Source: XTERRA // filed: December 07 2006
THIS WEEK: We take a look at the tentative schedule for the 2007 XTERRA Global Tour andlearn more about the inaugural race in Argentina, the big prize purse at XTERRA Italy (new home to the XTERRA European Championship), and the debut airing of the 2006 XTERRA USA Championship Show.
LOOKING AHEAD:In just over two months the season will get started in Argentina, the first of a record 20 championship events leading up to the XTERRA World Championship. At each race there will be 34 slots to Maui up for grabs, given to the top age groupers in each division.
Date - Event (Location)
2/17 - XTERRA Argentina Championship(Cordoba)
3/17 - XTERRA Saipan Championship (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands)
4/14 - XTERRA New Zealand Championship (Rotorua)
4/14 - XTERRA South Africa Championship (Grabouw, Western Cape)
5/20 - XTERRA West Championship* (Temecula, CA)
TBD - XTERRA France^ (TBD)
5/27 - XTERRA Italy^ (European Championship) Sardinia
6/10 - XTERRA Southeast Championship* (Pelham, AL)
6/17 - XTERRA East Championship* (Richmond, VA)
7/7 - XTERRA Czech Championship^ (Hluboka nad Vltavou)
7/28 - XTERRA Spain Championship^ (Bakio, Euskadi)
8/18 - XTERRA Denmark Championship^ (Arhus, Jutland)
8/18 - XTERRA Mountain Championship* (Ogden, UT)
8/25 - XTERRA Brazil Championship (Ilhabela)
8/25 - XTERRA Japan Championship (Marunuma)
8/25 - XTERRA Austria Championship^ (Carinthia)
9/2 - XTERRA UK Championship^ (Neath Valley, Wales)
9/8 - XTERRA Germany Championship^ (Titisee)
9/8 - XTERRA Costa Rica Championship (TBD)
9/30 - XTERRA USA Championship* (Incline Village, NV)
10/28 - XTERRA World Championship (Makena, Maui, HI)
* XTERRA America Tour
^ XTERRA European Tour
XTERRA Argentina: The 2007 XTERRA season will start in Villa Carlos Paz, a small village located in the Cordoba province of Argentina in southern South America. Cordoba is the second largest city in the country and the race site is just a half-hour drive time from the Cordoba International Airport.
The location is a hot spot with visitors spending their summer holidays (December-March) basking in the sun. The course itself boasts the traditional XTERRA championship distances with a 1.5k swim, 30k mountain bike, and 10k trail run. The terrain is said to be hilly with beautiful landscapes (see www.villacarlospaz.gov.ar) and the race website is up -www.xterraargentina.com.ar - but only in Spanish (English version coming soon).
Noted Argentinean triathlete Oscar Galíndez (1st place, Ironman Florianópolis, Brasil 2006 - 13th place, Ironman Hawaii 2006 - 2nd place XTERRA Brasil 2006) has already confirmed his participation.
XTERRA European Championship: In 2007 XTERRA Italy has the honor of hosting the European Tour Championship, which boasts a 25,000 Euro Pro purse. It's also moving to a new spot - Cala Ginepro in the Orosei District of Sardinia - one of the most beautiful and famous seaside towns in Italy.
The race will take place inside Bidderosa Park - a protected land base fronting white sand beaches and granite cliffs formed by the wind and sea. For details check out xterraitaly.itor write info@xterraitaly.it
XTERRA TV: The 2006 Nissan Xterra USA Championship begins its run in national syndication on Friday in Dayton, Ohio and makes its way to TV screens in Michigan and Utah over the weekend. The 2006 race broke the mold with Melanie McQuaid snapping Jamie Whitmore's 4-year winning streak and Seth Wealing becoming the first American in the six-year history of the event to win the race. See when the show's on in your hometown here.
December 8, 2006
2:00-3:00 pm
MVC (IND)
Dayton, OH
December 9, 2006
2:00-3:00 pm
WXSP (MY)
Grand Rapids, MI
December 9, 2006
1:30-2:30 pm
WILX (NBC)
Lansing, MI
December 10, 2006
1:00-2:00 pm
KSL (NBC)
Salt Lake City, UT