Whatever happened to X-Zone, Tropicana, and UltraFit in 2002?

Simon French has gleaned some information about the lack of top events in the Crosstraining calendar (updated 8 April 2002)

See Hywel's comments

You may well know this already but the news doing the rounds at BoxFit on Saturday 9 March was that X-Zone 2002 is off and 2003 is only a possibilty. Someone I was talking to about this mentioned that it was basically to do with money. Apparently RAF Cosford wanted £30,000 for hosting it and the TV rights were about £250,000 so the organisers decided that, short of charging 3 figure entry fees, couldn't justify running it. Once again it seems that greed is set to ruin a sport with all involved in the competition suddenly demanding ridiculous fees now that they've seen how successfull it's been in previous years. It's a shame as X-Zone stood out as a superb competition and was definitely more of a test than most of the others that run through the year. I suppose one question that has to be asked is if it has to be televised? After all if TV companies are going to be charging that amount to screen it, is it really that important? Some might argue that if the sport is ever to gain a higher profile then it's got to be the way to go but on the other hand if events such as X-Zone no longer run due to extortionate media costs then there won't be anything around to give the sport a high profile anyway!

UltraFit, although being one of the pioneers in this field, don't help matters by charging approx. £16k for the licence to run their course design at any competition other than their own. I was speaking to a Life Fitness rep in Cardiff the other week at the Indoor Rowing Championships and asked them about their sponsorship of the event last year. They said that despite them putting a lot of time, money, and manpower into it, ultimately they didn't benefit that much. They had several top technicians on hand over the weekend, custom-modified the bikes to UltraFit's requirements, had to pay for all their accomodation and expenses, and paid out a large amount for the "privilege" of being there. When they asked UltraFit for a breakdown of what their money had been spent on they couldn't provide them anything and consequently Life Fitness have pulled out of sponsoring this years UltraFit (if it runs). However insiders said that a large amount had been spent on accommodating the marshalls and paying for an all-expenses night out in the week!!

It's a pretty sad state of affairs for the X-Training community but I guess money issues were always going to rear up somewhere along the line. Organisers such as Dave Coard and Stuart Leng deserve a big pat on the back for taking the initative and orgainising their own competitions (in Stuart's case several!!) but pretty soon there's not going to be many other ones left and that'd be a real shame as there's so much talent thats starting to emerge just now.

Simon French

Thanks, Simon. With no sign of X-Zone this year and uncertainty over Tropicana and UltraFit we rely ever more on the efforts of the "independents" such as Stuart Leng (One On One) and Dave Coard (Boxfit). Let's all make every effort to support these events. If you have any news or comments, please email us.

Richard & Ade (crosstraining.org.uk)

Comments from Hywel

Speaking from the point of view of someone who has dominated the events for the last 5 years - 3 Tropicana Titles, 4 Ultrafit, Every X Zone - I have entered the competitions for different reasons; Prove fitness, Be competitive, Training targets and material reward. I have trained incredibly hard for every event that I have done and it begs the question as to why I never really went on to anything else.

Ulrafit Promised international competition

Alex Johns of X zone promised large TV prizes and European competition

Neither have given any future but at least I have achieved material reward and I can't say that for any others out there. The total value of my prizes is exceeding 20,000 pounds which yes I am happy to take but at the same time there has been no cost to the organisers. Ultafit just print articles and get free holidays, X zone get sponsors and large entry fees.

The people who want to compete and test their fitness are being denied because someone down the line wants to make a lot of money. On the one hand they are trying to promote it but on the other they are preventing it.

I have been following the website and pleased to see that there are still people willing to start new events but at the end of the day it is about fun and fitness and we are the people who know how to make it fun. Not with subjective and inconsistent judging but with the banter shared among the top guys and the efforts of those starting out in the sport.

I never went on to do anything in real sport because I found an area that i could exploit but then nothing came of it and I went into adventure racing and triathlon. Some other people are going the same way and loving every minute.

I believe that a group should get together and create the competitions for ourselves, no need for prizes or big sponsors, just the publicity it deserves and the personal satisfaction of seeing where you are among the fittest guys in the country. You may even get a chance to beat me now that I only have one leg.

Hywel