“So…You gonna try and tap it?”

She had one of those perma-smiles on her face as she walked into my office for the first time.  We met online and had chatted a few times before deciding to go out and tonight was the night.   As she sat down at my desk I had no clue what a memorable night it would turn out to be.  Who knew that I would soon receive a slightly racist nickname as well as the shock of my life!

She’s from The O.C. and asked if we could go to Downtown Disney to walk around, talk and grab some dinner.  “Absolutely,” I replied.  “Where would you like to meet?”  She asked if she could meet me at my office, which was halfway between her place and the Happiest Place on Earth.

We climbed into my Xterra and headed north on Harbor Blvd., bypassing the parking for Disneyland and California Adventure, and grabbed a decent spot near the entrance to Downtown Disney.  We walked a bit, bopping in and out of several stores and having nice first date conversation.  After a bit I asked her if she was hungry and she said that she was.  There were a myriad of restaurants there and she asked if I minded going to Tortilla Jo’s Cantina.

“Seriously?” I asked.  “Yeah.  Why?” She responded.  I was trying to find a nice way to say what I had to say, but there was no way I could, so I just blurted it out.  “Well, uh, you’re Mexican and as a gringo I can say with almost absolute certainty that this place will not have real Mexican food.”

“Oh bolillo,” (pronounced bo-LEE-yoh) she exclaimed.  “I’m here with you and I want you to go Mexican tonight!”  Wow!  My expectations for the night just went way, way up.  She was cute and I will admit that I had already wondered what it would be like to “go Mexican” with her, but as it was a first date and considering I am generally a pretty nice guy, I hadn’t put too much thought into it.  Until now.  For the record, “bolillo” means “white bread”.

We made our way to the hostess stand and were seated at a quiet table in the corner.  It was a chilly Southern California fall evening (probably all of 50) and she wanted to avoid the patio and stay inside where it was “toasty”.  We ordered margaritas and looked over the menu, trying to decide what looked good.  The more I thought about what she said earlier, the more I decided that she was looking good, but I was still playing it cool.  For now.

We ordered our food and munched on chips and salsa and got another pitcher of margaritas.  We started eating and I honestly have no clue what was said to get her on this next topic, because neither sex nor anything sexual was ever brought up in any of our conversations.   Right after I put a bite of chile relleno in my mouth, as if on cue, she very casually mentioned that she was a virgin.

I quickly swallowed my food, looked up and said, “No shit?”  She looked a bit surprised at my response.  I apologized and said, “Let me rephrase that.  Seriously?”  “Of course,” she said with a giggle.  “I told you that I was never married.”

Now, I’m certainly not a prude, but neither am I a man whore and I have to admit that I was more than a bit shocked.  I looked over at her with bewilderment and took a long drink of my margarita.  Actually, I killed the whole glass and was pouring another as I asked, “So.  How did you manage that?”

She went on to explain that she had never been married and had been in only one serious relationship and that she was Catholic, which meant that she knew it was a sin to have sexual relations outside of marriage.  I tried my best not to laugh out loud and as I tried to suppress my laughter she asked what was so funny.  I told her that she should not take what I was saying the wrong way, but I asked her if she knew the reputation that Catholic schoolgirls have.  She said that she had heard that some engage in “relations” before they’re married.

“Some engage in relations?”  I asked, completely surprised by her answer.  “I went to school right up the street from St. Josephs and we used to call them The Ho’s from St. Joes”.  Catholic girls are stereotypically easy and I ended up with the 36-Year-Old Virgin?  I know that I’m gonna sound like an ass when I say this, but the next thing that went through my mind was, “I guess I’m not going Mexican tonight.”

Somehow we managed to change topics and finish our meal.  After dinner we walked around a bit more, grabbed some coffee and dessert and found a bench with a good view of the Disneyland fireworks.  As we sat there she reached over and took my hand and as she did I looked at her and saw that perma-smile still on her face.  I smiled back and after the show was over we walked hand in hand back to my car.  I gave her a kiss on the cheek as we departed and we decided to go out again a couple nights later.

I watched her climb into her teal Mustang and as I drove home I had a hard time shaking my newfound knowledge.   I reasoned that I hadn’t actually planned on having sex with her on the first date, so it was really no loss at that point.   I got home, jumped online, checked a few e-mails and saw that my friend “The Kings Fan” was online, so I shared the story with him.  Almost immediately he responded in typical dude fashion:  “No shit?  So…you gonna try and tap it?”

J.R.

According to XTERRA, the Southeast  and Northwest Cups will be added to the schedule shortly.

April 25 – XTERRA West Cup, Lake Las Vegas, NV

May 23 – XTERRA South Central Cup, Waco, TX

June 6 – XTERRA Northwest Cup, Farragut, ID

June 13 – XTERRA Southeast Cup, Pelham, AL

June 20 – XTERRA Atlantic Cup, Richmond, VA

July 17 – XTERRA Mountain Cup, Beaver Creek, CO

Dave “Big Kahuna” Nichols has confirmed the imminent demise of the Midwest and Northeast Cups due to poor attendance and lack of sponsorship. Kahuna mentioned the possibility of increasing the points for races in those regions and/or finding new venues.

XTERRA has comfirmed dates and locations of four of the XTERRA US Cup Races. The most significant news is the South Central Cup moves from Little Rock, AR to Waco, TX. There is still no news regarding the remaining cup races, although there are rumors that there could be major changes to the Northeast and Northwest Cups.

April 25 – XTERRA West Cup, Lake Las Vegas, NV

May 23 – XTERRA South Central Cup, Waco, TX

June 20 – XTERRA Atlantic Cup, Richmond, VA

July 17 – XTERRA Mountain Cup, Beaver Creek, CO

The following was passed on to me from a friend.  This is a great demonstration of how good copywriting can target, engage and sell.  My guess is that this guy got plenty of calls this Craig’s List ad … yep, an online classifieds ad!:

OK, let me start off by saying this Xterra is only available for purchase by the manliest of men (or women). My friend, if it was possible for a vehicle to sprout chest hair and a five o’clock shadow, this Nissan would look like Tom Selleck. It is just that manly.

It was never intended to drive to the mall so you can pick up that adorable shirt at Abercrombie & Fitch that you had your eye on. It wasn’t meant to transport you to yoga class or Linens & Things. No, that’s what your Prius is for. If that’s the kind of car you’re looking for, then just do us all a favor and stop reading right now. I mean it. Just stop.

This car was engineered by 3rd degree ninja super-warriors in the highest mountains of Japan to serve the needs of the man that cheats death on a daily basis. They didn’t even consider superfluous nancy boy amenities like navigation systems (real men don’t get lost), heated leather seats (a real man doesn’t let anything warm his butt), or On Star (real men don’t even know what the hell On Star is).

It has room for you and the four hotties you picked up on the way to the gym to blast your pecs and hammer your glutes. There’s a tow hitch to pull your 50 caliber anti-Taliban, self cooling machine gun. I also just put in a new windshield to replace the one that got shot out by The Man.

My price on this bad boy is an incredibly low $12,900, but I’ll entertain reasonable offers. And by reasonable, I mean don’t walk up and tell me you’ll give me $5,000 for it. That’s liable to earn you a Burmese-roundhouse-sphincter-kick with a follow up three fingered eye-jab. Would it hurt? Hell yeah. Let’s just say you won’t be the prettiest guy at the Coldplay concert anymore.

There’s only 69,000 miles on this four-wheeled hellcat from Planet Kickass. Trust me, it will outlive you and the offspring that will carry your name. It will live on as a monument to your machismo.

Now, go look in the mirror and tell me what you see. If it’s a rugged, no holds barred, super brute he-man macho Chuck Norris stunt double, then contact me. I might be out hang-gliding or BASE jumping or just chilling with my ladies, but I’ll get back to you. And when I do, we’ll talk about a price over a nice glass of Schmidt while we listen to Johnny Cash.

To sweeten the deal a little, I’m throwing in this pair of MC Hammer pants for the man with rippling quads that can’t fit into regular pants. Yeah, you heard me. FREE MC Hammer pants.

 Rock on.

Author: Tom Flynn III
http://www.lessingflynn.com/

Off-Road Exclusive Gray/Red Cloth

2010 Nissan Xterra Off-Road 4×4 in Night Armor at Victoria Nissan

Nissan's 16" Machined-finish aluminum alloy wheels with P265/75R16 BFG Rugged Trail T/A tires

Easy to reach controls for the Shift on the Fly 4x4, Hill Decent Control, Hill Start Assist, and the Electronic Locking Rear Differential

Rockford Fosgate High Output Audio System with 9 speakers and subwoofer - including 6-disc CD changer and auxillary iPod plug in

The 2010 Nissan Xterra 4×4 Off-Road is here at Victoria Nissan in Victoria, Texas. Always one of the harder Nissans to find, the Xterra Off-Road combines the Xterra’s everyday practicality with rugged off-road performance. Powering this Xterra is Nissan’s 261 hp V-6, a heavy-duty truck version of the same engine found in the Nissan Z. This Xterra puts all this power to the road through a heavy-duty Jayco 5-speed automatic transmission. 

The 4-wheel drive system on this Off-Road has 5 features to help you on icy streets or rugged mountain trails.

1. Locking Rear Differential – A switch on the dash activates the electronic locking rear differential. This allows equal power to be sent to the rear wheels, boosting traction and powering your Xterra forward.
2. Hill Start Assist – Prevents you from rolling backward when starting from a stop on an incline. Let’s you focus on the road ahead and not what’s behind you.
3. Hill Descent Control – This technology automatically adjusts your speed and brake pressure to let you go downhill at a controlled speed.
4. Shift on the Fly – Shift from 2 wheel drive to four-wheel drive at speeds up to 62 MPH with just a turn of a knob. Nice when that icy patch shows up on the highway ahead.
5. Vehicle Dynamic Control – uses advanced electronic systems to help you in emergency situations – more

Other Off-Road Performance Enhancements:

• Roof rack mounted off-road lights
• Bilstein off-road performance shocks
• Skid plates protecting transfer case, oil pan, and fuel tank
• P265 BFG Rugged Trail T/A tires on special 16in aluminum wheels

In addition to packing a ton of power and performance technology, the 2010 Nissan Xterra 4×4 Off-Road has a long list of features to make everyday driving a blast. Let the tunes play with a high output Rockford Fosgate audio system with an in dash 6-disc changer, nine speakers and an enclosed subwoofer. There’s even an auxiliary jack to connect with your iPod. The hands-free Bluetooth phone system, lets you answer calls with just the touch of a steering wheel mounted button. The Bluetooth keeps up to 40 phone numbers accessible with the voice activated phone book. When you get lost you won’t need to call anyone since this Xterra has a Garmin nuvi 750 portable navigation system integrated into the dash.

All this equipment is also a great value at Victoria Nissan’s low MSRP  of $31,315. To make the Xterra even more affordable Nissan offers you a choice of $1,500 Customer Cash or financing as low as 0.9%. Great vehicles, loaded with the best equipment, at great prices. That’s what we offer at Victoria Nissan in Victoria, Texas. Call me, Hutch Pine, at 361-533-1205, or email hpine@victorianissan.com with any questions. I’m here to help. I’ll send more photos if you want them. It is snowing for the first time in 4 years so I limited my time outside with the camera.

Victoria Nissan in Victoria, Texas, provides sales and service for new Nissan vehicles. Victoria Nissan also offers a great selection of pre-owned cars and trucks. In addition to new and used cars, Victoria Nissan also services all makes and models. Victoria Nissan is located in Victoria, but we offer a great selection of new and pre-owned vehicles to South Texas, including San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, and McAllen metro areas. You can contact Victoria Nissan at 866-808-7765 or locally at 645-7045. You can also visit our online showroom at www.victorianissan.com or our blog at www.victorianissanblog.com.Victoria Nissan, 6003 N. Navarro, Victoria, Texas 77904

Thirty-two year-old Eneko Llanos joined a select group of athletes when he became a three-time XTERRA World Champion. The native of Vitoria-Gasteviz in Spain’s Basque country is a two-time Olympian (‘oo and ‘04) and former ITU Long Course World Champion. Since his last Olympics in 2004, Llanos has moved his focus to Ironman racing where he has become one of the world’s best. In 2008, he finished 2nd at the Ironman World Championships. This past October, Llanos was favored to win in Kona. However, it was not to be as he struggled to a 14th place finish. He would arrive to Maui dejected but determined to win the Hawaii Double again. After a strong swim, he found himself among the leaders on the bike and would eventually run away from runner-up Nico Lebrun to become the first athlete in the history of XTERRA to win after racing Ironman Hawaii.

Three-time XTERRA World Champion

XS: Why do you race XTERRA? You’ve made a career racing ITU and Ironman and do very well. What is the attraction to racing XTERRA?

EL: I like racing offroad. I like riding my mountain bike and running on trails, so when I first finished an XTERRA I knew this kind of racing was one of my favorites. Apart from that I like the atmosphere at XTERRA races, it is fun.

XS: Looking at your career, which result or accomplishment means the most to you?  

EL: It is hard to pick only one, but my win in 2007 at Ironman Lanzarote is very special for me.

 

Eneko Llanos's XTERRA-winning BH Trail Hunter

XS: Can you talk a little bit about your bike set-up in Maui? I think you were the only one there riding a BH.

EL: I was riding the new BH Trail Hunter. It is a full carbon full-suspension bike. I had a great feeling with this bike, it is light and gives a lot of traction on the climbs and is very fast and stable on the downhills. I honestly think it is the best I could have for Maui.

XS: For you, what is the hardest part of the Maui course?

EL: Not to have a flat or broken bike. I have had two broken tires and a broken chain in the past, this bike course is hard for the bikes.

 

 

XS: What were your training sessions between Kona and Maui?   

EL: I just tried to recover from the Ironman, so not much training during those days and a lot of time on the beach and eating good food.

XS: During the year, do you do any XTERRA specific training or is it mostly Ironman training?   

EL: I like to ride my mountain bike once every week or every two weeks. I do it for fun when I am tired of my road bike, but apart from that nothing really specific for XTERRA.

XS: What is your race calendar for 2010? Will you race any of the XTERRA Europe races?

EL: I am working on my racing schedule right now. I will race in Kona and Maui again for sure, the rest I still have to decide.

Favorite color? Blue
Favorite food? Vegetarian food
Favorite drink? Carrot juice
Favorite movie? The Big Blue
Favorite book? Flow
Favorite race? My city triathlon, Vitoria-Gasteiz
Favorite sport other than triathlon? Surf
Favorite place to vacation? Canary islands and the Pyrenees

Website: http://www.enekollanos.com/index.html

Sponsors: Spiuk, AVIA, BH Bikes, Basque Team, Hed, S.V.C., Sailfish, Mule Bar, Polar, Ascentium, Bulletvan

Some confirmed dates for the America Tour events (Updated 12/04):

April 17 – XTERRA Red River, OK

April 24 – XTERRA West Cup, NV

March 28 – XTERRA Real, CA

May 1 – XTERRA Epic, LA

May 2 – XTERRA Gator Terra, LA

May 2 – XTERRA Uwharrie, NC

May 8 – XTERRA Del Valle, CA

May 23 – XTERRA Waco, TX

May 30 – XTERRA Smith Lake, NC

June 5 – XTERRA Four Corners, NM

June 19 – XTERRA Solstice, OR

June 26 – XTERRA Tahoe City, CA

July 11 – XTERRA EX2, MD

July 17 – XTERRA Hammerman, AK

July 18 – XTERRA Sky High, NY

July 24 – XTERRA DINO Versailles, IN

July 25 – XTERRA Wild Horse Creek, MT

August 1 – XTERRA Snow Valley, CA

August 1 – XTERRA Panther Creek, TN

August 1 – XTERRA Race at the Rez, VT

August 8 – XTERRA Iron Will, AR

August 8 – XTERRA Indian Peaks, CO

August 14 – XTERRA Portland, OR

August 14 – XTERRA B.O.L.T., NE

August 14 – XTERRA DINO Logansport, IN

August 15 – XTERRA Alberta, Canada

August 15 – XTERRA Camp Eagle, TX

August 15 – XTERRA Stoaked, NH

August 22 – XTERRA Lake Placid, NY

August 22- XTERRA Austin, TX

August 22 – XTERRA Charlottesville, VA

August 28 – XTERRA Lake Tahoe, NV

August 29 – XTERRA South Central Cup, AR

August 29 – XTERRA Lory, CO

September 5 – XTERRA Canada

XS: You seem to live a very busy life with your career in the movie industry and racing as a professional triathlete. How do you balance everything?

LP: Man, is it tough to balance?! Sometimes it gets very overwhelming but I do find that one helps the other. The creativity and artistic side of the film business keeps me mentally occupied, while doing all the training and discipline it takes to do all that training provides some good skills for the film business…

However, last winter in particular was super ridiculous as I was working full-time in a bike shop to earn my keep, while putting in a ton of training, coaching ten athletes, and trying to keep my film stuff afloat. I would get up at 4:30am, train in the dark with my lights on, get to work at 10am and stand up on my feet all day. During my breaks, I would take conference calls for my films (take them in the bathroom if I was still on shift!), then finish at 6pm in the shop, do another training session, coach for an hour and arrive back at home around 8:30pm. I’d have dinner, write some coaching programs and fall into bed at 10pm. 7 days a week! Now, it’s a little less manic without working at the bike shop but I’m still managing to fill the hours up!

XS: Maui is a tough course, but seems to suit your strengths (solid swim and bike and strong run). Did this year’s race plan out as you expected?

LP: Yes, it did. I knew it was all going to be about the bike for me, so if I had a strong one, I could be in contention. I got a new coach last year (Vince Fichera) who has really worked on my biking I took 15mins off my time from last year, so that’s what made the difference. The race in general went well for me and I felt strong throughout!

XS: What are your key workouts in the lead up to your big races?

LP: Group road rides with Cat 1 and pro men – there’s plenty of them in San Diego and I suffer like nobody’s business when trying to hold one of their wheels, as they get totally bummed when they can’t drop the wee Scottish lassie!! Also doing long dirt climbs up in the mountains of San Diego – Palomar, etc.

XS: Some of the longtime Xterra pros were saying the bike course was more tame this year, helping the bikers with less technical skills. With that said, is Dibens beatable in Maui?

LP: Yeah, it wasn’t too technical a course but I was prepared for anything that came my way…it suits my style of riding, no doubt! I think it will take a lot to beat Dibens, as she is total class! However, for me, it’s all lost on the bike. I knocked 15mins off my bike time this year compared to last year, so if I can get another 5-6mins over the winter then I could be close ; )

XS: Can you talk a little bit about your bike set-up for Maui? And if you have a picture of it, I’d like to add that to the article.

LP: I was sponsored this year by Ellsworth Bikes and they were very helpful getting me set up for the race. It’s a dual suspension bike that I rode pretty firm. The new thing for me is figuring out tires and tire pressure. I ran tubeless with a psi of 21 on the front and 24 on the back. Pretty soft but it gave me good traction on the rocky/sandy terrain.

XS: What are your plans for 2010? Will you race a full Xterra schedule? Will we see you on the roads (70.3s)?

LP: Yeah, I wanna try and hit up more of the US Tour this year, as well as maybe going for the European Champs. I am definitely going to do more 70.3s because it is good exposure and they’re super fun. I’m hoping to get a sponsored TT bike this year, which will be cool. All my other road triathlons have been done on my seven year old aluminum Specialized road bike with clip-ons!

 Favorite color? Orange

Favorite food? Chocolate- is there anything else?

Favorite drink? Cuppa tea with chocolate to dip in it!

Favorite movie? Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart (of course)

Favorite book? All Quiet on The Western Front (we own the rights and have adapted it into a screenplay)

Favorite race? The ‘Crags Race’ in Scotland – it’s a hill race on New Year’s Day and you get a 6-pack of beer if you win! You have to talk all the way up the hill even if you’re maxed out!

Favorite sport other than triathlon? Rugby – I played it for 4 years as a youngster with all the boys. Guess I like to get dirty!

Favorite place to holiday? Scotland – ‘cos I don’t live there anymore!

Website: www.braveheartfitnesscoaching.com

Sponsors: Skinfit, Compex, Drymax Socks, Ellsworth Bicycles

Thomas J. Vonach, a 37 year old from Schwarzach, Austria won the 35-39 age group at the 2009 XTERRA World Championships. Vonach is better known as a road triathlete, having qualified for the Ironman World Championships 8 consecutive times, and being the boyfriend of triathlon superstar Yvonne Van Vlerken. Earlier this year, he won his age group at Ironman Malaysia in 9:07. However, this powerhouse also has an impressive XTERRA resume, including the Kona-Maui Double in 2006, three 3rd place and two 2nd place finishes in Maui.  He was gracious enough to answer some questions about his training and his attempt at the 2009 Double.

XS: During the year, how do you balance Ironman training with XTERRA training/racing?

TV: We live in Austria and as you all know it is one of the best spots in the world for mountain biking. Of course, most of the training I did this year was focused on road-triathlon, but I try to involve some MTB-sessions into my training. A lot of road bike sessions are with a lot of climbing in it, which also helps me when it comes to XTERRA racing. To be hones,t the specific preparations for the two XTERRAS I did this year were pretty low-key. For Maui, I had an extra week of good training on the MTB as I didn´t finish Kona, which saved my legs for more workouts and a better preparation than if I would have raced for the Double.

XS: You attempted the double this year but Kona didn’t go as you planned. What were your training sessions between Kona and Maui?

TV: First of all I was pretty down because of how Kona went. It was my eighth consecutive race there and I wanted the Double badly. On Sunday after Kona, I unpacked my MTB and on Monday I was out for a ride already and then my desire and motivation came back. I did some rides on the Coffee-road, the belt road above Kona with some climbing, but all on tarmac. Swimming and running included a lot of hard and fast stuff. I could do that as I was fresh and this was probably the key to have the speed and the legs for the title in my age division. Then over in Maui, I had enough time to get in the dirt. Regarding the technical skills, I did one very demanding ride in Kona and the fact that I was a gymnast helps me with the rest when it comes to balance and reaction…

And I would like to mention that it was such a great experience to come to Maui again, meet the XTERRA family and enjoy the vibes there. It did show me where I should race more in the next season. I am a little fed up with the road triathlons, especially because of the increasing drafting. Things that you don´t have to deal with at XTERRA races…!

XS: Do you have key workouts leading up to a big XTERRA race?

TV: I do some rides where I mainly focus on climbing and downhills on the MTB and off-road. The endurance is there from Ironman training and so I can only focus on the very specific parts like off-road biking and trail runs. It´s funny, every time I am running over stones and rocks it reminds me of being a small kid and playing on the stones that are along the smaller streams where we used to go for a swim with our parents. I spend endless hours jumping and running over the bigger and smaller stones sticking out of the water trying not to fall in. Whenever I run on terrain like that, it feels like my body switches to cruise control and remembers this.

XS: You are trained by Mark Allen On-line. How has his training helped you and how is it different from what you have done in the past?

TV: I used to train with Mark in the first half of 2009. Then my former coach Mario Huys was back as the head-coach. I have been training with him now for seven years and he knows me very well. Yvonne van Vlerken, my girlfriend, is also coached by him since 2007. And XTERRA Maui 3rd place Michi Weiss since 2008. Mark Allen is our consultant when it comes to training now and guides us through the year, while Mario is there for us nearly around the clock. Yvonne needs that and I also enjoy the close communication with him. This works best for me!

 I am generally doing more quality workouts now. Very important when you age and you want to stay competitive. This applies to XTERRA racing as well as to the half- and full distance in road triathlon. Keeps you sharp!

XS: When did you take the lead in Maui and when did you know you were going to win your age group?

TV: When I came back on from the bike I was around Sam Gardner just before T2. So I knew I must be doing OK. Yvonne was out on the course working for media and taking pictures for the Austrian and Dutch coverage. When I passed her on the run after 2km, she told me I was 2nd but that I had 2:30 to the leader. This was quite hard news but also a big motivation. I thought that it´s now or never for me and pushed so hard I nearly started to throw up. Then on Makena I was surprised to already see my man with the 35 label on his calf. He was really struggling in the boiling heat. I passed him and knew that he wouldn´t respond. And I also knew that Spooky Forest and Salt and Pepper with the rocks were just ahead of us. If I would have needed it would have been there to decide the race. The last 2km did hurt but it was such a great feeling to enjoy the time to the finish. I will never forget it.

XS: For you, what is the hardest part of the Maui course?

TV: I think the climb to The Plunge is pretty demanding because you know that after the downhill there are more climbs waiting for you. This year, the run was pretty tough for me as I had to push so hard. Maui is hard, but I think if you are coming from Ironman you bring a lot of stamina with you. I generally think Maui is the best course to have the world championship. It´s brutal, fair and has a unique spirit!

XS: Can you talk a little bit about your bike set-up in Maui? 

TV: I am riding a Simplon Stomp carbon full suspension with a Shimano XT crank and v-brakes with SRAM Gripshift and shifting group. On Maui, I choose heavy weaponry for the the tyres with WTB Weirwolf and Slime-tubes. This is for sure not the lightest gear, but (please knock on wood) in five XTERRA Maui I never had a flat tyre. I also run a little more pressure than usual to be safe in the fast downhills with the rock and bumps you hit.

Mountains or beach? If the weather is nice and warm, the mountains
Summer or winter? Summer, if possible all year-long : )!
Beer or wine? Wine, Austrian white Wine. Nothing better!
XTERRA or Ironman? XTERRA
Full suspension or hard tail? Carbon-Fully
Where did you go on your most recent holiday? Looks like Yvonne and me are on holiday all year. But the last holiday where we relaxed and just hung out were a year ago on Kauai at our friend Lenny Gredel´s house. So it´s about time after the last race at the end of November…!
What is the most recent album or cd or music download you purchased? The best of Robert Cray
Favorite sport(s) other than triathlon?  Ski-touring, cross-country-ski and Kayak.

Website: www.trivonach.com

Sponsors: Schelling Anlagenbau, Land Vorarlberg Sport, Blue-Planet Flugreisen, Rauch Fruchtsafte, Skinfit, Veltec, Biestmilch, Zipp, Rudy Project, XTERRA Wetsuits, Zoggs Goggles, DJ’s Bike Shop, Vonach Gerhard Consulting, Schnetzer-Richtige Schuhe, Headsweats, Rudi Prag, Zahnarzt Kirner, CEP

After a year absence, XTERRA is returning to Southern California in 2010. XTERRA Snow Valley, held at the Snow Valley ski resort about 80 miles east of Los Angeles and 100 miles northeast of San Diego, was canceled in 2009 due to the poor economy according to the race’s website. The 2010 edition of XTERRA Snow Valley is set for August 1st.

Just when I thought I knew every last spot the mud got to when I attacked the swamp back in St. Louis, I found myself a pleasant surprise:

Good thing the brake lining on these drums never seem go away. Box it back up and check in a year.

Looks like the folks at DLT Events have an epic weekend planned for May 1-2 in Ruston, Lousiana. On Saturday, they’re advertising XTERRA Epic - The Rustman, consisting of a 1 mile swim, 35 mile bike, and 10.5 mile run. It will have the higher 100 point value due to its length. The following day is XTERRA Gator Terra, a regular stop on the US circuit with its 800 yd swim, 10 mile bike, and 3.5 mile run. So, how many people will attempt the double?

Team Unlimited, owners of XTERRA, have tentatively announced the 2010 XTERRA World Tour schedule. Some noticeable highlights are the addition of races in Canada, Portugal, and France. XTERRA Canada has yet to announce a location or date but is encouraging athletes to sign up at the race website to receive all the latest news.

Feb 20 - XTERRA South Africa Championship, Grabouw, Western Cape

Mar 13 - XTERRA Saipan Championship, CNMI

Apr 3  - XTERRA Portugal Championship*, Figueira da Foz

Apr 10 - XTERRA New Zealand Championship,, Rotorua

May 30 - XTERRA Italy Championship*, Orosei, Sardinia

June 13 - XTERRA Malaysia Championship, Kuantan, Pahang

June 26 - XTERRA Czech Championship*, Hluboka Nad Vltavou

July 11 - XTERRA France Championship*, Gerardmer

Aug 14 - XTERRA Germany Championship*, Zittau

Aug 21 - XTERRA Austria Championship*, Klopeinersee

Aug 28 - XTERRA Brazil Championship, Angra dos Reis

Aug 28 - XTERRA Japan Championship, Marunuma

Sept 12 - XTERRA Switzerland Championship*, Prangins

Sept 12 - XTERRA Mexico Championship, Valle De Bravo

Sept 25 - XTERRA USA Championship, Ogden/Snowbasin, UT

TBD  XTERRA Canada Championship

Oct 24 - XTERRA World Championship, Maui

O XTerra Regional Estrada Real, competição de corrida de aventura aconteceu no início do mês de outubro, nas ladeiras históricas de Ouro Preto (MG).Em dois dias de disputa estiveram reunidos mais de 700 atletas, com faixa etária entre 15 e 65 anos. Esportistas de destaque mundial misturavam-se com os amadores. A diversidade de perfis de atletas que participaram das três provas da competição mostrou inúmeras histórias de paixão pela atividade esportiva, gosto por aventura e superação.

O X Terra é uma competição mundial criada há 12 anos no Havaí. No Brasil, chegou em 2005, com apenas uma etapa. Hoje, são 14 etapas disputadas no circuito brasileiro do X Terra. Uma delas, a etapa de Angra, vale vaga para a final mundial do X Terra no Havaí. Esse ano o X Terra ainda terá a etapa de Tiradentes (MG) no final de novembro.

Em 2010, o X Terra chegará ao Nordeste e o Ceará é um forte candidato a receber uma etapa. “O Ceará tem locais incríveis. Jericoacoara é um exemplo. Mas só teremos uma definição em dezembro, disse o organizador do X Terra Brasil, Bernardo Fonseca.

Foto: Portal X Terra

Fonte: Diário do Nordeste

Hello fellow triathletes!

Recently, I had a member of the Tritons tell me he didn’t even know I was a coach.  What a surprise for me!  If there is one, there are probably more.  So, here it is (briefly):

I did my first triathlon in 1994, and have probably raced in over 100 endurance related events, most of them triathlons (both road and off-road).  I have qualified for the XTERRA national championships each year I have raced a full off-road season.

Aside from having a degree from MSU in Health and Human Development, I also am a USAT Level I Coach, NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, and Nationally Certified as a Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworker (NCTMB).

I have been assisting people with their sport-specific and fitness related goals for the past 15 years.  My part-time business, Moving Forward, provides performance coaching and therapeutic massage.  Individually tailored to meet your needs, I can help improve your athletic capabilities; whether it is injury prevention through strength and conditioning, a more customized training plan, or treatment-based massage, I can assist you.

I look forward to seeing you in the wintertime.  Ask me about Bozeman Triton rates!  Please let me know if you have questions.  I will be writing more blogs this off-season about training/conditioning and injury prevention.

Enjoy your day, and happy training!

Matt

matthewbryanparks@gmail.com, or 580 7987

Makena Beach & Golf Resort will welcome the 14th XTERRA World Championship on October 25^th, 2009.  XTERRA comes to Makena, Maui, following an action-packed racing season that featured more than 100 events in 14 countries.

(Xterra Maui File Footage from 2008 10.26.08.   Highlights and interviews with winners. Produced by Wendy Osher and Frank W. Pulaski III. Written by Wendy Osher. Camera and Edited by Frank W. Pulaski III)

(File photo by Wendy Osher from 2008 XTERRA featuring athletes from dozens of countries and the mainland United States competing in the season’s most grueling course at Makena, Maui)

The XTERRA World Championship is the culmination of a series of races held around the globe.  Athletes from 23 countries and 36 U.S. states will be on Maui to take on XTERRA’s toughest and most grueling course, consisting of a 1.5-kilometer rough water swim at Makena Beach in front of Makena Beach & Golf Resort, a 30-kilometer mountain bike climb 3,000 feet up the lower slopes of Mt. Haleakala, and a 12-kilometer trail run.

Access to this legendary course is permitted only once a year.  Conditions change radically from year to year, diminishing the advantage to repeat competitors, and perpetuating the course’s stature as among the most intimidating in the series.  The field is limited to 550 competitors, who represent the best off-road, multi-sport athletes on the planet.

It is a “winner take all” race with one of the richest pro purses in multi-sport at $105,000 and the coveted title of XTERRA World Champion.  XTERRA will also air nationally as a one-hour sports special via national syndication.

Visitors and locals alike can get involved in the XTERRA action by joining in the XTERRA Makena Beach 5km and 10km Trail Runs, open to the public and scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at 8am, starting at the Makena Beach & Golf Resort.  The event benefits Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Maui County.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Information provided by Makena Beach & Golf Resort Maui; Photos from 2008 event by Wendy Osher)

September 28, 2009. On this week’s episode, TriCenter recaps the XTERRA USA Championship and the Ironman 70.3 Augusta, catches up with USA’s Ben Hoffman for a Big Island update, and visits last week’s Interbike trade show in Las Vegas.

My first real MTB trip in Colorado was at the Hidden Mesa Open Space on the west side of 83, between Parker and Franktown.  I loaded the Haro V5 on the Xterra and drove down.  Little did I know, but I could have gotten there quicker by jumping on the Cherry Creek Trail.  Oh well.  Live and learn.

I unloaded, got the camera equipment readied and loaded into my backpack and headed off on the trail.  The trail is 100% dirt (and rock), even where it meets Cherry Creek Trail since it just parallels it for about a quarter mile.  After I got a mile in, my Garmin eTrex Vista died on me.  Batteries.  Oops.

I only saw two other people on the trail, a runner and a walker.  The day was mostly overcast with the sun popping out now and again.  I had pants and a long sleeve t-shirt, but was a little cold when I got moving.  Live and learn, part deux.

The trail itself was pretty good for only being a few miles away.  There were some good, loose uphill parts to navigate and some flat rock portions with some parts to try and climb.  One that I unsuccessfully tried and ended up with a nice elbow/thigh bruise.  There were also some good areas to get moving downhill.  Nice.

All in all, a great little ride to christen the arrival to Colorado.

Check out all the photos.