profound potential in terms of 'touching' whole cities - land and people - with a high concentration of athletes actually getting involved on a human and environmental level.”

XTERRA Gator Terra: XTERRA Gator Terra: Now in its 11th year the venue at Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, Louisiana is the oldest of all XTERRA race sites outside of the XTERRA World Championships and the first to take place in the continental U.S. back in 1997.

It came about as a result of John Cobb - the bike guru and Bicycle Sports shop owner from Shreveport, LA. Cobb was one of the 123 original racers at XTERRA Worlds in Maui and after that race he told “Kahuna” Dave Nicholas that there’s a spot where he’s from that’d be perfect for one of these off-road tri’s. Roughly six months later it was on, an instant classic won by big John Koenig and Lorraine Barrows.

The race features an 800-yard swim, 10-mile mountain bike and 3.5-mile trail run. The Park offers nearly 14 miles of wilderness single-track trails, as well as access to all the amenities that an area like Ruston can offer. Good Lodging, Dinning of all kinds from finger licking BBQ to fine cuisine, entertainment activities and even a little nightlife. This is Down-N-Dirty fun that’s easy to get to from nearly everywhere.

Proceeds from this event help to support Teen Challenge, A faith based solution the drug epidemic: www.TeenChallengeAR.org

The XTERRA Gator Terra is one of three events offered over the weekend. The others are the Hidden Paradise sprint triathlon and the Lincoln 5K run. There’s special pricing for racers who do either the two triathlons (Gator Terra & Hidden Paradise) or go for the Triple and do all three events. The fastest combined times (both Male & Female) for completing all three races wins a cash purse.

For more visit www.DLTMUltisport.com.

XTERRA Castaic: Situated in the Santa Clarita Valley in Los Angeles County is the Castaic Lake Recreation Area with big access to some of the best recreational areas in California. Framed by the Los Padres National Forest and Angeles National Forest, Castaic has spectacular landscapes. The lake covers over 9,000 acres where outdoor athletes and adventurers alike can hike, run, trek, bike and paddle until their hearts are content- or reach maximum heart rate - whichever comes first. Lush and green in the spring, sporting a beautiful bounty of wildflowers, adventuring through this gorgeous Southern California playground will be a treat.

The race features a 1.2k swim in Castaic Lagoon, a 16-mile mountain bike course and a 6-mile creek/canyon run.
For more information visit here.

XTERRA Fort Yargo: Gone Riding Race Promotions presents the fourth annual off-road tri in the Central Georgia area at Ft. Yargo State Park in Winder. The park has some of the areas best lakes combined with fast, fun and challenging trails in a quiet comfortable setting.

The race features a ½ mile lake swim with a 10-mile mountain bike loop on the newly designed and very hilly Arrowhead trail, followed by a 4-mile trail run. More than $2,000 in prizes will be given away.
For more visit www.goneriding.com

XTREME RESULTS: Brian Grasky, an F-16 Fighter Pilot instructor from Tucson, and Sage Grossi, a college professor and the owner of Sage-Sports from Tempe, took home top amateur honors at the XTERRA Arizona Xtreme on Saturday with winning times of 2:02:03 and 2:30:16, respectively.

Pros Jared Berg (Louisville, CO) and Dara Marks Marino (Flagstaff) won the overall. For complete results visit www.dcbadventures.com.

XTERRA TV: Last year’s Nevada Passage is on in Sacramento and the surrounding communities in Northern California while the XTERRA USA Championship show hits Dallas and West Virginia this weekend:

Date City Network Time Show
4/27 Sacramento, CA CCSW (CAB) 9:30pm 2006 Nevada Passage
4/27 Dallas, TX WFAA (ABC) 3:10am XTERRA USA Championship
4/28 Bluefield, WV WVVA (NBC) 1:00pm XTERRA USA Championship
4/29 Clarksburg, WV WVFX (FOX) 12:00pm XTERRA USA Championship