XTERRA Canada Championship set for September 1-2

After two years in Whistler the XTERRA Canada Championship is headed to the Canmore Nordic Center, located about 60 miles west of Calgary in the province of Alberta, on Sept. 1-2.

“After presenting the Championship event in Whistler for the last two years, I am thrilled to be able to bring the National Championships into my own back yard,” said XTERRA Canada Race Director Tony Smith who is a Canmore resident, veteran triathlete and highly experienced local race director.

The Nordic Center was developed for the 1988 Olympic Games when it hosted biathlon and cross-country skiing events, and remains a world-class destination in the summer and winter.  Situated at the foot of Mount Rundle in the Canadian Rockies at an elevation of 4,600ft, the site hosts more than 100-kilometers of single and double track trails ideally suited for mountain biking and trail running.

On Saturday, September 1 there is a free kids 500m run and 5km, 10km and 20km trail running races.  On Sunday, in addition to the championship race, organizers are hosting another kids race, a half-distance sport race, as well as short and longer-course duathlon’s .  There are also relay team options, making it uber-friendly for first-timers to get involved.

The Championship race offers $10,000 in pro prize money and 40 qualifying spots into the XTERRA World Championship in Maui to the top finishers.  The race starts with a 3 loop – 1500m swim in spectacular Quarry Lake, followed with a 22km mountain bike and 10km trail run.

Learn more and register at www.xterracanada.ca