EPC Xterra Team Celebrates Successful Season

Over the weekend the EPC Xterra Team celebrated it's first successful season in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The Xterra National Championship event is the final stop on the U.S. Xterra Tour. The night before the event an awards banquet is held to recognize the efforts of all the athletes and the regional champions from across the country.

The EPC Xterra Team represented the Mountain Region with 4 of our 6 amateur athletes on stage as Regional Champions in their age-groups: Cary Kinross-Wright, Julie Bruckman, Luke Jay and Ed Oliver. Nice work guys and gals of EPC! 

Regional Champs

The next morning follows with the race for the National Championship. This race is for all of the qualified Xterra athletes from around the country to have one shot at the title. Heading into the race the EPC Xterra team had big hopes as many of our athletes were considered favorites in their age-groups as well as overall amateurs. 

Luke Jay was able to overcome the cold conditions and tough competition to walk away with the 25-29 National Championship title. His solid effort put him as the 3rd place overall amateur for the day. 

Sara Tarkington had a solid day finishing 10th in the pro division only a few minutes back from the race leaders. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the team struggled a bit in the cold water, technical bike course and twisty run of the championship course. Julie Bruckman was taken out by a nasty fall that left her knee swollen to the size of an orange. Ed Oliver suffered two flat tires in the rocky singletrack that left him with a disappointing 7th place. Rickey Tolliver, although putting up a stellar 3:06 time for his first season of triathlon racing, petered out a bit on the run and settled for 5th in his age-group. Both Cary Kinross-Wright and Cody Waite experienced "off" days and struggled with different portions of the course. Cary finished 3rd in her age-group, while Cody battled for a 13th place in the pro mens field after a disappointing swim. 

Rickey Tolliver, bringing it home in his rookie seaon

Luke Jay, 2008 Xterra National Champion

What a great first season the EPC Xterra Team had this year. We nearly dominated the Mountain Region and won a National Title to boot. We'll gladly take it!  

EPC Welcomes New Coach Addition

Cary Kinross-Wright

EPC is proud to announce the addition of long course and Xterra stud-ette, Cary Kinross-Wright, as an EPC coach for 2009. Cary has been working with Cody and EPC for the last 3 years as an athlete gathering many great results along the way. Most recently an Xterra Regional Championship title and trips to Clearwater and Maui for the 70.3 and Xterra World Championship events. 

Cary has been a student of endurance sports since her mid-twenties. Starting as a marathoner and adventure racer she transitioned to Ironman racing as a way to "train" for the others. This experience quickly turned into a passion for triathlon racing of all distances. To her credit she has 8 marathons, including Boston, 6 Ironmans, several ultra-distance runs, including the Leadville 100, and several multi-day adventure races under her belt. More recently she has narrowed her focused to 70.3 and Xterra events looking to add National and World Championship titles to her resume. 

In addition to being a stellar athlete, Cary has put considerable effort into learning and understanding the reasons behind the training she has done and how to make the most out the training she puts in. This fact, combined with the qualities of being a good listener, instructor, and planner, will make her an excellent coach for those endurance athletes looking for the total package.  Have Cary and EPC help you reach your goals in 2009! 

Cary on the podium as

Xterra Regional Champion in 2008

Return of the EPC Multisport Club

Yes you read correctly, the EPC Multisport Club is making a comeback for 2009. Originally created in 2004 as a means for Cody and his friends to train and race together, the EPC Club grew over the next two years to include as many as 45 athletes from around Denver. These competitive and non-competitive  triathletes, cyclists and runners met regularly over the winters for group rides and runs, indoor trainer sessions and monthly dinner socials/meetings. 

Over the summer of 2007, the club and it's members lost some direction and eventually fizzled out from lack of leadership from the management and lack of participation from it's athletes. Sad, I know. The club eventually evolved into what is now the EPC Xterra Team consisting of 8 of the top amateur and professional Xterra athletes in the country. 

Not wanting to limit it's offerings to just a select few of elite athletes, EPC is bringing back the Club for everyone to participate in. Very nice! Plans for the resurrected multisport club include USAT sanctioning, the return of regular off-season group training sessions along with specific event training programs for athletes of all abilities to train for a handful of chosen events each year. New club clothing, equipment and service discounts from sponsors, and much more can also be expected in 2009. 

Look for an official club kick-off party to occur in November to jump start the excitement for the new year. Here you can meet many of the returning members and new members alike, sign-up for the new year, start planning your 2009 training/racing goals, and discover all the new and exciting plans for the EPC Multisport Club.

Stay tuned for more!