2011 XTERRA USA is all about the race

Although the most talked-about element of the 2011 XTERRA USA - held Sept 24th in Ogden, Utah - was the presence of legend Lance Armstrong as a competitor, in the end it was the race - the water, the dirt, the wheels - that determined the winner.

Not that four-time XTERRA champion Conrad Stoltz was at all intimidated by the larger-than-life Tour d' France champ: "I told him not to bring the 26" bike - he can leave the kiddie's bike at home. Bring the 29er." BOOM!
(check out video highlights here)

Conrad helped douse some of the media hype when he finished 2+ minutes ahead of the superstar Armstrong. His 2:27:30 overall time put him three spots behind this years winner, Nicolas Lebrun. Which goes to show ya: your competition is not always the grandest guy in the room.

Conrad ripped that race apart, of course, but it is a harsh road to run.

QUICK STATS*
1.5k swim / 28k mountain bike / 9.8k trail run
Swim course distance: 1,500-meters (0.93 miles) Combines two 750-meter laps (no run in-between)
Elevation at Port Ramp Marina for swim start: 4,900-feet
Water temperature: Expected to be in the 65-degree range
Mountain bike course distance: 28-kilometers (17.7 miles)
Total climbing on bike: 3,400-feet
Elevation at highest point: 7,300-feet (where Sardine Peak Trail meets the ridgeline)
Elevation at T2/Snowbasin Resort Lodge: 6,400-feet
Trail Run course distance: 9.8-kilometers (6.1 miles)
Total climbing on run: 700-feet
Total climbing on course: 4,100-feet

The U.S. Forest Service started work on the Sardine Peak Trail near Snowbasin Resort three years ago and for the first-time in XTERRA racing history, it was ready to ride. The new 7+ mile section of single and double track is the sweetest and smoothest piece of trail on the mountain, and makes the bike course “a true mountain race course that weaves in-and-out of aspen glades and pines,” said Snowbasin Resort sport event operations director Steve Andrus.*

Congrats to Conrad on his awesome finish, and to all the other competitors that ripped that track up!

*from XterraPlanet.com

The Queen Of Pain in NYC

The Queen of Pain and Suunto Athlete, Rebecca Rusch is wrapping up her SRAM Gold Rusch Tour with multiple social events in New York City.

First: An evening with Rebecca Rusch and fellow pro Katie Holden. There will be food and drinks and a great opportunity to meet and greet these amazing women. This event will be on October 6th at Sid's Bike Shop.

Second: October 8th Rusch and Holden will host a FREE Women's Mountain Bike Clinic at Highbridge Park 10am to 4pm.

If you are interested in meeting with Rebecca for a media appointment you can contact Amy May (amy@outsidemedia.com), the sooner the better.

Suunto Athlete Kim Havell Representing in New Winter Film

Suunto athlete and mountaineering ripper Kim Havell stars in Solitaire, a new backcountry ski, snowboard and telemark film. Solitaire tells the story of a team of earn-your-turns backcountry buffs who find themselves among (and sliding down) some of the most intense peaks in South America.

SOLITAIRE: A Backcountry Skiing, Snowboarding, and Telemark Film from Sweetgrass Productions on Vimeo.

The Gear Junkie Puts the Suunto Core to the Test

The Gear Junkie Stephen Regenold Climbed Utah's King's Peak in a fraction of the time it usually takes to summit the state's tallest peak. Regenold's goal was to pack as light as possible and hike fast and light. Among his state-of-the-art backpacking gear, Regenold utilized his Suunto Core watch to track his altitude and elevation gain. Watch the video that chronicles this Gear Junkie's King's Peak adventure and see some great shots of the Suunto Core hard at work.

Fast & Light on Kings Peak, Utah - Brought to you by Timberland™ from Gear Junkie on Vimeo.

Suunto Athlete Kim Havell Breaks Trail

Suunto athlete Kim Havell is part of a new backcountry ski film. "Breaking Trail" by Powderwhore Productions is screening all across the US this month and next. We're excited to see what Kim and company put together!

Check out the trailer.

Suunto Quest on Fox 13 at Outdoor Retailer '11

In case you missed it, the Suunto Quest was featured on Fox 13 during the 2011 Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Quest is great for personalizing your workouts to keep you on track to get your next PR. It tracks your heart rate, speed, running cadence, and laps in real time. You can also share and analyze the data from Suunto Quest with Movescount.com.

Outdoor Informer is giving away an M5

One of our favorite outdoor gear and information sites, Outdoorinformer.com, is giving away a Suunto M5 for its September reader promotion! Don't miss out to win this multi-functional watch and fitness monitor--as you've probably heard by now, it is easy to use and works to help you set and achieve your personal fitness goals.

Outdoor Informer's Prep and Approach Giveaway runs from September 1-30, 2011. Residents of the U.S. and Canada 18 or older can enter once per day. Promotion entrants must "like" Suunto's facebook page in order to win.