Lake Tahoe, Part 1: The XTERRA US Championship

Today is the first installment of a three-part series on my visit to Lake Tahoe, Nevada. I was in town attending the XTERRA US Championship event. The XTERRA competition typically involves a 1.5K swim, a 30K mountain bike and an 15K trail run. There are professional athletes as well as amateur athletes participating. Technically I was there on business, attending the newly added "Breeder's Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge". The dog competition consists of an obstacle course that the dog and their "parent" traverse, competing for the best time against other dogs. Here I am (above left) posing with the winning dog "Abbie" who handily beat her canine competitors. I was surprised at the number of dogs that participated; it was a lot of fun for participants and spectators alike.
Never one to turn down an invitation to a cocktail party, I attended the pre-dinner reception with the XTERRA athletes. At left, here I am with "The Pacifica Beer Girls". Go ahead, click on the photo to enlarge it. You know you want to see them more closely. (FYI- Pacifica Beer was one of the event sponsors). The reception was filled with interesting people, all of whom seem truly committed to the entire triathlon event. They are like a family, watching out for each other and sharing stories of the day's events.

Above left: Here at the finish line of the "human athletes" after their 15k trail run & above right: the sea of bikes in the holding pen, while athletes were off competing in other races of this triathlon.

Above left: This Golden Retriever had such beautiful form as she started out on the course & above right: at the finish line of the K9 challenge.

Above: Two runners-up in the "Breeder's Choice XTERRA K9 Challenge". They were so pleased with themselves, you could tell they had a lot of fun.
EXCITING AMATEUR VIDEO!


Above: Video taken by The Palm Springs Savant, showing part of the course of the K9 Challenge. On Tuesday I'll take you on a tour of beautiful Lake Tahoe, from a stunning vantage point 10,000 feet high...stay tuned!
-Rick Rockhill