August is a fascinating month for XTERRA with 24 races in six countries and 13 U.S. states from New Mexico to New York, each with wildly different challenges awaiting competitors.
In the U.S. amateur racers are chasing points in the America Tour trying to win regional championships and secure their spot at the invite-only USA Championship race.
In Europe it’s the final four – XTERRA Czech, Germany, England, and Denmark - on successive weekends awarding invites to XTERRA Worlds and determining the European Tour amateur and elite champions.
In Canada, there are races across the country at XTERRA Canmore in Alberta and the inaugural XTERRA Quebec in Quebec City.
And in Mexico the fiesta is just hours away as the XTERRA Mexico Championship race returns to Tapalpa – a gorgeous rural mountain town in Jalisco – for the fourth straight year on Saturday.
“The race city of Tapalpa is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos (magical village) and is simply a great place,” said XTERRA managing director Dave Nicholas. “About 100 miles from Guadalajara, it is a jewel of old Mexico with cobble streets, great shops, covered walkways, and huge centuries-old churches alongside a tree lined central plaza. Just off the plaza is about 150-feet of food booths that open every day where they will cook before your eyes - fish, meat, chicken tacos, breaded chili’s, rice, beans and tasty stuff I have no idea what it is.”
After the race on Saturday night Tapalpa has a huge XTERRA Fiesta that is the best after party on the world tour with fireworks and bands in town square amidst thousands of visitors and locals alike. Jalisco is also the home of Tequila, which will be out in abundance.