THE seaside town of the Callala Beach will be buzzing with energy on the weekend of 18-19 April, as the Xterra Asia Pacific Championships heads back for the second year.
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Four events will be staged over Saturday and Sunday, including the Xterra Asia Pacific Championship Triathlon (1.5km swim, 34km mountain bike ride, 10km trail run), sprint distance (750m swim, 14km mountain bike ride, 5km trail run), XTERRA Trail Half Marathon (21km) and 10km team relay.
There will also be a free 5km fun run for children.
More than 500 competitors will take part in the action this weekend, including Bomaderry resident Julie Dart.
“I first got involved in the sport of triathlon when I was younger, more than 30 years ago,” Dart said.
“After getting married and having kids, I finally returned to the sport last year.”
Dart, 59, who competes for the Jervis Bay Triathlon Club and used to live in Callala, is excited to compete this weekend.
“I competed in the XTERRA ocean swim event last year, which was fun has the water was a mill pond,” she said.
“But I thought this year I’d step it up and have a crack at the sprint distance.
“It will be more challenging than normal because getting out on the trails is going to cause some problems for some competitors.
“But that’s the beauty of this area.
“The area around Jervis Bay and Callala is so unique and beautiful and that’s why we have secured the event here until the end of 2016.
“Off the back of last year’s success, we are hoping that it continues to grow in popularity, because we would love to keep the event here beyond next year.”
Dart, who is normally a swimming coach for all ages, has travelled to Melbourne and Busselton, Western Australia to watch her athletes compete.
She has reduced her coaching days down to two, in order to increase her own training regime and fitness.
As the most prestigious event in the Asia-Pacific series, which includes championship races in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Guam, Tahiti, and Saipan, the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship will offer $50,000 in prize money to the sport’s top professional athletes and produce a television show for international distribution.
The event lures amateur and professional athletes from around the world to NSW, and locals flock to the event in pursuit of XTERRA Australia Championship honours.
The off-road sports festival weekend also includes a sprint distance off-road triathlon, trail runs, and relay team competitions plus free kids events attracting more than 500 competitors of all ages.