The course started with a 1.5K swim in Pineview Reservoir. At the first transition area, racers hopped onto their mountain bikes to start a 30K ride to Snowbasin ski areas. The ride traverses dirt trails as it meanders Wheeler Canyon. Athletes climbed about 1,800 feet on the way to the ski area. There they completed two 5K single-track loops before switching gears to head out on an idyllic 10K trail run through a two-loop single track run course.

"The course was good, well run. It was a big-scale event, and there were so many supporters," Vine said.

Seth Wealing, who was virtually paralyzed three weeks ago when a stick went through the hamstring in his left leg, put up a strong display finishing second, a minute behind Vine.

"The weather and terrain seems so much similar to my hometown," the 28-year-old from Boulder, Colo., said. "It's a good setup for Tahoe."

Ogden's Guy Perry was the top local finisher clocking 2:50:22 and was 31st overall. Tim Martersteck from Ogden won the XTERRA Sport race in 1:45:37.

Xterra offers a great opportunity for athletes like her to see the world, Thomas said. "It's a destination race and is all over the world. We get to go away, tour the globe and have fun."

The top 15 pro men and women bagged a $20,000 prize purse and points toward the overall series title while amateur athletes vied for the Mountain Champ age-group title, one of the 34 qualifying spots for the Nissan Xterra World Championship in Maui.

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E-mail: schakraborty@desnews.com