XTERRA East Championship anchors outdoor sports festival

Off-road drama and outdoor adventure will be on display in Richmond Virginia, June 16-17, as world-class XTERRA athletes join thousands of outdoor adventurers for the one of the country's most eclectic sports events, the James River Adventure Games. Featuring competitions in trail running, off- road triathlon, mountain biking, open water swimming, rowing, wake boarding, kayaking, and rock climbing , the James River Adventure Games promises blood, sweat, toil, and triumph for experts, beginners and spectators.

"Richmond is a fabulous setting for an adventure sports event that appeals to seasoned athletes, intermediates, novices or fans," said Jon Lugbill, executive director of the Sports Backers and James River Adventure Games creator. "Our run and bike trails are some of the toughest in the East, the James River packs a competitive punch, and it all takes place within close proximity of our top notch hospitality amenities."

The weekend's main attraction is the XTERRA East Championship in which professional off-road athletes from around the globe come to Richmond to compete in a trail run-mountain bike-river swim triathlon for cash prizes and points toward a championship purse.

In addition, there are several single-sport events such as the XTERRA James River Scramble, a tough 10K trail run that benefits the James River Park System. The XTERRA Mountain Bike Urban Assault is held on one of the most technically challenging courses in the East. The Southern Ski Boats Classic Wake Boarding tournament, one of the region's top invitational competitions with more than $5,000 in prize money, is held at Rocketts Landing in downtown Richmond. The James River Splash offers a one-mile open water swim in the James River's clean and inviting Robius Landing Park section. The Rocketts Landing Sprints Rowing Regatta is a series of 1,000-meter sprints hosted by the Virginia Boat Club along the historic James River waterfront. Kayakers have the River City Rodeo kayak acrobatics contest on the Lower James section, and the Jammin' on the James Boater-cross will pit whitewater boaters in a head-to- head sprint through Class III-IV Hollywood Rapid.

With live music performances and fireworks adding to the festival atmosphere, the James River Adventure Games is the ultimate outdoors sports party in the heart of Richmond.

SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)

Friday, June 15	 
7:00 p.m.	Friday Cheers Music Peformance - Brown's Island
 	 
Saturday, June 16	 
8:00 a.m.	XTERRA James River Scramble 10k trail run -- Brown's Island
9:00 a.m.	James River Splash One Miler, open water swim -- Robious Landing Park
9:00 a.m. to 
2:00 p.m.	Rocketts Landing Sprints Rowing Regatta - Rocketts Landing
9:30 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.	XTERRA Kids Zone - Brown's Island
10:00 a.m.	XTERRA University (Trail Running Clinic)
11:00 a.m.      XERRA MTB Urban Assault, mountain biking -- Belle Isle
11:30 a.m.	XTERRA University (Mountain Bike Clinic)
12:45 p.m.	XTERRA University (Art of XTERRA)
2:00 p.m.	River City Rodeo Kayak and Canoe Freestyle Competition -- James River 
2:00 p.m.	XTERRA University (Swim Clinic)
3:00 p.m.	XTERRA University (Mountain Biking for Women)
9:15 p.m.	James River Adventure Games Fireworks Extravaganza
	 
Sunday, June 17	 
8:00 a.m.	XTERRA Sport Off-Road Triathlon -- Brown's Island
9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m.	Southern Ski Boat Classic, wake boarding -- Rocketts Landing
10:30 a.m.	XTERRA East Championships -- Brown's Island
1:00 p.m.	Jammin' on the James Canoe/Kayak Boatercross -- Top of 1st Break to 14th Street Bridge

Visit www.sportsbackers.org for more information.