Bucher thanks Saipan for showering her with love

After completing the 2009 Saipan Sports Fest last weekend, Switzerland’s Renata Bucher can’t help but thank the island’s warm people for showering her with so much love.

Though she competes for a living, the 31-year-old Swiss Miss says it’s not the prize that makes her a frequent participant in XTERRA Saipan and Tagaman, but its people’s hospitality and the island’s very relaxing atmosphere.

Bucher said she and the rest of the off-island participants had enjoyed sort of a package tour on Saipan—mixing competition with vacation.

“This set-up helps a lot of athletes. I had a great time and I will bring home all the good memories,” said Bucher, who left Saipan yesterday.

She said she will have a lot of stories to tell to her family and friends when she gets back home.

“I would like them to know that I had such a great time here,” she said.

Bucher, whose unprecedented fifth straight XTERRA Saipan Championship win might be difficult to eclipse, said she will take a three-day rest back home before buckling down to work.

Following her victory in the 8th Annual XTERRA Saipan Championship and the 20th Tagaman Triathlon, Bucher is set to compete in XTERRA Las Vegas on May 2.

The Swiss pro booked her second Tagaman victory Saturday after timing in at three hours, 28 minutes and 18 seconds, nearly lacking serious threat from the rest of the field in the women’s division.

Bucher’s closest pursuer was Saipan’s Mieko Carey, who still submitted a good time (3:32:58) despite racing with broken ribs (left side). Carey sustained the injury after a bike crash during XTERRA Saipan.

The absence of two-time world champion Julie Dibens of Great Britain also made the day easy for Bucher.

Dibens had a bike crash during XTERRA Saipan and ended up having broken ribs (right side), too. She missed Tagaman due to an earlier commitment in another event in Florida.

But with or without Dibens or any other pros, a win is a win for Bucher.

“Sometimes it’s nice to win just like that. It was a little bit easier for me and I am really glad because I saved a lot of energy,” she said.

By winning both XTERRA Saipan and Tagaman, Bucher retained the PIC Double crown and earned a free accommodation at the Pacific Islands Club for next year’s Saipan Sports Fest.

She said she is looking forward for the competition next year, as she aims to defend three titles—XTERRA, Tagaman, and the PIC Double.