Mayor Caldwell and a collection of the most welcoming locals to be found anywhere rallied the entire community to bring off-road triathlon to their hometown 15 years ago and are themselves everyday XTERRA people. They swim, bike, and run in the mountains, have fun, eat well, laugh, and unpretentiously perpetuate the sports’ motto to "Live More."

"XTERRA is a unique event for our community that has grown and progressed into a world class event," said Caldwell. "It is a huge part of our community’s DNA. These athletes and race organizers have become part of our family providing an opportunity for us to form lasting friendships with people from all over the world. Not only do I enjoy the homecoming feel the event brings, it also has great economic impact for Ogden. Our hotels sell out and our restaurants fill up. It is the perfect fit for Ogden, and I look forward to this weekend every year."

Athletes also look forward to this event every year, and more than 800 of the very best amateur and professional triathletes and trail runners are traveling to the State of Sport to battle for the title of XTERRA Champion.

"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. "The event will bring an estimated $13 million in combined media value and economic impact to the State of Sport."

The main event, the XTERRA Pan America / USA Championship triathlon is the culmination of a series of off-road triathlons spanning South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada, and the U.S.

It starts 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 a half-distance sprint off-road triathlon and relay-team options.

The fastest racers in each five-year 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. Elites will be competing for $80,000 in prize money, and cameramen will position themselves around Wheeler Canyon and the Wasatch Range to capture all the action for a nationally syndicated one-hour TV show that exposes the beauty of northern Utah to the masses.

"We love bringing the XTERRA Tribe together in Utah, the energy level is just incredible," said Janet Clark, president of XTERRA. "Ogden and Snowbasin are simply the best – between the facilities at Snowbasin, the great restaurants and atmosphere along Historic 25th Street in Ogden, and the unbelievably supportive community – we can’t ask for a better venue."

The triathlons are Saturday, September 15 and on Sunday, the 16th, it’s the trail runners turn on the mountain.

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The XTERRA Trail Run National Championship half-marathon 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.

In addition to the weekend races XTERRA will 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, and the Paul Mitchell hair cut-a-thon for charity.

There is great entertainment to be found at Snowbasin Resort highlighted by the spontaneous, ecstatic, and sometimes tear-jerking displays of emotion at the finish line for the races.

This year, experience it for yourself. Have a look at the schedule for places and times, and whether you race or not – join in the fun and excitement of XTERRA. For more info and links to registration visit www.xterrautah.com, or call toll-free to 877-751-8880. Live More!

ELITE RACE

The elite’s racing at the XTERRA Pan America Championship are among the best off-road triathletes in the world. The men’s race features the last three XTERRA World Champions with Bradley Weiss from South Africa (2017 Champ), Mauricio Mendez from Mexico (2016 Champ), and American great Josiah Middaugh from Eagle-Vail, Colorado (the 2015 Champ).

The women’s race is highlighted by two-time XTERRA World Champion Lesley Paterson from Scotland, XTERRA Pan Am Tour leader Fabiola Corona from Mexico, and America stand-outs like Julie Baker and Kara LaPoint.

Follow the elite race live on twitter @xterraoffroad starting at 9am on Sept. 15.

The 2018 XTERRA Pan Am Championship triathlon and XTERRA Trail Run National Championship are presented by the Utah Sports Commission and Paul Mitchell. Partners include Gatorade Endurance, Suunto, GOAL Foundation, OOFOS, Maui Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the U.S. Forest Service.

About Utah Sports Commission
The Utah Sports Commission, a not-for-profit 501c6 business league and Utah Sports Commission Foundation, a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization, is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of statewide sports, business, community, and government leaders. The Sports Commission was created to be a catalyst for Utah in its Olympic legacy efforts and to help enhance Utah’s economy, image and quality of life through the attraction, promotion and development of national and international sports. The Sports Commission works closely with communities, sports entities, and organizations to provide event services ranging from the bid process, on-site logistics, volunteer coordination, sponsorships and promotional opportunities and other related services. For more information, visit www.utahsportscommission.com

About XTERRA
XTERRA is a sports lifestyle brand that produces authentic race experiences and apparel for the outdoor enthusiast. In 2018, XTERRA will offer more than 300 off-road triathlon and trail running events in 30+ countries. XTERRA also offers premium, performance apparel and accessories for the trail and beyond. Learn more at xterraplanet.com.

The events on show at the 2019 World Champs that have been added to the Beijing 2022 calendar are; Freestyle Skiing, mixed team aerials; Freeski Big Air, men’s and ladies’; and in Snowboard, Team Snowboard Cross. Fans of Freeski Big Air and Freestyle Mixed Team Aerials will not have to wait to see their favorite athletes in World Championship competition in those events as both will be making their World Championship competition debuts for the very first time at the 2019 World Championships in Utah next February.

The awesome men’s and women’s Freeski Big Air event will be taking place at Canyons Village at Park City Mountain Resort on Saturday February 2nd. Next up on the new Olympic discipline roster will be the Team Snowboard Cross event which will take place at Solitude Mountain Resort on Sunday February 3rd. Rounding up the latest additions to the Olympic Winter Games is the Freestyle Skiing Mixed Team Aerials event which will be a huge crowd favorite at Deer Valley Resort, at night and under the lights on Thursday February 7, 2019. The 2019 World Championships will be the first time that Mixed Team Aerials and Freeski Big Air will be included in the FIS World Championship program.

"We are grateful to the IOC, International Ski Federation (FIS), Beijing Organizing Committee and the Nations for working cooperatively toward the inclusion of these new events in 2022," said Jeremy Forster, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Director of Snowboard, Freeski and Freestyle. "The addition of these incredibly exciting events is not only good news for fans of Winter Olympic Games, it is also a critical step in continuing to engage new fans, in particular among the young skiers and riders who are the future of our sports. Having the opportunity to showcase both Freeski Big Air and Mixed Team Aerials as World Championship disciplines for the first time, at the events we will host in February 2019, is a great honor and we are all excited about the chance to give them their global World Champs debut in what promises to be an incredible 10 days of competition next year."

The eyes of the world will be on the athletes competing for World Championship glory in the USA from February 1, 2019 until February 20, 2019 when the world’s best snowboarders, freeskiers and freestyle athletes will descend on Utah. For more information about the events go to the 2019 Snowboard, Freeski and Freestyle World Championships website which you can find here 2019WorldChamps.com

Athletes will endure three days of competition with the hopes of taking one of the five coveted spots in each division to the 2018 Reebok CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin, August 1-5. The CrossFit Games are the world’s premier test to find the Fittest on Earth. Since its inception in 2007, the CrossFit Games have become one of the fastest growing sports in America.

Local athletes, Emily Tanner of C2X Crossfit and Carlyn Frampton of CrossFit Spearhead, will be competing in the female division after finishing the Open in fourth and 21st in the South West Region, respectively. Salt Lake City CrossFit will be sending three teams to the Regional. There are 10 CrossFit gyms in the Salt Lake City area.

CrossFit is a worldwide strength-and-conditioning fitness program whose goal is to prepare you for the unknown and unknowable. A CrossFit workout may contain a combination of functional movements such as rowing, running, Olympic lifting, plyometrics, and gymnastics. CrossFit’s specialty is not specializing in any one facet of fitness and is considered the "sport of fitness." There are over 15,000 CrossFit gyms worldwide.

For more information, or if you would like to receive press credentials to the South Regional on May 18-20 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, or would like to arrange an interview with local athletes competing at the event, please contact shelbyhlevy.

The red rocks and unforgiving terrain of the region will beckon more than 2,500 athletes to the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship St. George, set for May 5.

"We are excited to once again host the IRONMAN 70.3 North American Pro Championship," said Jeff Robbins, President and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. "It will showcase Utah’s beautiful red rock landscape through the event’s significant media exposure and bring an estimated $8-10 million into the Utah and St. George communities."

The race itself begins at 7 a.m. at Sand Hollow State Park. After completing the 1.2-mile swim in the reservoir, athletes will take on a challenging 56-mile bike course followed by a 13.1-mile run ending in the heart of downtown on Main Street between Tabernacle and 100 South. Everyone is invited to greet and cheer for the athletes as they cross the finish line.

"The quality of triathletes participating in our race is superb. You will be blown away by the dynamic abilities they possess," said Kevin Lewis, Director of the St. George Tourism Office. "This is the 9thconsecutive year St. George has hosted an IRONMAN event and each year it continues to get better."

Many of the pro athletes come to this race looking for something to conquer. Sebastien Kienle, a superstar on the circuit who has logged second- and third-place finishes in St. George, and who has captured one IRONMAN and two IRONMAN 70.3 crowns, still seeks to slay the St. George beast.

"I think people come here because they want to be challenged," Kienle said. "They like the tough course. It’s probably not a course where everybody sets a personal record, but that’s not what it’s all about. I think the experience you’ll have here you won’t find in other races."

The popularity of the St. George IRONMAN 70.3 race continues to grow. IRONMAN 70.3 released its "Athletes Choice Awards" based off post-race athlete surveys and the St. George race ranked in the Top 10 in two categories. The St. George race was tied for second in the "Best Host City Experience" category and No. 5 in the "Best Race Venue" category.

Key facts about the 2017 St. George race include:

• 2,127 competitors started the event
• 79 professionals registered
• 31 countries are represented
• 43 states are represented
• 12,000 estimated race visitors
• Nearly 2,000 volunteers

"IRONMAN events have played an enormous role in bolstering the overall brand and culture of the St. George region since 2010," Lewis added. "Visitors to this event quickly see that beauty and diversity of our landscape is anything but ordinary, which makes a return trip to the region very likely."

For More Information:
www.stgeorgesports.com
www.visitstgeorge.com
www.ironman.com

About the Office of Sports and Recreation
The St. George Area Sports Commission was established by the Washington County Commission to help responsibly grow the sports and recreation economy in Washington County, Utah, through the promotion and development of sports, and outdoor recreation.