The Loews Lake Las Vegas XTERRA West Cup provided an opportunity for many to achieve their goals and make dreams become a reality. Whether as an athlete or as the Race Director like myself, it was a day that will not soon be forgotten.
We set lofty goals here at Sunset Racing when we agreed to to host the first XTERRA Cup Series Race of 2009 and the first EVER in Nevada. With no title sponsor and no race course we definitely challenged ourselves to design a one of a kind race course at a one of a kind venue.
Well, its May 3rd and everyone here is still smiling from being a part of this historic XTERRA race. With great weather, epic battles on the race course, and an unforgettable post race pool party we all enjoyed our own little piece of paradise at beautiful Lake Las Vegas.
Our title sponsor, The Loews Lake Las Vegas, provided not only an unmatched venue and homes to athletes from 23 states and 9 countries, but also offered the swim Start beach, their Nuala pool to ALL the athletes for the day, a post race pool party, and catered food and drink at the finish line. I wish I had a nickel for every athlete that told me how impressed they were with the hospitality, service and friendliness of the staff at the Loews.
Just a few hundred yards away and in drastic contrast to the environment provided by the Loews was the harsh and barren desert transition area and Finish line. The XTERRA crew lead by the "Big Kahuna" Dave Nicholas, transformed this wasteland into an oasis with big top tents, sponsor signage, big rigs, a sound system, and a flawlessly marked race course.
The course design offered challenging climbs, tricky descents and dry desert conditions that tested every single athlete. But open terrain and double lap courses made the race very spectator friendly and easy to spy your competition at every turn!
The West Cup Championship was lead by a loaded pro field unknown outside of the XTERRA World Championship in Maui. With 9 of the top 10 men and women in the world, along with a laundry list of accomplished pros and Olympians at the start line, age groupers had the opportunity to race alongside of their Idols.
The two current XTERRA World Champions, Melanie McQuaid and Conrad Stoltz crossed the finish line first for the women and the men respectively, with a determined and impressive field of pros and age groupers following closely behind. Calvin Zaryski captured his spot in Maui by winning the West Cup Male Amateur Overall in 2:37:38. Cary Kinross-Wright also climbed to the top of the podium, claiming the Womens Overall title in 3:09:51.
Long, painful hours are put into both training and planning for an event like this. For you to see the finish line, and for us the Race Directors, to see you cross the line, suffering, yet satisfied by your own effort, eager to challenge yourself again, provides us with the motivation to offer you that opportunity again, and again!
We are proud of this event and plan on providing an even bigger, better experience next year. There is no way that we could have pulled this off without the following sponsors behind us. The Loews Lake Las Vegas, the ENTIRE crew at XTERRA, the America Tour Sponsors, Team Unlimited, Lake Las Vegas, Escape Adventures, Las Vegas Cyclery and Brightroom Photography. I would also like to personally thank the following individuals for their hard work, loyalty and commitment: Vic Caruso, Regan Stokes, Mary Stokes, Chris Fetter, Nikki Maurer, Geoff Rhodes, Abby, Vince, Jared, Kurt, Joel, Lindsey, Allison H., Robyn and most of all, the other 1/2 of Sunset Racing, Keith Hughes and of course my wife Ashley. You all Rock!
2010 West Cup, Here we come!!!!! Dominic Guinto
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