Pelham, AL to Host Southeast Championship

PELHAM SELECTED TO HOST NISSAN XTERRA SOUTHEAST CHAMPIONSHIP
International Race Series Stops in Shelby County June 10-11

Pelham, March 16, 2006 – Shelby County and the City of Pelham announced today that the Nissan XTERRA off-road triathlon series, with 100 races in 17 countries, including more than 50 U.S. races, has selected Oak Mountain State Park for the site of its Southeast Championship and accompanying festivities on June 10 and 11. 

Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock and City of Pelham Mayor Bobby Hayes said they expect to have athletes representing more than 30 states and a dozen countries racing in Pelham.  The off-road triathlon is comprised of three disciplines including a 1.5-kilometer (0.93-mile) swim in Double Oak Lake, followed by a 30k (18.6-miles) mountain bike that traverses rolling hills, stream crossings and rock-strewn paths, and a 10k (6.2 miles) trail run that leads competitors through the woods and back on singletrack routes.

“Bringing the XTERRA Race to Pelham is a great win for us and proof that Oak Mountain State Park has some of the finest trails for running and biking in the United States. We look forward to extending our southern hospitality to all participants,” said City of Pelham Mayor Bobby Hayes.

Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock said, “Shelby County’s diverse outdoor recreational venues make it an ideal location for numerous national and regional competitions. XTERRA’S Southeast Championship combined with the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedaler’s “BUMP ‘n Grind” mountain bike race on June 4th will provide enthusiasts with an incredible back-to-back weekend featuring some of the top athletes in the Country. XTERRA events are located in some of the premier park systems in the world, and now its participants will experience an impressive State Park in Shelby County of that same caliber.  Competitors and spectators alike will be able to see first hand why our county has become a destination for families and for outdoor recreation.”
 
Randall Naccari, President of the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) says, “As a non-profit all volunteer organization, BUMP is dedicated to building multi-use trails that benefit the community as a whole. Thus, we are very excited that XTERRA has chosen Oak Mountain and our mountain bike trail for their venue. It speaks volumes about the hard work our volunteers put into this trail, and the economic impact a well-designed mountain bike trail can bring to the community. Several of our members will be participating in this event as well.” Shelby County has partnered with BUMP to enhance and maintain the biking course.

2006 marks the 11th consecutive year of expansion for XTERRA, and the sixth year of racing in the Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series.  The competition, exposure, and enthusiasm for the sport have never been greater. 

“We needed a venue for XTERRA in the South and we found a gem in Pelham,” said XTERRA Managing Director Dave Nicholas.  “Oak Mountain State Park provides a world-class course in a vibrant setting for our athletes, and a really fun place to visit for all their friends and family coming along for the ride.  We think Shelby County is a terrific place to promote a healthy, active, outdoors lifestyle for visitors and residents alike, and that’s what we are all about.”

Professionals will compete in Pelham for a $20,000 prize purse and to earn points towards the U.S. series’ $70,000 purse.  The USA championship is October 1 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada followed by the World Championship in Makena, Maui October 29.

XTERRA is about more than just racing.  The weekend is filled with events for outdoor enthusiasts and their families including the XTERRA Scramble off-road trail runs, XTERRA Duathlon, XTERRA Kids off-road triathlon, the Nissan Kids Base Camp with free activities for all kids, a Paul Mitchell professional hair Cut-a-thon for charity, climbing wall, free clinics taught by the pros, an expo area with music and displays and more.  The race will also be held in conjunction with the Buster Britton Memorial road triathlon on June 10 and those athletes who choose to compete in both the Buster Britton and the XTERRA race will be entered in the “Bama Slamma Double Competition”.  The XTERRA Village is open Saturday, June 10 & Sunday, June 11, and admission to the event is free.

Besides Pelham, the U.S. Championship series makes stops in Temecula, CA; Richmond, VA; Milwaukee, WI, and Ogden, UT. The Global Tour includes championships in Saipan, New Zealand, South Africa, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria, Japan, Brazil, Denmark, France, Mexico, Spain and Germany.

Last year XTERRA won the award for “Best Adventure Race,” and the year before it was named “Event of the Year” at the Competitor Endurance Sports Awards (the nation’s premier awards banquet for running, cycling, triathlon, and multisport).  In addition, the XTERRA East Championship in Richmond has been voted “Best Triathlon” twice in the last three years by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.

TEAM Unlimited, a Hawaii-based television events and marketing company, owns and produces XTERRA - the most prestigious off-road multisport race in the world with more than 10,000 competitors, ages 13-65, from all 50 states and more than 30 countries.

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC