Rebecca Dussault (Saab Salomon Factory Team) raced to victory, putting together the best bike, snowshoe, run and randonnee ski times to capture the XTERRA Winter World Championship.
Last year Rebecca Dussault had a two-minute lead heading into the final ski stage but was on a heavy telemark ski set-up while eventual champion Sari Anderson came screaming by her on a randonnee rig and took away the win.
It was an important equipment lesson learned for Dussault and the same situation would not be repeated … for two reasons a) Anderson stayed home nursing a cold, and b) Dussault was on a sweet pair of Goode Randonnee race skis made of pure carbon fiber that are half the weight and twice the physical properties as other comparable skis that have wood in them (Brian Smith was on the same skis).
Dussault was also in much better shape and focus this time around – having won the USA Winter Triathlon Nationals and a bronze at the Winter Triathlon World Championship in Austria where she became the first American to ever medal.
“I’m in much better shape than last year, and I’m a proud owner of Goode skis for four days now” exclaimed Dussault. “These skis are so lightweight and really fun on the downhills.”
The 8-time U.S. National XC Ski Champion and 2006 Winter Olympian dominated just about every phase of today’s race – posting the fastest bike, run, and ski splits. Only Myriam Guillot from France, the XTERRA Winter European Champ, had a better snowshoe time.
Amateur racer Brandyn Roark Gray had a brilliant bike and was just 30 seconds behind Dussault heading into the snowshoe, but by the run Brandyn dropped to third and Lisa Isom moved into second, but still nearly four minutes behind Dussault.
In the end Dussault finished nearly 15 minutes ahead of Isom, with long-time XTERRA pro Jenny Tobin in third, Guillot in fourth, and Jari Kirkland in fifth.
For complete results and more information visit http://www.xterraplanet.com/winter/index.html
Source: XTERRA News
![Rebecca Dussault charges to victory in the XTERRA Winter World Championships (Photo: Sharbel Dussault)](http://images.fasterskier.com/2009/03/dussault.jpg" "Rebecca Dussault charges to victory in the XTERRA Winter World Championships (Photo: Sharbel Dussault)")
