8 pros from Europe, Japan confirm for Saipan XTERRA

Seven professional triathletes from Europe one from Japan and have already confirmed their participation in the 2009 XTERRA Saipan Championship slated this April, according to the latest update from Taga Inc. president Wolf Mojica.

Mojica said the eight pros who have signified their intention to participate include former Tagaman champion Julie Dibens, three-time XTERRA Championship winner Renata Bucher, Shonny Vanlandingham, Jim McConnell, Allan Collinson, Mike Vine, Taro Shirato, and Ulli Katzer.

He said Bucher and Collinson have confirmed that they will be doing the PIC Double, which would mean they would compete in both the XTERRA Saipan Championship and Tagaman Triathlon.

Bucher and Vine will also be conducting clinics free of charge to the public.

“This is a great opportunity for local athletes to get some advice and tips on training, nutrition, equipment, and other aspects of competition in sports,” Mojica said.

The XTERRA Saipan Championship will be held on April 18, while the Tagaman Triathlon will be on April 25.

“This is the premier event of the Western Pacific sports activities and will bring many people from all over the world to our beautiful island,” said Mojica.

Bucher, who is from Switzerland, won last year’s PIC Double women’s division by sweeping both the XTERRA and the Tagaman triathlons.

Last year’s men’s division champion Andrew Noble of Australia also wants to come back and defend his title in both XTERRA and Tagaman.

This would be the eighth year for the annual event that draws competitors from as far as Europe, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Saipan. The XTERRA Saipan Championship is considered the crown jewel of the XTERRA Global Tour, and the Tagaman Triathlon, the longest-running endurance race in the western Pacific

Noble’s combined time from the two races was 5:41:16, while Bucher won her second PIC Double in three years with a total time of 6:38:20. She also won the same event in 2005.

The XTERRA Saipan Championship will be 1.5-kilometer swim, 30-km bike, and 12-km run, while the Tagaman has a distance of 2 km in the swim, 60 km in the bike, and 15 km in the run.

A side event will be the Saipan Sportsfest that will also feature the annual Sophia Walk, an XTERRA bike race, and the Taga Kids.

Individuals, groups, or agencies wanting to serve as volunteers during these two biggest triathlon events on Saipan may contact Mojica for more details at 236-2540 or 483-4274.