The XTERRA Pan American / USA Championship on September 7 at Snowbasin Resort near Ogden, Utah is the culmination of a series of off-road triathlons spanning South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States, and is open to everyone.
The off-road triathlon begins with a one-mile swim in Pineview Reservoir (4,900-feet elevation), follows with an 18-mile mountain bike leg that climbs more than 3,000-feet to the top of Sardine Peak (7,300-feet elevation), and culminates with a 7-mile trail run featuring another 600-feet of climbing on trails around Snowbasin Resort in the Wasatch Range.
There is also half-distance sprint off-road triathlon and relay-team options where athletes can join together to conquer the course.
Held at the most beautiful apex of the year, while summer is gracefully yielding to autumn, the XTERRA Pan Am / USA Championship honors the fastest athletes in each five-year age group categories as the XTERRA Pan Am Champion, and the fastest American in each of those divisions is celebrated as XTERRA’s U.S. National Champion.
Elites compete for $80,000 in prize money, and cameramen position themselves around Wheeler Canyon and the Wasatch Range to capture all the action for a nationally syndicated XTERRA Adventures TV show that exposes the beauty of northern Utah to the masses.
“XTERRA is one of the events that truly highlights Utah’s beauty and will showcase one of Utah’s Olympic and world class venues at Snowbasin Resort,” said Jeff Robbins, president & CEO of the Utah Sports Commission.
In addition to Saturday’s race, the XTERRA Trail Run National Championshiphalf-marathon on Sunday features scenic views, technical trails, and big climbs. The half-marathon, plus the 5K and 10K trail runs, are open to everyone, and it’s important to note that you don’t have to be fast to join in the fun. For some, it’s just about finishing and that’s okay as XTERRA is all about perpetuating the healthy, active, outdoors lifestyle.
XTERRA will also host an expo in downtown Ogden on Friday with free run and bike races for kids, a full-on Kids Zone, SUUNTO demos, triathlon clinics, the Paul Mitchell hair cut-a-thon for charity, and more.
Learn more at https://www.xterraplanet.com/panam
