When it comes to health, wellness and fitness, Stratton sponsored athlete Steve Croucher is your man. A seasoned triathlete, Steve lived and trained with the snowy mountains of Colorado as his backdrop before returning to the East Coast and calling Stratton, Vermont home. Part of a growing number of extreme sports athletes in Vermont, he took his first overall number one title in last week’s French River XTERRA triathalon, beating the number two athlete by nearly one minute in his run time and almost three minutes in his swim time.
An XTERRA off-road triathalon takes the traditional triathalon to the next level – swapping road biking for mountain biking and road running for rocky, steep trail running. Croucher took the French River XTERRA win on a true New England summer day – 60 degrees, windy, rainy and muddy. Despite the conditions, he said the course was “so much fun. There was a water crossing, and there was a mud bog pit to go through during the run.”
For Croucher, being able to live and train in the same state is a big win. “I like to travel on the weekends to nearby trail running and mountain biking hubs, but for the most part I’m on nearby grinder roads and the Appalachian and Long Trail to get my work in,” he said. “Stratton Mountain is 4,000ft. of amazingly difficult and scenic terrain,” making it a hub for training athletes, and sports ranging from trail running, road biking and mountian/fat biking.
When asked why he was inspired to wear the Stratton logo on his chest, Croucher said, “I do it because I believe in it. Stratton embodies wellness. It supports getting outside and doing whatever it is that makes us happy & healthy. When I was racing in Virginia, people would ask, “you’re from Vermont?!” I was pretty proud to tell them where I’m from. They want to know how I train & what it’s like living here. So to wear the shield, it’s very cool to represent both Vermont and someone who believes in me.”
Ever since his first XTERRA off-road triathalon in 2013, Croucher has been hooked on the endurance-based sport which propels each athlete into nature’s most rugged terrain. From now until November 2015, Croucher will compete in XTERRA triathalons in New York, Pennsylvania, Utah and Hawaii. If you would like to help support Steve compete for USA Nationals, visit his Road to the Podium page.
To learn more about outdoor activities at Stratton Mountain, visit here. Stay tuned to Venture Vermont throughout the summer, where Steve tells all his secret spots to train, mountian bike and run.
About the Author:
Cassie Russo | Cassie’s family clicked her boots into skis at the age of 2, and she couldn’t be more grateful. Growing up in Central Massachusetts, Cassie ventured to the snowy mountains of Vermont almost every weekend until her late teens, where she worked at a ski shop as she studied for a degree in journalism. She switched to snowboarding at age 10 & her passion for the sport grew every time she touched snow. You can now find Cassie living her dream of residing in Vermont, pursuing a writing career and strapping a snowboard to her feet almost every day. When the snow melts, you can find her on her paddle board, on the tennis courts and trying to find the next adventure.
Stratton Mountain Blog 
Challenging Outdoor Fun – it’s a lifestyle … As Steve’s website says … Happy Trails! http://www.stevemcroucher.com/
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Croucher Pit Crew