The Nissan XTERRA World Championships went off for the fifth straight year on Maui Sunday without a problem... unless, of course, you have a problem racing a grueling off-road triathlon under the blazing Hawaiian sun.

One of the most fun, exciting, and demanding athletic events in the world, the XTERRA World Championships are the culmination of a 10-race American points series in which mountain bikers and "pure" triathletes from around the world compete for points and big cash.

German-born Kerstin Weule and Idaho's Michael Tobin were the big pro winners for 2000, winning both the World Championship event in Maui, as well as the points series overall. For their hard work and speed, the two won the lion's share of a $112,000 purse, each earning $11,000 for the series win and another $6,000 for the Maui championship.

Their wins were at the expense of the mountain bike contingent, who for several years has landed in Hawaii to dominate the final event by crushing the other triathletes on the course's punishing 18-mile mountain bike section, which climbs 3,000 feet over sharp lava and dust, up the side of the famous Haleakala volcano.

But competitors have more than just a volcano to worry about. The course started with a 1.5-kilometer ocean swim from the Outrigger Resort's beach. Hundreds of friends, family and curious onlookers cheered the 400 starters as they plunged into the warm, blue Pacific waters at 9am Sunday.

After swimming two laps in the protected cove, competitors run up the beach to their awaiting mountain bikes at the first transition area (T1), throwing on shoes, helmet and gloves before heading out into the searing heat for a couple hours on the bike. If they survived that — and some didn't — they came flying down the mountain into the final transition, T2.

At T2 they dropped the bike and helmet, changed into running shoes and headed out for a six-mile trail run through trees and sand. Their legs, already cooked from biking, now had to deal with deep sand on Makena beach, fallen trees and even a lava rock outcropping. They then sprinted to the finish in front of luxury resort hotels before finishing where they started, back at the Outrigger.

Most riders finished the event looking worse for wear — covered in fine brown soot, sweat and often their own blood. Tory Valentine was one such pro. She had raced in 3rd place nearly until the finish, where she collapsed before the finish line and had to be carried across — disqualified. Three women of 24 starters failed to finish the event, while one of the 48 men DNF'd.

But for those who finished strongly, the race was addictive. Tobin, for example, dominated in 1999 before losing the championships to former mountain bike pro Ned Overend. Overend, known as "The Lung," and "Deadly Nedly," won this race twice in a row, but couldn't manage better than 5th this year. Tobin ran a smart race this year, working his way past two other Michaels — Vine and Pigg — before winning the race outright and overtaking the points series.

Tobin bided his time, allowing first Wes Hobson and then Mike Pigg into the lead after a mediocre swim. He attacked in the bike section on Ned's Climb, the most technical part of the course. At the top of the 1400-foot climb, he had the lead, followed by Vine and Pigg. He then took over on the run and never looked back.

"Today had the toughest moments and the heat was intense," he said after his win. "I almost fell over it was so hot. I'd like to congratulate Kerry Classen for his consistent season and I'd like thank everyone here."

In the women's division, Weule had a tough battle on her hands as well, as she worked her way past mountain bike pro Melanie McQuaid in the final running section for the win. McQuaid had taken the lead during the mountain biking, passing early leader Cheri Touchette. Raeleigh Tennant and Ironman athlete Wendy Ingraham had been first out of the water, but Ingraham dropped out of the race early after she was stung by a bee.

Weule came back from a flat tire to battle it out in the bike section with '99 series champion Jody Purcell, but Purcell also suffered a flat tire and Weule worked her way to the front so that, by the run, she was within four minutes of leader McQuaid. She then passed McQuaid in the run with just miles to go and left the battle for 2nd place behind her.

Valentine, Germany's Uli Blank, Lorraine Barrows, Jenny Tobin and Karen Masson comprised that battle. As the girls hit the beach for the run home, all were slowing from exhaustion. It appeared McQuaid might fall to Valentine, but the split between the two blew out and Purcell also passed the failing Valentine, only to feel the heat herself.

In the final few hundred yards, Purcell went into a meltdown, but Valentine completely blew and fell down before the finish line. Behind her Purcell was hanging tough but was passed by Uli Blank, Jenny Tobin (with the women's fastest run split) and Karen Masson.

As the winningest XTERRA competitor, Weule was excited to be the 2000 champion.

"Mentally, this was the hardest race ever," she said. "I flatted a tire and that took some time to fix. It's been a very tough season and this was the toughest race mentally. But I just kept chipping away. I'm glad it's over!"

Next year the purse doubles in Maui, and XTERRA is expanding the series around the world — to Australia and New Zealand — adding the southern hemisphere races to those already established in Japan, Great Britain and Canada.

— Ari Cheren, ready for his Mai Tai IV for MountainZone.com