The first ever Xterra race in Australia, set down for February 4th at Falls
Creek in the Victorian highlands, is now set to attract even more
competitors with the announcement the race is a point scoring event in the
Xterra Australia Tour.

As such Xterra Falls Creek could be the first step on the road to Maui for
local athletes looking to qualify for the awesome Xterra World Championship
in October each year.

"Team Unlimited, the organisers of the Xterra World Championship, have
granted 30 slots to the inaugural Xterra Australian Tour, with points
allotted to all competitors in the first three races", says Xterra
spokesman,
Nick Munting.

"This means the winning point scorer in each age group, from the combination
of Xterra Falls Creek, Xterra Canberra and Xterra Queensland, will qualify
for the Xterra World Championship this year in Maui."

Already entries are flowing in for Xterra Falls Creek, a sprint Xterra set
on great roads and tracks and an ideal introduction to the sport of Xterra
for Australian triathletes, mountain bikers and cross country runners.

The entry list is presently headed by two time World Triathlon Champion,
Emma Carney and 1999/2000 Xterra USA series runner up, Jody Purcell.

Further entries include Raeleigh Tennant, second in Xterra UK in 2000 and
Steve Senier, Xterra Pro athlete from the USA. They are challenged by a new
breed of would be Aussie Xterra racers, led by Melbourne's Shane Smith.

Entries have already been received from Victoria, New South Wales and the
Australian Capital Territory.

Entries can be made on-line at www.Xterraoz.com

The Xterra Australia Tour heads to the ACT and Canberra on March 10/11 for a
1500m swim, 30km mountain bike ride and an 11km run before swinging north to
Queensland.

An announcement on the Queensland venue will be made shortly...

For further information about the Xterra Australia Tour visit www.Xterraoz.com.