This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The best-of-the-best in the U.S. will meet at Snowbasin Resort near Ogden on Saturday to determine who will walk away with the coveted titled of XTERRA USA Champion.

Over 1,500 competitors — including many of the best triathletes and trail runners in the world — are expected for a weekend that that will include the USA Championship off-road triathlon and Trail Run National Championship on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. This is the fourth year in a row the two races have been held on back-to-back days in the same location.

More than 40 elites including every man in the top 10 and every woman in the top 15 of the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series rankings will toe the line, along with an influx of international stars looking to win big on American soil.

The spotlight in the men's race is on reigning XTERRA World Champion Ruben Ruzafa, who was a perfect 7-for-7 on the XTERRA European Tour this year, and reigning XTERRA U.S. Pro Series Champ Josiah Middaugh who finished ahead of Ruzafa at this race last year (they went 2-3 behind Leo Chacon).

There are a lot of other contenders in the mix, however, with South Africans Dan Hugo (winner of seven World Tour races this season) and Brad Weiss (2nd in the Pro Series standings), the young-gun Mauricio Mendez from Mexico, and Aussie sensation Ben Allen.

2014 Registration Now Open

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Two days, two national championship events, one spectacular destination. Put it all together and you can see how Snowbasin Resort and Ogden, Utah, are being transformed into XTERRA Title Town USA on the weekend of Sept. 20-21, 2014.

The XTERRA USA Championship off-road triathlon and the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship are being held on back-to-back days, and in the same destination, for the fourth year-in-a-row. The two events will bring roughly 1,500 of the nation's very best amateur and professional triathletes and trail runners to Snowbasin Resort to battle for the title of XTERRA National Champion. —

XTERRA USA Championships

At Snowbasin Resort

Saturday, 9 a.m.• XTERRA USA Championship Start at Port Ramp Marina, Pineview Reservoir (1.5k swim, 29k mtb, 10k trail run).

Sunday, 9 a.m. • XTERRA Trail Running National Championship Half Marathon Start.