Latest News
Inaugural Buffalo Pound XTERRA Shows Racers Not All of Saskatchewan is Flat
June 12, 2011
BUFFALO POUND, SK – Under absolute perfect conditions the first ever Buffalo Pound Xterra hosted 76 racers competing in 3 different race categories, The Full distance race featured a 1000m swim, a 21.5k bike, and a 9k run, the Sport category presented a half distance race with a bit more “friendly” bike and run, and the Team category racing the same course as the Full distance.The jewel of the race was the one loop, 21.5k mountain bike course. Visitors to the area were probably thinking to themselves as they rode up the paved hill and then on to a gravel road, “So I drove this far to ride pavement and gravel !”. This sentiment was short lived as they were introduced to “Terminator,” an unrelenting trail of climb, and grind, and tree dodging. After that section it was more sweet, technical single track that carved through the trees and valleys throughout the Park. All out of Province riders were amazed with the terrain, and the unrelenting flow of the single track that existed in this race.
The run also held a surprise of 1250ft in elevation gain, more big hills, and more single track running through the trees and valleys edge. At about 4km runners must have said “you’ve got to be kidding” as they looked skyward at the daunting “ski jump” landing area. On hands and feet most scrambled up this 300 foot wall only to met with more climbing until they finally reached the top of the valley. Runners then were back down the valley and dumped into the “creek bottom” to run an awesome, rocky, sandy and sometimes wet track before finishing back at transition. This is one race that all of the competitors truly did feel like winners, it was them vs. the course, not each other.
Overall winner was XTERRA Champion, Cal Zaryski from Calgary, with a blistering time of 2 hours and 17 minutes. Beverly Watson was first female in a time 3 hours 25 minutes. "This race course was so well marked, it resembled a World Championship. The terrain was super exciting with the perfect combination of technical, unridable, super fast and super fun flowy trails. It was so much fun! It should be a must do for all XTERRA athletes in Canada!" Calvin Zaryski.
The race also offered a half distance race catered to newbie’s in off road triathlons presenting them with a shorter, less technical, bike and run. Winners of the Sport race were Kevin Sutton in a time of 1 hour 10 minutes and Teara McLeod in a time of 1 hour and 20 minutes. Congratulations to all participants and especially to the 5 soles who chose this race to be their first ever triathlon.
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XTERRA Canada Launches Midweek Mountain Bike Series at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary
May 26, 2011
CALGARY, AB – XTERRA Canada will be partnering with sponsors ATB Financial and Sport Chek this summer to present a midweek mountain bike race series on the eastland trails at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary. Kicking off on June 9th and running every Thursday evening through July 28th, the series will offer Calgary area mountain bikers a convenient and affordable opportunity to test their legs and hone their technical skills on a weekly basis. The open category race series will feature both an “A” race for elite racers (approx. 12km) and a more recreational “B” race (approx. 6km) each week on alternating courses that will be laid out by Winsport Canada in the eastland trail system at Canada Olympic Park. Also available will be a free mountain bike skills clinic a half hour before the racing kicks off each Thursday night. Cost to racers will be $40 for the 8 weeks. Weekly drop-in registrations are also available for $10 per race.
EVENT
ATB Financial Midweek MTB Series Presented by Sport Chek
DATES
Thursday evenings, June 9th through July 28th
LOCATION
Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, AB
TIME
6:00 pm to 6:45 pm - Rider registration and sign-in (COP Day Lodge)
6:30 pm to 6:45 pm - Free MTB skills clinic (meet at start-finish area)
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Race (start / finish just east of ski jump base)
OVERVIEW
“A” race – approx. 12km (two laps)
"B” race – approx. 6km (one lap)
AGES
Open category races (open to all racers aged 7 and up)
REGISTRATION
For a season pass ($40.00) go to www.xterracanada.ca
Weekly race day registration on Eastlands at COP at 6-6:45pm. ($10 per race)
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XTERRA Canada Welcomes Three New Sponsors
We are excited to announce three new partners for the 2011 season! Welcome Sport Chek / Sports Experts (Official Sport Retailers), Jamis Bicycles (Official Bike Sponsor) and Salomon (Official Footwear Sponsor) to the XTERRA Canada family! Sport Chek will also be the new title sponsor of the XTERRA Canadian National Championships which will once again be hosted at the beautiful Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler this September. XTERRA racers can look forward to plenty of great prizing and goodies courtesy of these sponsors this season. Keep an eye out for Sport Chek, Jamis and Salomon at all of our events this summer and be sure to thank them for their generous support of offroad multi-sport racing in Canada.
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Nina Lake Lodge Offers Discount to Nationals Participants
Whistler, BC - It is not too early to start thinking Nationals! The Sport Chek XTERRA Canadian Open Championships will once again be presented by the fabulous Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler, BC. XTERRA participants who book before June 30th are eligible for a special $149/night rate. Booking code is XTERRA.
For more information visit contact Nina Lake Lodge
