News
Sports
BEAVER CREEK — Thin air, leg crushing climbs and alpine views — those are conditions some athletes will travel thousands of miles for this weekend, but some competitors will need to look no further than their own backyard.
A strong group of hometown favorites will be among nearly 475 athletes from all over the country and the world who will converge upon Avon for the Beaver Creek Xterra Mountain Championship.
The race is the last in a series of six regional off-road triathlons, and the first to be held in the mountains at high altitude. The course boasts an open water swim in Lake Nottingham, a steep mountain bike course that climbs 3,600 feet (much of it in the first 5 miles), and a run with two big climbs that gains 1,300 vertical feet.
While the race will draw world-class competitors, many strong racers come from right within Eagle County and the surrounding areas. Take Avon resident Henry Reed, who won the 35-39 age group last year, or Leadville resident Lisa Isom, a strong pro competitor despite nursing a hamstring injury this year.
Meet a few of the hometown favorites, and be sure to cheer them on as they show everyone what the mountains are all about.
Josiah Middaugh (Eagle-Vail)
The Xterra national champion said he has his eye on what has been an elusive Beaver Creek win this year. Middaugh, 32, takes a podium spot most years, but has always been foiled by chronic injuries or by reigning Beaver Creek champion, Frenchman Nico Lebrun.
“I haven't had a lot of success here, and it doesn't make a lot of sense. In years past, it was a combination of bad luck and circumstances, but this year I'm feeling healthy, and I have no excuses,” he said.
Middaugh is having a successful year, currently sitting second in the Xterra series championship and also aims to do well at the Xterra nationals in Ogden, Utah this fall. But first - conquering Beaver Creek.
“This is one of the toughest courses in the entire circuit,” he said. “Locals here don't understand it because to them, it's another town race, and they ride Beaver Creek all the time - but it's a lot of climbing, and it's at high altitude.”
Brad Zoller (Avon)
For 33-year-old Zoller, a pro category racer, the Beaver Creek Xterra has a bit of a special place in his heart as the his first ever off-road race. Zoller, who had competed professionally in road triathlons and Ironman races for years, found a new love in Xterras after moving to the area.
“I'd reached a point with road triathlons that I felt I wasn't getting any better, and I wasn't as excited about it,” he said. “I did the Beaver Creek Xterra, and it was so hard, but I loved it.”
Zoller, a strong swimmer, said he's been improving his mountain biking and is feeling strong this season. This year at Beaver Creek, he said he's hoping for a top 7 placing.
Tamara Donelson (Edwards)
Donelson won her age group (35-39) at the Xterra nationals last year, and has already bagged a win this year at the Las Vegas Xterra race. Now, she's in contention to win her age group and be the top amateur woman this weekend.
“I won nationals last year, and I've only gotten stronger, so hope to have a good finish at Beaver Creek,” she said. “Also we have the home court advantage - there's no reason that I shouldn't know every tree, every bump and every turn in that course.”
However, she said she's expecting stiff competition, especially from Vail valley locals. The game plan is to leave everything on the course this weekend, she said.
“If I don't fall over the finish line, I didn't do it right,” she said.
Jennifer Razee (Edwards)
Razee has competed in Xterra nationals and worlds competitions, but said there's nothing like racing in your own backyard.
“I'm psyched to have an event here. I try to do all the 'backyard' races,” she said. “Sometimes racing up here is almost more competitive than nationals. You've got people from Eagle and Summit counties and Denver who are all so solid.”
She's looking forward to having a strong run portion of the race, and hopes to avoid some cramping that has plagued her in past years. Her goal? To take a podium spot in the 35-39 age group and qualify for nationals.
“I did it last year and didn't train much. This year, I'm mentally ready and have been training more, so it should go well, right?” she said.
A strong group of hometown favorites will be among nearly 475 athletes from all over the country and the world who will converge upon Avon for the Beaver Creek Xterra Mountain Championship.
The race is the last in a series of six regional off-road triathlons, and the first to be held in the mountains at high altitude. The course boasts an open water swim in Lake Nottingham, a steep mountain bike course that climbs 3,600 feet (much of it in the first 5 miles), and a run with two big climbs that gains 1,300 vertical feet.
While the race will draw world-class competitors, many strong racers come from right within Eagle County and the surrounding areas. Take Avon resident Henry Reed, who won the 35-39 age group last year, or Leadville resident Lisa Isom, a strong pro competitor despite nursing a hamstring injury this year.
Meet a few of the hometown favorites, and be sure to cheer them on as they show everyone what the mountains are all about.
Josiah Middaugh (Eagle-Vail)
The Xterra national champion said he has his eye on what has been an elusive Beaver Creek win this year. Middaugh, 32, takes a podium spot most years, but has always been foiled by chronic injuries or by reigning Beaver Creek champion, Frenchman Nico Lebrun.
“I haven't had a lot of success here, and it doesn't make a lot of sense. In years past, it was a combination of bad luck and circumstances, but this year I'm feeling healthy, and I have no excuses,” he said.
Middaugh is having a successful year, currently sitting second in the Xterra series championship and also aims to do well at the Xterra nationals in Ogden, Utah this fall. But first - conquering Beaver Creek.
“This is one of the toughest courses in the entire circuit,” he said. “Locals here don't understand it because to them, it's another town race, and they ride Beaver Creek all the time - but it's a lot of climbing, and it's at high altitude.”
Brad Zoller (Avon)
For 33-year-old Zoller, a pro category racer, the Beaver Creek Xterra has a bit of a special place in his heart as the his first ever off-road race. Zoller, who had competed professionally in road triathlons and Ironman races for years, found a new love in Xterras after moving to the area.
“I'd reached a point with road triathlons that I felt I wasn't getting any better, and I wasn't as excited about it,” he said. “I did the Beaver Creek Xterra, and it was so hard, but I loved it.”
Zoller, a strong swimmer, said he's been improving his mountain biking and is feeling strong this season. This year at Beaver Creek, he said he's hoping for a top 7 placing.
Tamara Donelson (Edwards)
Donelson won her age group (35-39) at the Xterra nationals last year, and has already bagged a win this year at the Las Vegas Xterra race. Now, she's in contention to win her age group and be the top amateur woman this weekend.
“I won nationals last year, and I've only gotten stronger, so hope to have a good finish at Beaver Creek,” she said. “Also we have the home court advantage - there's no reason that I shouldn't know every tree, every bump and every turn in that course.”
However, she said she's expecting stiff competition, especially from Vail valley locals. The game plan is to leave everything on the course this weekend, she said.
“If I don't fall over the finish line, I didn't do it right,” she said.
Jennifer Razee (Edwards)
Razee has competed in Xterra nationals and worlds competitions, but said there's nothing like racing in your own backyard.
“I'm psyched to have an event here. I try to do all the 'backyard' races,” she said. “Sometimes racing up here is almost more competitive than nationals. You've got people from Eagle and Summit counties and Denver who are all so solid.”
She's looking forward to having a strong run portion of the race, and hopes to avoid some cramping that has plagued her in past years. Her goal? To take a podium spot in the 35-39 age group and qualify for nationals.
“I did it last year and didn't train much. This year, I'm mentally ready and have been training more, so it should go well, right?” she said.
