Paradise Found
Photography by Rich Cruse
Making vacation plans? Ask your travel agent about Saipan. Most people would travel to a sunny Shangri-la like this for pure relaxation. A volcanic island about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean, Saipan is known for bright blue skies, crystal clear turquoise water, pristine beaches and warm tropical breezes. n For the last two years, it's also been known for one of the planet’s best off-road triathlons — the Xterra Saipan Championship. And that's exactly why 130 multi-sport athletes from around the world (pros and age-groupers alike) took time out from an otherwise laid-back vacation for some endorphin-inspired excitement. n So pack your surf shorts and your sun block, but don't forget your bike cleats and your trail running shoes. You’d hate to be just a mai-tai sipping spectator in a place like this.
After the cannon blast that started the race, Australia's Jason Chalker took an early lead using dolphin-dive tactics in the 1.5k shallow-water swim. He was the first out of the water with a 27-second lead, well ahead of Arthur Guerrero (No. 108) and Julian Coopernurse (No. 105) from Guam. California’s Jamie Cardenas was the first pro woman out of the water, only to lose the lead to Colorado’s Melissa Thomas on the bike leg.
Once out of the water, athletes transitioned to mountain bikes for a 30k jungle ride from the beach to the 1,500-foot summit of Mt. Tapotchau and back. Despite his doomed appearance, Courtney Cardenas (left, No. 103) turned in one of the faster bike legs of the day. But Aussie pro Jason Chalker (above) dominated every discipline and won the race by more than 14 minutes. “I really couldn’t see anyone behind me so it was hard to tell how far in front I was,” said Chalker, eighth at the 2024 Xterra World Championship. “So I just kept pushing the entire race.” Good strategy, huh?
You call this trail running? "It was an epic course, with a run that probably is the most unusual we could ever find," says Xterra’s Dave "The Kahuna" Nicholas. He wasn't kiddin'. Competitors maneuvered through secret World War II-era tunnels, rappeled into hidden jungle caves and scooted down 60-degree slopes during the 12k trail run. Jamie Cardenas turned in the third-fastest run of the day to overtake Melissa Thomas and win the women’s title (and finish fourth overall).
2024 Xterra Saipan Championship, April 12, Saipan,
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
OVERALL MEN
1. Jason Chalker, Pro, Sydney, Australia, 2:40:26, $2,200; 2. Yu Yumoto. Pro, Chiba, Japan, 2:54:51, $1,700; 3. Makoto Nagatome, Pro, Miyamae-Ku, Japan, 2:57:08, $1,200;
4. Keiji Matsuba, 45-49, Gifu-City, Japan, 3:12:03; 5. Arthur Guerrero, 35-39, Agana, Guam, 3:14:48; 6. Jude Baker, Pro, Upper Tumon, Guam, 3:16:14, $800; 7. Paul Chetwynd, 40-44, Chino, Japan, 3:17:05; 8. Courtney Cardenas, 25-29, Elk Grove, California, 3:19:30; 9. Taro Shirato, Pro, Tokyo, Japan, 3:25:13, $600; 10. Kaley Parkinson, Pro, Pleasant Hill, California, 3:41:11, $400.
OVERALL WOMEN
1. Jaime Cardenas, Pro, Elk Grove, California, 3:06:59, $2,200; 2. Melissa Thomas, Pro, Boulder, Colorado, 3:08:28, $1,700; 3. Haruna Hosoya, Pro, Matsumoto-Shi, Japan, 3:38:32, $1,200; 4. Haldre Rogers, 20-24, Dededo, Guam, 4:10:22; 5. Susan Seay, 40-44, Tamuning, Guam, 4:11:38; 6. Dawn Hammermeister, 35-39, Saipain, 4:22:19; 7. Natalie Parkinson, 25-29, Pleasant Hill, California, 4:24:47; 8. Donna Baker, 35-39, Upper Tumon, Guam, 4:26:02; 9. Misaki Hosoya, Pro, Kawanishi, Japan, 4:26:37, $800; 10. Wendy Minor, 55-59, Honolulu, Hawaii, 4:44:37.
fastest swim: Chalker (20:15), Scherr (23:34) fastest bike: Chalker (1:25:26), Thomas (1:35:28)
fastest run: Chalker (54:45), Cardenas (1:02:38)
