October 23, 2006 (Colorado Springs, CO) – With autumn rolling in across the country, the race schedules for most multisport athletes are coming to a close. But for those involved in the up-and-coming sport of winter triathlon, the competition is still ahead.

Those winter triathletes will get to showcase their skills on the national level on Feb. 4, 2007 when Devil’s Thumb Ranch, just outside Winter Park, Colo., hosts the USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship.

The event will feature an 8k trail run 15k mountain bike, and 10k cross country ski. Devil’s Thumb and 5430 Sports will offer a race preview event on Sun., Jan. 14, 2007. The course for that event will be shorter: 5k run, 10k bike, 8k ski.

Devil’s Thumb is the ideal location for the event, says race director Barry Siff of 5430 Sports. “It’s exciting to bring the sport back in a big way to Colorado,” says Siff, who has produced over a dozen winter triathlons since 1998, including the 2002 USAT National Championship. “Devil’s Thumb has built its reputation as one of the premier Nordic skiing centers in the Rockies. There are miles and miles of gorgeous trails for all levels. The transition area is viewable from the large windows in the lodge. The logistics are perfect for the site, plus you have the beautiful backdrop of the Rockies.”

The top athletes in the sport should be on hand to compete as the event will also serve as an International Triathlon Union Continental Cup event and as a world championship qualifier for age groupers and elites. The top two in each age group will qualify for worlds in Flassen, Italy on March 4, 2007.

“Devil’s Thumb Ranch is excited to host the winter triathlon series and work with 5430 Sports which has an excellent reputation in event organization,” says Heather VandenBroeck, director of sales at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. “We are very pleased to be involved with the growth of winter triathlon and looking forward to the events.”

Already popular in Europe for years, winter triathlon has seen growth in the U.S. and Canada of late, especially as competitive triathletes find that Nordic skiing offers a great off-season cross training workout. There is also an international push to add winter triathlon to the list of sports for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. For more information about the sport, visit:

www.usatriathlon.org/Winter_Triathlon.htm

5430 Sports is a leading developer and organizer of sport-based events. With a focus on multisport endurance races, 5430 produces high quality, premiere races for the beginner, as well as elite competitors.

www.5430sports.com.

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States. USAT sanctions 1,800 races and connects with more than 60,000 members each year, making it the largest multi-sport organization in the world.

www.usatriathlon.org.