Source: XTERRA // filed: November 10 2006
THIS WEEK: The world of XTERRA just got a little bit cooler with the announcement of the XTERRA Winter World Championship, Nico Pfitzenmaier is honored for his humanitarian efforts, Scott Tinley joins Ned Overend in the XTERRA Hall of Fame, and runners chase after a turkey in the XTERRA Scramble Trail Run Series finale.
UPCOMING RACES:
Nov. 25 - XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot Scramble
XTERRA'S WINTER WORLDS: "For more then ten years we have been growing the "Summer" multisport and endurance pieces of XTERRA and all along our competitors, friends and family have asked us to produce some XTERRA fun in the Winter," said TEAM Unlimited CEO Tom Kiely.
In collaboration with the Utah Sports Commission, TEAM Unlimited is doing just that, as it will produce the inaugural XTERRA Winter World Championship in Utah's mountains during the winter of 2008. Open to pro and amateur athletes the Winter Championship will offer both single stage races [Nordic ski, snow bike, and snow run] as well as a multisport version with a triathlon-like format.
"You could not have picked a more ideal location to launch the Winter Championship than Utah," said Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. "We've successfully hosted the summer version of XTERRA and are excited to showcase to the world what our state can offer to XTERRA's winter competitors."
In addition to the three main activities there will be demo events with ice climbing, bobsledding, snowboarding, skating and downhill skiing, and a festival atmosphere with music, kids events and other activities.
"We are designing the XTERRA Winter Championship to be both fun and challenging and Utah is the perfect location not only because of its beauty, Olympic legacy and facilities, but also because the Utah community is so great to work with. After joining forces with the Utah Sports Commission and Weber County to produce the XTERRA Mountain Championship this summer we realized it was a terrific alliance and we're eager to do more great things with Utah in the future," said Kiely.
Exact dates and locations have yet to be announced, but the event will most likely be held between January and March of 2008 in the Ogden area. TEAM Unlimited will produce two feature-television shows that will showcase the Championship and other lifestyle sport activities from across the state and the shows will be nationally syndicated on ABC, NBS, CBS and FOX affiliates.
"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.
XTERRA WARRIOR: Every year at the World Championship in Maui XTERRA honors an individual that has shown exceptional courage, heart and spirit in their lives. This year's XTERRA Warrior award went to Nico Pfitzenmaier, a professional racer who has admirably focused his own athletic endeavors into an awareness building campaign for the kids in Mozambique.
How it came to be: In 2004 after racing the Ironman in Kona, Nico spontaneously decided to come to Maui to race in the XTERRA World Championship. He instantly fell in love with the sport and described his experience by saying, "When I crossed the finish line, I had a big smile on my face and knew I had found my sport!"
After that first XTERRA race, at the age of 33, Nico fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a full-time pro and traveled around the world training and racing in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. Through his travels Nico saw a lot of poverty and was moved by the poor and suffering children.
"I realized that I was so fortunate to be healthy, to have an education, a job...I could travel and do the sport I like. We all take this for granted," said Pfitzenmaier.
Sohe decided to help and got involved with a project for poor children in Mozambique and created a website called competingtohelpkids.com.
Nico's mission: to raise publicity and awareness forthe website where people can learn about children in need and how they can help. Through Competing to Help Kids, donations help build schools in the countryside of Mozambique, fund an educational program for girls, and help build a home for orphans.
A look at Mozambique reveals the importance of Nico's cause. Situated on Africa's Southeastern Coast, Mozambique rates among the 10 poorest countries in the world. Over 1/3 of the children in Mozambique never get a chance to attend school.
Helping others brings an important balance to training and competing, which Nico admits, can sometimes be a selfish endeavor. He says that "We cannot accomplish much in this world, but with the help of others, we can make something good happen."
For making something good happen for the children of Mozambique and for embodying the true spirit of XTERRA, Nico Pfitzenmaier was recognized as the 2006 XTERRA Warrior award winner. He also finished 10th overall, and top German, in the 2006 XTERRA World Championship race and raised nearly a $1,000 for the cause by passing around a collection jar at the post-race dinner.
Past XTERRA Warrior award winners include Bryan Medrano (2003), "One-Arm" Willie Stewart (2004) and Dr. John Mills (2005).
TINLEY'S TIME: On the eve of the XTERRA World Championship on the luau grounds of the Maui Prince Hotel, triathlon legend Scott Tinley was named the second inductee into the XTERRA Hall of Fame. Long-time managing director of the XTERRA Global Tour, Dave "Kahuna" Nicholas, explains why:
In 1996, Scott competed in XTERRA's inaugural event, known as Aquaterra at the time.That day, he finished in 4th place and went on to finish in the top 10 in both 1997 and ‘98. But more than just an athlete, Scott was one of the early ambassadors for the sport.
When XTERRA was invented, we knew that to have a world-class event we needed world-class athletes.Tinley was among the first to get a call and was at the sharp end of getting athletes to Maui that frankly, we might never have been able to convince.When you look at the high level pro's that came 10 years ago, it is far more impressive than what one, solitary, unusual race with a $5,000 prize list should have attracted.Jimmy Riccitello, Mike Pigg, Wes Hobson, Ray Browning, Pat Brown, Scott Molina, Emilio Desoto, Jeff Devlin, Kenny Glah, Paul Huddle, Michellie Jones, Paula Newby, Sian Welch, Karen Smeyers and more I probably can't remember.A lot of that participation is because of ST.
After that first Aquaterra Tinley campaigned in the Hawaiian Mountain Tour bike race in Hawaii to promote XTERRA and convince mountain bikers and triathletes alike that this new sport was available to all. Near the end of his career, he helped found and develop the sport of off-road triathlon and continues to co-own and manage the longest running off-road triathlon in the world...named...What Else?Scott Tinley's Dirty Adventures.
So, for his many contributions and influence on the sport...we salute Scott Tinley as a 2006 inductee into the XTERRA Hall of Fame.
Note: Tinley also competed in the XTERRA World Championship this year for the first time since placing 25th in 2000, and finished 44th in the men's pro division.Ned Overend was the inaugrual inductee last year.
CATCH THE TURKEY: The final event of the 2006 XTERRA Scramble Trail Run Series takes place on the scenic trails of Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park on Saturday, November 25th with three distances to choose from: 5K, 10K & 15K.
If you gobble gobbled your heart out this Thanksgiving Holiday, the XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot Scramble is the perfect remedy for you. It's an off-road, outside the lines, extraordinary trail-running race for anyone and everyone looking to get some exercise and have fun in nature.
Now in it's 25th year, this race has become as traditional as pumpkin pie and for the last two years it's been said to have the "Best Post Event Party" by LA Sports & Fitness Magazine.
The 5K features a "Huge Scramblin' Turkey" for the children to chase (it's really a man in a turkey suit, but shhh, don't tell the kids) and the 10K and 15K are ideal for competitive runners who simply want to escape from the city and enjoy the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains. The rugged courses are staged on a fusion of fire-roads and single-track trails that begin and end at Trippet Ranch and the 15K participants take a loop on the lovely Garapito Trail.
Awards are given to the overall male and female winners as well as the top 3 males and females for each age group. Proceeds from this, and every SoCal Scramble event, benefit the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Founded in 1901, the hospital has been treating the most seriously ill and injured children in Los Angeles for more than a century.