XTERRA legend Conrad Stoltz was dominant in Richmond over the years.

On December 2nd, XTERRA announced a shakeup in its America Tour. According to the XTERRA website, the company “announced the formation of the XTERRA Pan American Tour which connects the sport’s major events in South, Central, and North America as well as the Caribbean. The inaugural 10-stop series for both amateur and professional athletes starts March 20th at XTERRA Costa Rica and concludes September 17 with the XTERRA Pan American Championship race in Ogden, Utah.  In between are two majors in the U.S., two in Canada, and one each in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.”

This might not appear to be huge news if you’re not an off-road triathlete, except for what was missing from that list of race locations: Richmond.

Richmond has hosted a championship-level race for pros and amateurs alike for the past 15 years. It’s XTERRA’s second longest running race host, and it’s practically an institution in here. Well, the folks at XTERRA clearly recognized this, because yesterday they released a Q&A on their site that was heavy on Richmond details.

Q: How can you let Richmond go, it’s one of the oldest and most popular races?

A: The Richmond race is one of the all-time greats, no doubt.  It’s at our roots, and is our longest-running race outside of Maui at 17 years.  We helped start and establish those trails.  Some of our best friends in life are there.  Trust us, it hurts.  Without a destination sponsor to offset the production and marketing cost we can’t continue.  We are forever grateful for the support of Salary Shield and Luck Stone which kept RVA alive over the last several years.  We’re open to support for next year and the future, and are also exploring opportunities with other organizations to produce that event.  Until then, heed the advice of Dr. Seuss … “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Q: WTH? XTERRA isn’t XTERRA without Richmond!

A: We hear ya.  But would add that XTERRA is a lifestyle, a spirit.  And, there is nothing stopping you from riding those sweet trails in Richmond whenever you want.  The James River Park System is expertly managed and well kept year-round.

Q: Have the costs of hosting events at Brown’s Island gone up significantly and made it cost prohibitive? Perhaps there are too many other events happening at the venue for XTERRA to get the date they wanted?

A: There is some truth to the first part.  It’s expensive to rent and operate on Brown’s Island.  And there are all sorts of logistic problems to try and stage the event at another RVA spot and use the same trails.  We’ve considered, reviewed, evaluated, and kicked dirt around at numerous alternative spots with no success.  As for the second part of question, getting the date wasn’t a problem.

Later on in the Q&A offers this tidbit that I’ll be following up on on Monday:

Q: In theory, Richmond and/or Vegas could come back if a promoter wants to take it over, right? It just won’t be a regional championship?

A: In theory, yes, and we’re actually working on that now and hope it will happen.

So, while this is definitely not good news for triathlon lovers in Richmond, stay tuned. It appears all hope is not lost.

Leaves conceal the trail. Credit: Brad Morrison

By salvaging parts from several pairs of decommissioned, yard work-bound running shoes (laces, two soles, one tongue), I’m able to patch together one sturdy pair. Then it’s out the door, truck, 64 East, 195 South, Downtown Expressway, Roseneath Exit, Boulevard Bridge (where I learn there’s only enough change in the armrest for one pass through the toll), and over the James River (passing the cyclists on the footbridge as they pass pedestrians.)  I weave and wind my way to Riverside Drive (without a doubt the most popular name for river-adjacent streets), and park at Reedy Creek.  Stretch, walk, stretch a little more, walk a little more.

It’s November, and autumn is moving quickly from the trees to the ground. Leaves that a few months ago hid the river from view are now attempting to conceal the trail. The cool air is noticeable but not unpleasant. When I breathe I can see my breath. I pull the chilly air in through my nose, jut out my chin, and exhale a cloud the size of a volleyball.

Buttermilk Trail. Credit: Brad Morrison

I pick up a walking stick, but since I don’t really need it for walking I swing it around like a baseball bat, like a sword. To anyone watching I’m dueling against an invisible foe. My forward progress makes it look like I’m winning. When I lob the stick into the bushes, it looks like we decided whatever (or whoever) we were fighting over wasn’t worth it.

2015 King of the James winner Trevor Sayler came from Asheville, N.C. to participate. Credit: Home on the James

A buzz filled the air throughout the James River Park System this fall in the weeks leading up to November 15th for the second annual King of the James.  Question’s like, “Who can rival last year’s winner Adam Tremper?” or “What will the river levels be?”  A race like KOTJ depends on many variables involving the weather. The river too high or trails too muddy can make or break the event as well as play a huge role in training for it.

It was inspiring to be around the river and see numerous long boats strapped atop cars running shuttle on the lower James. Long boats are worthy of speed and without one, you cannot win King of the James.  It is inspiring to see so many friends who normally spend their time on the river throughout the year, transition off the river and onto the trails. These bi- and tri-athletes flooded Richmond’s singletrack, riding bikes to nail down their lines over stream crossings and other obstacles strewn throughout. I even caught site of  registrants getting their lungs warmed up for the run in Forest Hill Park and reevaluating their fitness during the off season. This year people not only wanted to do well in King of the James, but there was angst to be crowned King.
King of the James is an adventure triathlon. One that was created to celebrate the terrain we have here in Richmond. The city’s park system is comparable to those in even the best ‘mountain towns,’ despite being in Virginia’s Piedmont.  The falls in Richmond and the bluffs surrounding the river are an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, and we can access them every day of the year. Furthermore, you can go on a trail run, mountain bike ride, and paddle all in one day. These assets are unique to Richmond. Thus King of the James was born.

Jenny Belt was the Queen of the James for the second year in a row. Credit: Home on the James

The event more than doubled in size in its second year, going from 96 participants in 2014 to 200 in 2015.  Reedy Creek is the perfect staging grounds, with its proximity to trail access as well as being the principle put-in for the most dramatic section of whitewater on the entire James River.  Producing the event in early November surrounds racers and the entire course with spectacular fall colors – The James River Park System at its finest.  November 15th proved to be the perfect day of racing with temperatures in the mid 30’s which rose to low 50’s along with the river stable just below 6 feet on the Westham Gauge.
Although the course is not particularly long in distance, it makes up for in difficulty.  The Forest Hill Trail is demanding on the lungs with steep climbs that keep on coming.  It’s similar to a high intensity interval workout with roots and stream crossings.  Then you transition on to the mountain bike.  Your quads will burn and body will be jostled as you ride along the Buttermilk and North Bank trails with technical rock gardens, stream crossings, and even a couple steep climbs.  Now that your legs are fried and filling with lactic acid, you dismount your bike and cram them into a kayak and speed thru class III-IV rapids. The total course takes anywhere from just over an hour for some, to over two hours for others.

2/3 of the winning relay team, Pup ‘N Suds. Credit: Home on the James

At the end of this year’s King of the James, a new King was crowned.  Trevor Saylor traveled up from Asheville, N.C. to claim top honors and finished the race in 1 hour and 20 minutes…shaving 4 minutes off the time of of last year’s winner Adam Tremper. For the second year in a row, Jenny Belt finished as the Queen with a time of 1 hour and 38 minutes. Perhaps the most exciting finish of the day was the final sprint for first place among the team category.  Max Posner passed Massey Worley in the flat water just below the final drop of Pipeline to edge Team Pup N’ Suds in for 1st place at 1 hour and 16 minutes.
We want to congratulate all the participants! It is not an easy race, and merely finishing is truly a statement on this world class, outdoor race course we call Home. Thanks to the James River Park System, Forest Hill Park staff and volunteers for the countless hours spent making the park so great. King of the James donated $1,000 to James River Outdoor Coalition to assist the park staff in maintenance and improvements to this wonderful green space.

Until next year!

TIMES

Kings

Trevor Sayler 227 1:20:14 0:54:45 0:23:55

Michael Wilson 203 1:23:50 0:58:11 0:25:41

Michael Stratton 220 1:27:01 1:03:03 0:26:19

John Nestler 216 1:27:42 1:04:02 0:25:11

Neil Etheridge 209 1:27:58 1:00:14 0:24:56

Adam Tremper 1 1:28:06 1:04:44 0:24:30

Matt Londrey 221 1:28:39 1:01:32 0:24:10

Stephan Sado 232 1:28:50 1:03:45 0:25:36

Zizza 222 1:30:14 1:05:26 0:27:43

Bryce Roberts 211 1:31:54 1:05:30 0:29:26

Josh Taylor 202 1:35:08 1:09:37 0:30:16

Kevin Langlois 223 1:35:25 1:08:45 0:29:58

Devin Shunk 205 1:35:35 1:09:13 0:29:03

Jon Lugbill 210 1:36:30 1:11:21 0:28:16

Max Galbraith 212 1:40:05 1:06:43 0:21:56

Rob Tompkins 225 1:40:11 1:13:15 0:32:59

Todd Craft 206 1:41:43 1:15:41 0:31:19

Cooper Sallade 230 1:42:08 1:16:19 0:35:09

Greg Russ 214 1:44:44 1:14:31 0:29:08

Brian Davis 226 1:45:51 1:19:50 0:29:12

Harrison Whitten 213 1:47:07 1:18:41 0:31:41

Emmett Saulnier 207 1:47:50 1:11:05 0:22:24

Ned Trice 224 1:49:30 1:21:04 0:30:35

Jesse Yuan 229 1:50:39 1:22:17 0:29:12

Caleb Frantoy 231 1:51:06 1:31:30 0:31:43

Riley Gorman 215 1:51:07 1:16:30 0:27:43

Tom Daley 228 1:51:19 1:26:08 0:31:11

Jack Martin 204 2:08:00 1:31:12 0:38:13

Perry Griffith 217 DNF 1:38:44 0:28:25

William Gebhardt 218 DNF 1:31:44 0:29:59

Queens

Jennie Belt 106 1 1:28:06 1:04:44 0:24:30

Penelope Davenport 105 1:51:32 1:2302 30:38

Katie Lemmert 102 159:50 1:31:42 36:10

Meghan Magennis 103 2:00:25 1:29:54 35:56

Allison Drezek 101 2:00:38 1:27:26 36:06

Teams

Pup N Suds 313 1:16:25 0:54:24 0:23:39

Slowmo 307 1:16:27 0:53:57 0:24:01

Endurance Where It Counts 308 1:17:12 0:54:31 0:21:55

Some R&R 304 1:18:33 0:53:08 0:22:23

Kickin Jass 302 1:20:13 0:57:26 0:28:26

Tank Top 331 1:23:08 0:58:06 0:23:54

Hoos 2 (Hannah & Joe) 316 1:23:15 0:58:27 0:24:24

JRPS 301 1:26:21 1:00:55 0:26:31

Dongals 324 1:26:35 1:02:43 0:23:57

Broken Bones, Bikes & Boats 322 1:26:36 0:58:18 0:25:59

James River Blues Brothers 326 1:26:46 1:02:19 0:27:15

2 Gulls And A Bouey 325 1:28:36 1:03:11 0:29:31

Tots 334 1:29:18 1:03:12 0:24:29

Riff Raff 309 1:30:07 1:04:58 0:32:28

RKMG (Rachel & Mclane) 330 1:36:20 1:08:17 0:23:53

Pretty Pretty Princess 328 1:36:36 1:07:21 0:35:28

Paddleboard 314 1:37:11 1:11:54 0:29:45

IDK (Margo, Dave & Emily) 327 1:37:46 1:06:28 0:29:19

Hoos 1 (Daniel, Ned & Kit) 317 1:39:06 1:12:00 0:33:00

Little Jokers 323 1:40:20 1:15:36 0:21:36

Juicy 332 1:45:17 1:15:13 0:29:36

Hoos 5 (Colin & Emily) 320 1:45:19 1:19:57 0:28:59

Funky Rump Shakers 315 1:45:31 1:18:52 0:38:18

Worst Pace Scenario 310 1:45:38 1:19:51 0:36:10

Pound,Crank, Boof 307 1:47:25 1:21:11 0:27:59

Hoos 4 (Isabelle & Joseph) 319 1:48:31 1:13:29 0:33:00

Francos Fashion Warriors 329 1:52:02 1:04:13 0:28:11

Green Street Alleycats 305 1:52:20 1:24:09 0:36:04

Hoos 3 (Zakey & Alex) 318 2:03:07 1:38:40 0:31:46

Moms Box 303 2:15:36 1:39:39 0:38:17

M.C. Chickens 321 ??? 1:22:21 0:38:38

SOJ 312 DNF 1:03:12 0:24:06

The leaves are falling as the season turns and daylight is getting sparse. Cooler air is settling in among Virginia’s water, and the James River is getting colder. November is a beautiful month to spend time in Richmond’s urban park system, and we are excited to celebrate the second annual King of the James!  King of the James is a triathlon highlighting the mountain sports found in the city’s core, with trail running, mountain biking, and whitewater kayaking

The secret has been uncovered for some time now regarding the gem Richmond is for outdoor enthusiasts, with its miles of singletrack and some damn good whitewater… but sometimes we forget how accessible it is to indulge for a ride or paddle in the park on a daily basis. Being able to have a number of mountain sports in your backyard is a rarity; but here in Richmond, we have it all day, everyday and can literally play outside 365 days a year.

King of the James is the perfect way to test your ability in the mountains all while staying close to home here in the city. The tour of Richmond’s finest begins by tackling an awesome trail run in Forest Hill Park, followed by a ride on the backbone of the city’s mountain bike scene via the Buttermilk Trail and Northbank Trail, and culminating with a paddle down Richmond’s notorious whitewater on the James River.  Although each individual leg of King of the James is not an endurance feat, linking all three back-to-back will get even the most seasoned athletes’ heart pumping.

This could be you during King of the James.

In 2014, Adam Tremper was crowned King and has been one of the events larger-than-life advocates.

“The King of the James is special because it encompasses some of the best things about Richmond into one event, competitive and friendly at the same time,” Tremper said.

Although there is a healthy dose of trash talking among the competitive outdoorsmen and women, King of the James stresses that we are all in it together. If you see someone in need, stop and help. The event also demands respect by all participants to be mindful of the trail users who are just out enjoying our beautiful oasis by moving aside and practicing park etiquette. “King of the James has it all!  Can’t wait to make a run at the throne again this year,” Tremper added.

Sunday is going to be a good day.  If you’re looking to watch some of the event, come out and join us! Some key locations to spend time in the park and witness King of the James are at the Reedy Creek crossing on the trail in Forest Hill Park, just downstream of Crossroads Coffee and Beer. The downhill at Texas Beach on the Northbank trail and Hollywood or Pipeline Rapids on the James River.

There can only be one – King of the James!

‘King of the James’ is an individual, multi-sport event. It can be raced as an individual or a three-person team, with each team member choosing a leg — run, bike or paddle. Individuals must be able to complete the course by possessing the skills of an EXPERIENCED trail runner, EXPERIENCED mountain biker, and EXPERIENCED whitewater kayaker.  This is an extremely difficult course, with many hazards, and requires stamina as well as in-depth knowledge of all three sports.  The course is subject to a variety of changing variables associated with being held in an ever changing outdoor environment.  Please take this into consideration.  If there is any question on your part, about completing any of the disciplines, please do not attempt ‘King of the James’. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the difficulty of the ‘King of the James’.

I spent a good part of yesterday morning on an old school bus, chugging down Route 5 next to the brand spanking new Virginia Capital Trail. I was part of a media contingent brought together by Beth Weisbrod, head of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, to see the finished product and ask questions of those along the way who have a vested interest in its success.

We started at Great Shiplock Park in Richmond, stopped at Rocketts Landing, then went out to Ronnie’s Barbecue in Varina and on to Henrico County’s new trailhead just past I-295 at Four Mile Creek Park. Weisbrod and VCTF board chair Charlie Donato led the way, giving us the history of the trail and telling us about the series of parties that will take place this coming Saturday up and down the trail’s length to commemorate its completion. We met Rocketts residents who are already seeing the quality of life benefits and a Stone Brewing spokesperson who told us how excited Stone is to have the trail so close to its East Coast operations. We met Ronnie and Darrell Logan, of Ronnie’s BBQ, who have seen an uptick in traffic since moving to their location right on the trail in Varina in May (“It’s a place to exhale,” said Ronnie). And we met Henrico Co. officials who spoke about the linkages the trail provides between communities and the future plans they have for the path.

It’s was an interesting morning, but what I really wanted was to get on the trail with my own two wheels. So later yesterday afternoon, despite the impending rain, I hopped on the mountain bike with a friend, Dave Salley, and we pointed our wheels in the direction of the trail. It started raining around Brown’s Island and by the time we reached the trail’s beginning at the Floodwall across from Bottom’s Up Pizza, we were soaked.

But it was also nice. We had this gorgeous ribbon of freshly paved asphalt all to ourselves. We rode to Ronnie’s before turning around, a round trip of about 12 miles. (Then we rode up Libby Hill, 23rd St. and Governor’s St. because…you know.) There’s just something about looking down a path like that and thinking, “If I felt like it, I could ride all the way to Jamestown.”

After 10 years and $74 million, the Virginia Capital Trail is finally here, Richmond, and let me say, it is awesome. I know the weather looks horrendous, but there’s an official ribbon cutting at Great Shiplock Park on Friday (the governor will keynote) and a big old party the following day. Click here for those details. If riding in the rain isn’t your thing, I get it. But whenever this rain breaks, get out there and check out the trail. Like those bike races that just left town, it’ll make you excited to see what we can accomplish when we really want to.

Buttermilk Trail will be part of the course for the 50-miler of Saturday’s Tour de Fall Line. Credit: Phil Riggan

If you run, bike or paddle on and around the James River in Central Virginia, chances are you’ve benefitted from the work of the James River Outdoor Coalition and RVA Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts. The former is made up mostly of paddlers; the latter of mountain bikers. But their effect on the outdoor recreation landscape goes beyond their chosen recreational pursuits. Ever taken your boat out at 14th Street? JROC helped fund and build that. Ever walked your dog along the switchbacking, intricate-stonework and cool-arched-bridge section of the Buttermilk Trail? RVA MORE helped fund and build that.

So, if you intended to run, bike or paddle this weekend anyway, why not do it in a way that aids those groups?

On Saturday, the second annual Tour de Fall Line goes off from Mayo Island in downtown Richmond. The event — featuring multi-distance bike rides, a group trail run and group paddle — is a celebration of what we have here in Richmond: World class singletrack and whitewater in an urban environment. All proceeds go toward these groups that work so hard to maintain these amenities.

Last year, Richmond MORE’s Michael Taliaferro told me, they had about 150 people sign up for the bike rides and about a dozen do the paddle. This year they’ve added a trail run.

“The paddle is a full run of the entire fall line,” he said. “It starts at 9 a.m. and we have room for 30 people on rafts. The cost is $40 which includes the paddle, beer afterward, and food from Lee’s Fried Chicken (or Mellow Mushroom for vegetarians).

The Sports Backers just announced a new event that, not surprisingly, looks to be a blast. It’s coming up in early October, so put it on your calendar now!

In celebration of Richmond’s urban trail system and burgeoning craft beer culture, the group is announcing the first-ever Trails and Ales trail run and craft beer festival, set for Saturday, October 3. The event will take place in Manchester at W. 10th Street and Semmes Avenue, adjacent to the SunTrust building, at 4:30 p.m.

If you agree with the above, ‘Trails and Ales’ is for you. Credit: trailrunningforbeer.blogspot.com

Registration for Trails and Ales is now open at www.sportsbackers.org, with a block of the first 250 spots open at a special rate of $30. Overall registration will be capped at 750. Once the first 250 spots have been claimed, registration will re-open at a later date with a $35 registration fee.

From the SB’s press release: In conjunction with the trail run will be the Trails and Ales Craft Beer Festival, highlighting the exciting culture of craft brewing that is rising in the Richmond region. Beers and ciders from local breweries, including Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Isley Brewing Company, Legend Brewing Company, Strangeways Brewing, and Bold Rock Hard Cider, will be available at the festival, and race participants will receive a stainless steel finisher cup and one drink ticket to be redeemed at the festival. There will also be food trucks, beverages available for purchase, and music. Friends, family, and spectators are also invited to take part in the festival.

Trails and Ales will consist of two course options: an 8-mile ‘Tall Boy’ course and a 5k ‘Pint Glass’ course. Courses will be on the scenic Buttermilk and North Bank trails in the James River Park System. The Tall Boy course pairs medium to high climbs with smooth paths along the river and a fun finish, while the Pint Glass course has lower mileage compared to its 8-mile sister, but shares the same earthy aromas, scenic views, and exciting finish.

“We are very excited to add Trails and Ales to our event lineup to continue motivating and inspiring an active community,” said Jon Lugbill, Executive Director of Sports Backers. “The James River Park offers some of the best urban trails in the country, highlighted by the downtown riverfront. Combining that with the energy and enthusiasm for the craft beer culture here in Richmond will make for a great event.”

Participants will have the opportunity to donate to support a new water fountain in the James River Park. This is a grassroots effort of trail advocates, led by RVA MORE and Kelleher HVAC, to install a human and canine-friendly water fountain at the Pump House Drive trailhead near the Boulevard Bridge. Participants can contribute to this effort during the registration process and on-site during the event.

A racer navigates the mayhem on Buttermilk Trail.

It was a lot of fun riding around with Trey Garman, XTERRA’s marketing/media maven, and Jesse Peters, local photographer extraordinaire, during yesterday’s XTERRA East Championship race here in Richmond. We zipped around the course, trying to catch the male and female leaders as they passed certain key spots. We started on Belle Isle for the swim, watched the bike portion in three or four spots, then the run in a couple. It was hot as heck, but a good time. Here’s Garman’s write-up along with my pics. (I shot the video above at the infamous “rock face” party zone on Buttermilk Trail as fans waited for the racers to come by.)

Josiah Middaugh and Suzie Snyder captured the 17th annual 2015 XTERRA East Championship off-road triathlon pro race titles on a hot and humid day around the James River Park System.

Riders make their way over Reedy Creek in Forest Hill Park.

Both came from behind out of the water, took charge on the bike, and held on during the run.  It’s the second career Richmond win for Middaugh, who last won it all in 2008, and the first-ever win on the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series for Snyder.

The elite race started an hour earlier than the amateur race, right at 7:50am in the warm and shallow waters of the James River.  There was a spot in the middle of the river that had everyone running across water – quite a sight for those watching from underneath the CSX Railway line or across the river on Belle Isle.

Craig Evans led the pro men out of the water on Belle Isle, midway through the swim, followed by Ben Collins, Brad Zoller, Braden Currie, and Branden Rakita.  Those five would post the quickest swim times (roughly 15 minutes) but Middaugh was only about one-minute back and got in the mix on the bike right away.

Men’s champ Josiah Middaugh on the run.

“This is a really challenging course for me,” said Middaugh, who lives and trains at altitude in Vail, Colorado.  “It’s really different than what I train on all the time so it’s always presented a really good, hard challenge for me.  I won it one year when Conrad (Stoltz) had a flat tire, it was on Father’s Day, but it’s been a while.  I wasn’t able to do much pre-riding but luckily I’ve done this race like nine times or something so I felt like I knew the course, just wasn’t practiced at race speed on it.  So I felt pretty good and surprisingly, I’ve worked on my technical skills a little bit and that’s starting to pay off.  Keeping weight on my feet and getting around those corners.  Today I had no problems, that’s the big thing. I’ve had a lot of mechanicals here in the past but today I made it through the course unscathed.”

Middaugh may have been one of the few racers today who didn’t go down at some point.  Runner-up Braden Currie from New Zealand said it was all he could do to stay on his bike.

“That was a tough day out, I tried to do what I could do and I just didn’t have it,” said Currie, who came in with three straight wins at XTERRA New Zealand, Australia, and the Southeast Champs. “I’m a bit gutted really. I would have liked to been a lot closer to Josiah.  It’s a bit annoying to fall off so much at the end, but that’s racing.  Haven’t had the best few weeks so I’ll just take it as it is.”

There were goats in the James River System along the course. That’s correct — goats.

Without the seemingly invincible duo of XTERRA World Champs Flora Duffy and Lesley Paterson in the line-up, the spotlight seemed destined to shine on either Emma Garrard or Suzie Snyder.  Those two have finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, at four of the last five regional championship races.

Garrard was coming off a brilliant effort winning last weekend’s Mountain Games in Colorado, while Snyder was still not 100% from her crash at last month’s Southeast Championship that bruised her ribs and strained her shoulder.

The two posted identical swim times and headed out on the bike behind Sara McLarty, Christine Jeffrey, and Catherine Sterling but it was all Snyder after that.  By midway through the first lap in Forest Hill Park (about mile four) she had passed everyone and put two minutes on Garrard.

These dudes seemed to be enjoying themselves waiting for riders on Buttermilk Trail.

The madness on Buttermilk Trail last year as fans watch riders go by.

If you’ve followed XTERRA’s history in Richmond, you know that in the past few years a raucous party zone has popped up on Buttermilk Trail along the mountain bike course of the off-road triathlon. As you can tell from the pictures here, this isn’t just any party zone. Every year it seems like, more crazies come out of the woodwork to cheer on, and sometimes heckle, the riders as they pass that narrow section of trail.

Well, I guess the demand for that space is now such that another party zone is planned for the bike course at tomorrow’s XTERRA East Coast Championship race. I got a text from one of those crazies today saying that a large group had tested out a new location during last month’s Urban Assault MTB race. They went to Forest Hill Park, where the trail crosses Reedy Creek just below Patrick Henry Elementary School and across the street from Crossroads Coffee. It’s a tricky crossing, and the rocks will be wet, which should mean more than a few crashes.

“We’re taking it up a notch this year,” he said.

The creek crossing in Forest Hill Park where fans will set up a second party zone. A wooden bridge near this spot was washed out by a storm last year. Credit: Alex Modestou

What that means, exactly, I’m not sure. But if you’re in the market for a Sunday morning spectacle tomorrow, head to either the Buttermilk Trail (below Riverside and Southcliff roads) or the Forest Hill Park Trail where it crosses Reedy Creek. The races start at 8 a.m. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s XTERRA weekend in Richmond, and that means off-road triathletes from all over the world have descended on RVA to test their mettle on the James River (1K swim) and it’s surrounding trails (20K mountain bike, 10K run). To quote Trey Garman, XTERRA VP in charge of media relations, “XTERRA has been racing in Richmond since 1999, and the city has firmly established itself as the sports’ finest urban adventure with a hip city culture that compliments ripping trails and the unpredictable James River.”

Here’s some more from Garman on what to expect at the XTERRA East Championship on Sunday:

Josiah Middaugh on Buttermilk Trail. Credit: Jesse Peters

The course itself annually attracts professional and amateur racers from across the country and around the world to discover the epic trails in the James River Park System – where they are greeted by a raucous bunch of bike and trail fanatics who annually throw a trail party at the trickiest section in Buttermilk Heights known as “Rock Face.” They blast music, BBQ, dress in costumes, scream, shout encouragement, and blast on vuvuzela’s to the delight of riders all day long. 

As for the run, it has been best described as the “Fugitive 10K” because of its similarity to some of the chase scenes in the movie The Fugitive including river crossings, rock jumpings, the “Mayan Ruins” stair climb, and train track crossings.  There is simply no XTERRA course in the world like the one in Richmond. 

A solid pro field is in RVA to take on the challenge highlighted by Josiah Middaugh, who won the 20-24 age group race back in 2002 before turning pro, won it all in ’08, and has finished in the top 3 here five times.  Middaugh is fresh off his eighth straight GoPro Games Ultimate Mountain Challenge title in his hometown of Vail, Colorado last weekend (as is women’s XTERRA star Emma Garrard).

Middaugh will be up against Kiwi great Braden Currie, who’s been perfect so far this season.  Middaugh and Currie had an epic race at the Southeast Championship last month, going neck-and-neck from the bike all the way through the run and into the finish line.  Currie, who took the tape in Alabama, says he expects another close one on Sunday here in Richmond.

“The swim is a bit shorter so Josiah will be out of the water not too far behind, and the ride is so technical that there is only so much time you’re going to make on that ride and not a huge amount of long climbs that Josiah sinks his teeth into and really likes so that’ll play a little bit in my favor, so then it’ll come down to the run.  We’ll see, should be a lot of fun,” said Currie.

The party scene on the bike route makes Richmond unique. Credit: Jesse Peters

After Josiah and Braden there are a lot of guys to mention, like Craig Evans who has been in the top 5 here five times and will be competing for the last time as a full-fledged pro.

“I’ve been close a few times here,” said Evans.  “I’m excited to race, and I came to fight this weekend.”

Chris Ganter has been hot this year, finishing third at the first two regionals, the tall Canadian Karsten Madsen was riding great in Alabama last month before a crash and a trio of flats took him out of contention, Kiwi Olly Shaw has had some time to comfortable here in the U.S. and the new look courses, Branden Rakita – the consummate professional has lots of experience here, regulars Ryan Ignatz, Brad Zoller, and Alex Modestou are in the mix, plus Ian King in his first pro race and road tri star Ben Collins making his debut in the U.S. Pro Series.

The women’s race will see a new champion emerge as none of the past XTERRA East winners are here.  There’s no Flora Duffy (last year’s champ), no Lesley Paterson (2013 Champ), no Melanie McQuaid or Jamie Whitmore (both four-time winners), no Shonny Vanlandingham (2011), no Renata Bucher (2010), nor Jody Mielke, Anke Erlank, or Kerstin Weule.

There is, however, Emma Garrard and Suzie Snyder, both eager to take home their first XTERRA U.S. Pro Series win. A couple of fast Canadians – Christine Jeffrey and Brittany Webster – are sure to put them to the test.  Five other women in the top 10 of the Series standings will start with Kara LaPoint (4th), Maia Ignatz (6th), Sara McLarty (7th), Debby Sullivan (8th), and Catherine Sterling.  For local knowledge look no further than hometown favorite Emily Bashton, who’s been racing in Richmond since 2000, and Rebecca Blatt who got her doctorate in medicine at the University of Virginia.

It’s supposed to be a scorcher on Sunday, with temps in the 90’s and the humidity to go with it, so just to finish will be an accomplishment for all involved.  Add in the unpredictable James River, the crazy fan-base in the forest, the one-of-a-kind obstacles and a host of finely-tuned XTERRA elites and you’ve got all the right ingredients for another amazing edition of XTERRA in Richmond.  We’ll document the elite race on twitter @xterraoffroad #xterraRVA starting Sunday at 7:40am EST.