Snowbasin to host national mountain triathalon
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By JEFF DEMOSS
Standard-Examiner staff
jdemoss@standard.net
OGDEN -- Officials are celebrating an announcement that Ogden Valley will provide the backdrop for the nation's premier mountain triathlon next September.
Team Unlimited, the owner and producer of the Xterra Off-Road Triathlon Series, said next year's national championship race will be held at Snowbasin for the first time.
Snowbasin has been the host of regional Xterra Mountain Championship triathlons for the past three years.
In March of this year, the resort hosted the first Xterra Winter World Championship.
Next year's triathlon will determine both men's and women's national champions, who will earn more than $100,000 in combined prize money.
The event has been held in Incline Village, Nev., for the past eight years.
"Utah has developed a tremendous reputation for both great racing and warm hospitality," said Tom Kiely, chief executive of Team Unlimited.
"This is a win-win for both the state and Xterra."
The nonprofit Utah Sports Commission negotiated with Team Unlimited to bring the race to Snowbasin.
Commission President and CEO Jeff Robbins said past Xterra events have generated a combined $12 million in economic impact and media exposure to the state.
He said securing the biggest Xterra race in the nation "continues to highlight that sports are a key driver of economic impact and image building for the state of Utah."
As part of the agreement, Team Unlimited will produce two half-hour television programs highlighting Utah's outdoor recreation opportunities.
It also will film the triathlon and edit it into a one-hour special.
All three programs will air nationwide before a combined audience of more than 6 million, said Kiely.
The Sports Commission is tripling its sponsorship of Xterra from $25,000 to $75,000.
Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey said the event is a great way to showcase the city as a center for high-adventure recreation activities.
"We intend to show the best off-road triathletes in the country an incredible course, along with a great time," Godfrey said.
The triathlon consists of a one-mile swim in Pineview Reservoir, a 20-mile mountain bike ride gaining 3,000 feet of altitude from the valley floor to Snowbasin, and a six-mile trail run.
The Xterra USA Championship weekend is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 25-26, 2009.
It will be held in conjunction with the Mountain 2 Metro games in Ogden.
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