2014 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship to be held in Jervis Bay, NSW Australia

TEAM Unlimited LLC, owners and producers of the XTERRA World Tour, has reached a three-year strategic partnership agreement with Destination New South Wales to host the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship off-road triathlon and accompanying sports festival in the Jervis Bay area.

The inaugural event is scheduled for April 26-27, 2014, and will double as the XTERRA Australia Championship.   The weekend will also include a sprint distance off-road triathlon, trail runs, kids events, camps, clinics, and social gatherings.

“For the next three years, the XTERRA Asia-Pacific and Australian Championships, which have never been held before in Australia, will be held exclusively in the NSW South Coast town of Jervis Bay,” said George Souris, Minister for Tourism and Major Events.   “XTERRA is estimated to bring up to $5 million in the State of NSW over the next three years with over 2,000 visitors to the local region each year.”

As the most prestigious event in XTERRA’s Asia-Pacific series that includes championship races in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, Guam, and the Northern Marianas “the XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship will offer $50,000 in prize money to the sport’s top professional athletes and two television shows will be produced for international distribution.

“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Destination New South Wales and bring one of the major pillar events in the XTERRA World Tour to the New South Wales and Jervis Bay region,” said Tom Kiely, TEAM Unlimited CEO.   “Our athletes will be treated to a remarkable setting for a race and perhaps more importantly, a truly amazing adventure destination to explore and discover before and after the big event.”

While the specific route has yet to be determined, the main event will combine a one-mile swim with roughly 30-kilometers of mountain biking followed by 10km of trail running.   The best athletes from across the region will be invited to compete for the Asia-Pacific crown and local athletes will be welcome to join in the fun and embrace the XTERRA motto to “Live More.”

“The NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, works hard to secure major events for regional NSW and XTERRA is a fantastic new addition to the NSW Events calendar,” said Souris.   “The spectacular coast line of the Jervis Bay area will provide a fitting location to host this triathlon event.”

The Australian-based operating team of Limelight Sports “producers of the inaugural XTERRA Great Ocean Road off-road triathlon held in Anglesea, Victoria last April “will serve as the local liaison for the event.

“We are very excited to partner with TEAM Unlimited and Destination NSW to further develop XTERRA in our region,” said Andrew O’Loughlin, the managing director of Limelight Sports. “This wonderful location will inspire participation from Australian and international athletes alike as the off-road triathlon and trail running formats continue to grow globally.