XTERRA Hammerman Gives Back
Race director Andy Duenow isn’t in it for the money. In fact, your entry fee to XTERRA Hammerman may help to send a kid to college.
“Making money has never been the purpose of why I put on races,” said Duenow. “We love the sport. We charge as little as we can, and everything that doesn’t go into putting on the race goes right back into the club.”
The club he is referring to is the Alaska Triathlon Club, a 501(c)(3) self-described: non-profit, non-intimidating organization, dedicated to the educational pursuit of triathlon, general physical fitness, and the representation of the sport of triathlon within the community.
Each year, the Alaska Triathlon Club awards a $500 scholarship to one male and one female triathlete who have competed in at least four triathlons and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Purity of purpose is nothing new for Duenow, who got his start mountain biking in the late 1980’s in Colorado.
“There was no such thing as suspension on those bikes,” said Duenow. “And no such thing as carbon frames.”
From Colorado, Duenow moved to Arizona. After he and his wife married, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where they worked in the hotel industry.
“We are both from the Pacific Northwest, and after living in Arizona for a while, we wanted to live someplace where we didn’t have to water our grass three times a day.”
With lows below zero in the winter and highs in the summer only reaching the 70’s, Duenow doesn’t worry about the heat anymore.
“There’s a reason we’ve stayed in Anchorage for 20 years,” he said. “The east side of town is surrounded by 3000 foot mountains. The west side of town is bordered by a nordic ski park with 60 kilometers of trails. Then you have the ocean.”
Duenow’s XTERRA Hammerman will take place this Saturday in Little Campbell Lake, the nordic ski trails of Kincaid Park, and hand-built trails made by local single track advocates.
To register, visit www.hammermantriathlon.com.
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