THIS WEEK: Details on the inaugural XTERRA Winter World Championship, a preview to the first running of XTERRA Uwharrie in North Carolina, pre-ride set for the Southeast Champs in Alabama, a clinic in Ohio, results from the trio of points series races last weekend, and the XTERRA USA Championship show is on in Colorado Springs on Saturday (2pm on KRDO, the ABC affiliate).

XTERRA WINTER WORLDS: TEAM Unlimited CEO Tom Kiely is in Ogden, Utah to announce dates and details for the inaugural XTERRA Winter World Championship on Thursday night.

The weekend-long, multi-event winter sports festival is set for March 8-9, 2008 at Snowbasin Ski Resort in the spectacular Wasatch-Cache National Forest, with evening activities being held in the nearby adventure capital of Ogden.

The main event is a first-of-its-kind, uniquely XTERRA multisport race combining the four disciplines of cross-country skiing, mountain biking, running and snowshoeing.

Other featured events for the weekend include an XTERRA Snowshoe competition, XTERRA Randonnee race, XTERRA Dash-for-Cash snowboarding event, and activities geared towards children.

“The Greater Ogden Athletic Legacy (GOAL Foundation) volunteers and sponsors are thrilled to support XTERRA’s selection of our community for this major world winter sporting event. Weber County offers the perfect venue; from the breathtaking views and physically challenging terrain to the party in downtown Ogden, we are ready to welcome the world!” Said Kym Buttschardt, President of GOAL’s Board of Directors. “The vision and partnership of the Utah Sports Commission, TEAM Unlimited, and Snowbasin guarantees a successful event for our community and one that will round out our foundation’s year of activities.”

The Championship will include multiple television shows and a marketing campaign that will generate significant exposure and economic impact for the state of Utah.

"The XTERRA Winter World Championship and accompanying sports festival is destined to become a major winter attraction for Northern Utah,” said Kiely. “The events are designed to be unique, fun and challenging. The locations at Snowbasin and Ogden are perfect not only because of their beauty, Olympic legacy, and great facilities, but also because the communities are so great to work with."

Known as the home of the breathtaking and technically intimidating men’s and women’s downhill, super G and combined competitions for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Snowbasin is a Sun Valley Resort, and one of the oldest continually operating ski areas in the nation. It boasts 2,959 vertical feet of ski trails, along with powder bowls and lush glades that cover over 2,400 acres. Located only 43 miles from downtown Salt Lake City and 17 miles from the city of Ogden, it is easy to access and has a wide and plentiful range of accommodations nearby.

“The XTERRA Winter Championship is another example of how we are using sports to help build the state’s image and economy,” said Jeff Robbins, president & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission – which helped to bring the event to Utah.

The GOAL Foundation is a non-profit group of community leaders, business owners, former Olympic planners and volunteers all dedicated to attracting, supporting, and promoting sporting events locally, nationally and internationally. The vision is to enhance the greater Ogden area’s quality of life through connecting and funding programs, events, and activities relating to recreation, sports, art and education.

“The GOAL Foundation has brought into focus the incomparable assets our community offers in the integration of local volunteers, sponsors and sports aficionados”, says Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey.

For more information on the XTERRA Winter World Championship click here.

XTERRA UWHARRIE: This Sunday, May 6, a first-ever event on the XTERRA tour takes center stage. If you have not heard of Uwharrie (pronounced U R E – say it real fast J) you’re in for a huge surprise. Uwharrie is the oldest mountain range in North America. It’s also a National Forest with recreation opportunities abound.

Competing in the first ever XTERRA Uwharrie is history in the making as 2007 marks the first year that the Badin Lake Recreation trails are publicly open to mountain biking. Everyone that comes to Uwharrie is captivated by its undisturbed beauty, rolling landscape and crisp/refreshing lakes, rivers and streams.

The course is challenging and perfect for XTERRA. You won’t see a housing development, city structures, baseball fields, tennis courts or any other distraction that might take away from the epic nature of the terrain.

Check out the 1D, 2D, or 3D course maps, schedule, and details at www.UREXTERRA.com. Race prizes include a shiny new Specialized Stumpjumper HT. Plus, Saturday May 5th the western gateway to Uwharrie – Albemarle, NC - has its 150th anniversary celebration. Organizers are encouraging racers to make it a weekend event and see what the Central Park NC region has to offer.

FANNIN PRE-RIDE: A trip out to Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama next weekend could pay big dividends come race day for the XTERRA Southeast Championship. Local XTERRA ambassador Casey Fannin – who just won the XTERRA Fort Yargo points series race on Saturday – in cooperation with the Vulcan Tri Club has invited the XTERRA faithful out for a course preview at Oak Mountain on Saturday, May 12th at 8am.

In order to participate riders need to have an updated USAT Membership. This is just a pre-ride & run of the Championship course - no timing, and the USAT requirement is for insurance purposes only. A one day USAT License can be purchased at the event for $10, or you may get a yearly membership also. There will also be a road ride for those not wishing to get in the woods, and afterwords burgers & dogs will be coming hot off the grill while Casey and the crew discuss all the sneak routes available to those who show up for the ride. Just a fun filled day, with some recon of the course, and they’ll be giving away some XTERRA swag. Interested parties should contact Casey at tricasey@bellsouth.net.

XTERRA CLINIC IN OHIO: On Saturday May 5 at 9am at the Twinsburg Fitness Center in Twinsburg, Ohio there’s going to be an informative clinic about XTERRA off-road triathlons. The session covers a wide range of topics such as type of equipment needed to do an XTERRA, open water swimming, nutrition, race preparation, and how to keep it fun. Reap the benefits of learning from their experiences and the fun of off-road triathlons. Practice makes perfect, it's true. But perfection can't always help you when Mother Nature decides to get in your way. The unexpected is always expected in XTERRA. Just ask a veteran racer. They've seen it all: a sudden rise in water levels ... thunderstorms wash out the trails ... or stifling heat moves in on race day. It's all part of the thrill.

Please sign up at the Fitness Center or call 1-330-405-5757 to reserve your seat.

FANNIN/HARDY WIN FT. YARGO: Casey Fannin from Birmingham, Alabama and Allison Hardy from Arden, North Carolina won at XTERRA Fort Yargo in Winder, Georgia on Saturday.

Fannin was two minutes better than Kevin Grogan from Clermont, Florida (Reigning 50-54 XTERRA World Champ Ian Davidson Jr. placed third). Hardy, who won the amateur title at the XTERRA East Championship in Richmond last year, was five minutes faster than Julia Radmann of Smyrna, GA (Lisa Randall placed third).

For complete results click here.

WALSH/TOBIN WIN CASTAIC: James Walsh from Carlsbad, California and Katrin Tobin from Santa Cruz won the amateur divisions at XTERRA Castaic.

XTERRA Pro Mike Vine from Canada won the overall in 1:51:09. Walsh’s winning time was 2:03:46, followed by Jimmy Wills (2:06:20) and Todd Gottfried (2:06:49). Tobin, the reigning 40-44 XTERRA National Champ, edged out training buddy and friend Laura Home (who won both the USA and World Championships in the 30-34 division last year). Rhonda Figone placed third.

XTERRA age-group phenom Hans Dieben won his third XTERRA Points Series race of the year in the 65+ division and leads all other competitors in the overall points series standings with 225 points.

For complete results click here.

GRIESER/DARBY WIN GATOR TERRA: Kyle Grieser from Marble Falls, Texas and Kristi Darby from Baton Rouge, Louisiana won the 11th annual XTERRA Gator Terra race in Ruston, Louisiana on Saturday.

Grieser finished more than four minutes ahead of runner-up Mike Carter from Austin, TX (Patrice Lhommeau finished third). Darby was nearly 10-minutes faster than the second place female – Christiane Reetz from Boerne, Texas (Ronnie Barlow was third).

For complete results click here.