Wasle Defrosts With World Tour

Today in Kundl, Austria – the hometown of XTERRA Pro Carina Wasle – it’s freezing (quite literally as its 32 degrees Fahrenheit).

To combat the cold, Wasle – a three-time XTERRA Germany and two-time XTERRA Czech Champ – is packing her bags for a month-long trip to kick-off the 2011 XTERRA World Tour.

Her first stop is the XTERRA South Africa Championship in Grabouw on February 26.

“This will be my third time to South Africa and it’s a fantastic race to start the season,” said Wasle. “I haven’t ridden my bike since Maui (where she finished 6th), and SA is the right place to train and work on technique. The organization is top notch, people are very friendly and helpful, and the food is fantastic - sweet potatoes, grapes, mangoes. But take care of the Baboons! They are cheeky and steal things from your car. I saw one baboon last year who frightened a tourist when he was sitting beside him … in his car!”

From the colorful characters in South Africa Wasle will journey to Southeast Asia for the inaugural XTERRA Philippines Championship race in Cebu on March 6.

“It’s a long flight but I’m sure it will be worth it. Clear water, warm weather, a nice hotel, I think it will be great,” said Wasle, who will be up against reigning World Champ Shonny Vanlandingham when she gets there.

After that race Wasle will go from one tropical paradise to another as she jumps across the Western Pacific Ocean to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands for the March 12th XTERRA Saipan Championship.

“I have never been there, but everybody is swarming about it so I decided to stay there for two weeks so I could really explore this amazing island,” said Wasle. “Plus, one week after XTERRA there is a road race - the Tagaman Triathlon - and it counts like the double with the XTERRA race which should be fun.”

With the trip Wasle will welcome in the new year XTERRA-style. The South Africa, Philippines, and Saipan races are the first three championship events on the XTERRA World Tour, each offering pro prize money and qualifying spots to XTERRA Worlds for amateur racers. And, she’ll escape one very cold winter month in her hometown.

“After these four hard racing weekends, walking around only in my shorts and making holiday in the sun I have to go back to Austria, but winter should be over by the end of March, hopefully,” said Wasle. “If you want to escape the cold winter, join me and do all these races. I’m sure it will get hot.”