Win your region, qualify for Maui.   It’s been a mantra for scores of amateur off-roaders across the nation taking part in this year’s XTERRA America Tour.

With just eight races remaining, including six this weekend, there are still 150+ regional championship titles up for grabs.

Only 11 athletes have scored the maximum amount of points (325) so far.  They are Steve Cole (SE, 60-64 – pictured below), Heather Horton (Mtn, 15-19 – pictured above), Kelli Montgomery (NE, 40-44), Marcus Barton (SE, 45-49), Margo Pitts (SE, 50-54), Linda Usher (NE, 65-69), Caleb Baity (SE, 20-24), Tamara Tabeek (W, 55-59), Katarina Marks (Mtn, 20-24), Libby Harrow (Mtn, 65-69), and Rodger Bivens (W, 75+).

On tap this weekend is a classic in Incline Village, Nevada (XTERRA Lake Tahoe) where the course routes through the famous Flume Trail, a wild ride in McCall, Idaho (XTERRA Wild Ride), a trip to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota (XTERRA Iron Creek), a jaunt through the Tigers den in Alabama (XTERRA Auburn), a rugged challenge in Alpena, Michigan (XTERRA Rockport Rugged), and one in the thin air of Colorado (XTERRA Winter Park).

The final two races of the season are next weekend at XTERRA Buffalo Creek in Bailey, CO and XTERRA Ionia in Michigan.

Shortly after that XTERRA will release the honor roll of 2016 XTERRA Regional Champions and send them all invites to the XTERRA World Championship in Maui on October 23.  Winners also have the option to defer the entry to the 2017 race.

Then it is time for the XTERRA USA Championship race, held in conjunction with the inaugural XTERRA Pan Am Championship at Snowbasin Resort near Ogden, Utah on Sept. 17.

This year, for the first-time ever, everyone is invited to race for the one-day XTERRA USA and Pan America Championship crowns.  What has historically been an invite-only race just for U.S. citizens racing in the America Tour is now an open-to-everyone XTERRA USA / Pan American Championship event, and there are 50 qualifying spots to Maui to the fastest in each division.

The challenge mixes a 1.5km swim in Pineview Reservoir with a 28km mountain bike ride that climbs roughly 3,400-feet to Snowbasin Resort followed by a 10km trail run to the finish.

The fastest racers to knock off all three disciplines in each age group will be honored as the XTERRA Pan American Champion, and the fastest American in each of those divisions will be celebrated as XTERRA’s U.S. National Champion.

Opening up the race to all comers means one can expect all the fast cats from Canada, and all over the world for that matter, to converge on Ogden for a shot at the crown and a chance to race on one of the World Tour’s most challenging and scenic courses.

XTERRA is also hosting a new, Pan-America themed after-party at Hub801 in downtown Ogden with food and drinks that come with the price of entry (not to mention the great lunch with every entry right after the race at Snowbasin Resort).

In addition to the one-day titles XTERRA will also honor the America Tour’s regional champions and the inaugural Pan America Tour Champions with custom long-sleeve tech shirts, and unveil this year’s Mr./Mrs. XTERRA award winners.

Combine all the great racing action with the epic facilities and the most supportive community you’ll ever find for a triathlon and you’ve got an event not to be missed.

Sign-up today, and join in the excitement of the new XTERRA USA/Pan American Championship race on the tried-and-true grounds of Ogden, Utah.  www.xterrautah.com.

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