Breaking News
Local Sports

Lahaina’s Fisher, Clark ready for 24th Xterra World Championship

By Dakota Grossman 5 min read

Lahaina residents Steve Fisher and Gerry Clark have toed the starting line of every Xterra World Championship since the very first one on Nov. 3, 1996.

And now, they are prepared to swim, bike and run for the 24th time on Sunday against some of the best amateur and professional Xterra athletes from around the world.

"It is an honor for me to be able to compete in the Xterra World Championship mountain bike triathlon," the 59-year-old Fisher said. "This event is bigger around the world than most here on Maui realize. I plan to race as many Xterra Worlds, as long as I can crawl across the finish line."

The off-road triathlon starts with a 1-mile swim at D.T. Fleming Beach, which leads to a new two-lap 20-mile mountain bike course and then finishes with a 6.5-mile trail and sand run.

The pro race is slated to start at 8 a.m. in front of the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua.

The West Maui course consists of steep inclines 3,500 feet up with hot temperatures, but Fisher said he prefers a "very hot day and a very steep uphill climb on the mountain bike," so he is all set.

"There have been many course changes since 1996 and I welcome every revision with a positive attitude," said Fisher, who has been training for about six months for the Xterra. "Last year's race is just a bit of history, this year's race is a new challenge."

Fisher is also known to assist international athletes by providing housing and race information during the week, including racers from South Africa, some who have competed in the Olympics, as well as challenged athletes.

Competitors and spectators also know Fisher for his "unofficial mascot."

"I have a 3-foot red parrot named Hi'ilani that loves to mountain bike with me, while sitting freely on my shoulder," he said. "He is a bit famous with the Xterra athletes. I do not race with him, however he has been on my shoulder when I pre-ride the course.

"The other athletes just love to see Hi'ilani when they visit Maui," he added.

The Xterra Worlds is his main triathlon focus, only having competed in two other triathlons. Fisher also loves to ski during the winter season with his business MauiSkiBus, an old shuttle bus that travels to different ski resorts across the country.

But during the other seasons, you'll find him on Maui, swimming, biking and running, much like his longtime friend Gerry Clark, who will also be participating in his 24th Xterra Worlds.

"Steve and I have been friends for longer than Xterra has been around," Clark said. "At this point in my life I just want to finish and have fun. ... I told myself that I would make it to 20 years and then stop, but I love the feeling of accomplishment when I hit the finish line."

The 59-year-old carpenter from Lahaina said he's been racing triathlons and mountain bike races since 1983, competing in interisland races frequently for fitness, competition and the joy of it.

Recently, however, Clark's goals have been just to finish these challenging races like the Xterra and "not have to go to the medical tent," he jokingly added.

"Being active is my lifestyle," he said. "My wife loves to do the same sports, so we encourage each other and enjoy training together. I usually ramp up my training several months prior to the (Xterra)."

Fisher and Clark don't expect for Sunday's race to be their last.

"I have no plans to stop," Clark said. "As long as I can stay healthy and continue to enjoy it, I keep doing it."

The pair will be joined on the line by about 650 off-road triathletes representing 42 different countries and 40 U.S. states, including a field of professional racers competing for $100,000 in prize money.

The top five men from last year return, including defending champion Rom Akerson of Costa Rica and Spain's Ruben Ruzafa, a three-time Xterra World champion who said he is going for the title after finishing fourth last year.

"Every year I come in to give my best," Ruzafa said. "Xterra Worlds is a special race. The place, the course, the swimming, the heat and humidity."

Ruzafa will also be competing against the 2017 winner Bradley Weiss of South Africa, 2015 winner Josiah Middaugh from the U.S., as well as the 2019 Pan American Games champion Sam Osborne of New Zealand.

The Xterra World Championship race is the last in a series of more than 100 off-road triathlon races held around the globe.

Throughout the series and leading up to the Xterra, Ruzafa stays "concentrated and keeps going."

"This year is twisty and dry, we will see on Sunday," he said. "Finish the race strong is the challenge. My bike is my strongest leg, so I try to take some time for the running.

"Coming to Maui is always a different adventure, every year is unique."

* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

Starting at /week.