Xterra World's in Maui

Richard Ussher / 29.10.2009

Arriving in Maui for the Xterra World Champs we were immediately reminded why we hadn't come any earlier – the cost, our cheerful cabbie dropped us off, took our cash, assumed the extra $15 dollars was his tip and jumped back in his cab and took off before we could even utter 'could we get some change from that'.

Luckily our place was looking pretty plush and so it should have been at the price. A couple of hours later we'd almost righted all of the things we'd either assumed wrongly or over looked such as the fact there was no way to get to the race venue without either riding (or in Elina's case running as she hadn't brought a bike over) or by car, which we subsequently hired.

Given we'd cut the arrival time pretty fine it was all systems go to put the bike together and get down to the race HQ to register and get out on the practise course (the actual course is closed except for the race).

What a huge stroke of luck it was then that we were able to find the HQ without a map, which we didn't have, and that the practise course consisted of a 3km ride to the trail section which was then about 7 min long before you were back at the start again. At least I hadn't missed too much excitement or valuable training time on that one.

Now that the time pressures had been averted it was time to try and figure out where the run went. Unfortunately we were presented with Private property signs at even the slightest hint of an off-road excursion and so we ended up running down to a beach we were fairly certain was in the course. We were less certain about the nudist beach we ended up at.

Back for a quick swim and for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to swim out around the buoys that had just been deposited for the swim course. It always seems to be when you are as far as possible from the beach that the realisation that you could be on tonight's menu hits and the prescribed up tempo efforts turn into one mad dash for the beach. The next day I was duly informed that just a few kilometres down the beach a surfer had received several hundred stitches when an 8 foot shark decided he looked rather tasty.

Race Day had dawned by the time I got up – I love late starts!

Waiting for the swim start it was incredible how blatantly most of the pro athletes ignored the efforts of officials to move back from the water's edge so it was no surprise when they got it somewhat close the gun sounded and we were off. The usual washing machine of arms, legs and bodies. I always find it intriguing how you can end up having someone trying to swim horizontally to you as they try and climb over your back.