What do you get if you combine a pristine lake swim with lung-busting climbs and rip-roaring descents on your mountain bike, followed by a challenging run through forests and fields, all done in a super-friendly, family-oriented atmosphere? You get the FUN family XTERRA STOAKED Off-road triathlon weekend.
XTERRA (swimming, mountain biking and trail-running) was created in Maui by a few road triathletes towards the end of the 90’s. They were frustrated by the monotony of doing numerous laps on a road bike and almost as many laps running around cones during a regular (road-based) triathlon! They decided to do the 3 swim-bike-run disciplines in a more rugged off-road format that tested not only their aerobic capacity, but also their tenacity. Since, the sport has developed into a US and world-wide series culminating in October with the XTERRA World Championships in Makena, HI. Of the all the US races, XTERRA STOAKED has been ranked consistently at the very top, and probably after the success of year’s event will likely become the top points race next year.
What is it that has sent XTERRA STOAKED soaring to the top of the rankings, and has made it such a special event? I’d like to give you my own take and personal reasons for traveling to this event year-in, year-out. By doing so, I think that I can outline all of the reasons that XTERRA STOAKED is such an attractive event for someone wanting to try this exciting concept, as well as the seasoned endurance athlete, and why it has become one of the top XTERRA events in the US.
I raced conventional road triathlon for about 10 years. My wife first introduced me to triathlon as she was doing it, but mainly because my beer belly was rapidly expanding proportionally to the time that I spent on the couch. In 2004, I moved to Montreal and tried a few road triathlons in Quebec. I can’t remember, but it was either the thousands of pot-holes in the road in the province of Quebec or the sheer boredom of going round in circles on the bike and the run, that led me in 2007, to want to stop multi-sport altogether and take up professional beer-drinking, full-time. It was then that I came across www.xterraplanet.com, the web site for XTERRA, and just for fun I signed up for the then nearest race, XTERRA STOAKED.
My first attempt at STOAKED was, to say the very least, a dismal failure. I overinflated my tires, carried no change of innertube or any tools, subsequently punctured and broke my chain during the race. I crawled over the finish line at the end of the run due to fatigue. For someone that had previously placed quite highly in road triathlons, it was a huge (cavernous!) dent in my pride. Nevertheless, the disappointment of my performance was erased completely by the atmosphere of the event. I had never been to a triathlon at which everyone (I mean everyone) spoke to each other. When I punctured, people that were racing asked if they could help. They even threw me innertubes, or tools! I was flabbergasted!
I realized that I had experienced 2 new concepts: the first was being part of the XTERRA family. In XTERRA, it really doesn’t matter where you place: first or last. Everyone is cheered over the line and encouraged along the way. XTERRA is a chance to surpass oneself in a setting that is at one with nature. Athletes are humble and unpretentious. I had also experienced the hospitality of STOAKED and of Hanover. Storr’s Pond offered a place where we could camp and my kids could roam free on their bikes, play in the lake, and mix with the local kids, who accepted them as if they had known them for years. The STOAKED Director and his team now offer an event that is uncomplicated, and open to all. An event that is exceptionally organized in a manner that is very laid back. My children are older now and participate in the kids triathlon, and love every minute of it. There is a trail run of the highest standards that attracts top runners from all over the US. Participation in all events is rewarded in a raffle (almost everyone wins!) with many outstanding local products such as Vermont peanut butter, Farnum Hill Cider, King Arthur freshly baked bread, and numerous items of sports equipment donated by local stores.
A great addition to STOAKED this year was a pot luck for all racers with lots of refreshments and live music. We all sat on the grass on a warm Saturday evening and shared stories with good friends and total strangers in an idyllic setting. I realized how lucky we were to be there. STOAKED is much more than a triathlon, it’s a festival of good living, health and well-being. Try it and see, you might just get hooked and keep coming back year after year. We will.
Paul Stapley
7 Year Participant
