The Race Across America 2009 (RAAM) The World's Toughest Bicycle Race, Welcomes an International Field of Elite and Amazing Cyclists

RAAM starts June 17, 2009 with a strong field of racers including 4 time winner Jure Robic, past winner Daniel Weiss and the upstart Austrian Christoph Stausser. This year world renowned surfer Laird Hamilton hopes to break a cross continent record with his 3 teammates as does a 4 man team consisting of racers 75 years or older.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) May 7, 2009 -- The Race Across America (RAAM) and the Race Across the West (RAW) are pleased to make the following announcements regarding their ultra-endurance bicycle races beginning June 17, 2009 in Oceanside, California.

RAAM is pleased to welcome back the only person to ever win 4 Solo Male RAAM Championships, Jure Robic of Slovenia. Robic's dominance will be challenged this year by several international racers; one time RAAM Champion, Daniel Wyss of Switzerland; Gerhard Gulewicz of Austria who survived a spectacular crash in RAAM 08; Marko Baloh, one of the world's greatest ultra-endurance cyclists who also is a Slovenian national; Navy Seal David Goggins; Julian Sanz Garcia who rode a strong race in 2008; and an Austrian rookie who shows all the promise of becoming a future RAAM Champion - 26 year old Christoph Strasser.

In a world of orchestrated events that attempt to manipulate the impression of something spectacular, RAAM delivers the real deal. For 28 years, RAAM has been producing champions from everyday people and the trials and tribulations they endure never fails to intrigue, motivate and inspire all those that cross their path. Regardless of whether they witness firsthand a RAAM team and its entourage of support vehicles racing through their town or by following the progress on the race's official website, raceacrossamerica.org, RAAM creates an energy of its own.

While maintaining an extremely competitive perspective, many racers find the desire and ability to utilize RAAM as a forum to raise awareness and funds for the charities and causes that they support. In each of the last three years, RAAM contestants have used the race to raise over $1 million for various charitable causes in the United States, Canada and Europe.

In Team RAAM, which starts June 20, 2009 in Oceanside, CA, many interesting teams have signed on to give it their best. In the 4 person division Big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton has again teamed up with Bally Total Fitness founder, Don Wildman, Rage Against The Machine bassist, Tim Commerford and Ironman participant, Jason Winn. This extreme team has more than a world record in their sight, as they are riding to raise awareness and funds for various causes. Wildman, an 8 time Ironman participant, is no stranger to RAAM, having raced in 1994. The 76-year-old picture of health completed a 500-mile journey of standup paddle boarding and cycling in 2006 with Hamilton in an effort to raise awareness for Autism (nationalautismassociation.org) and Lou Gehrig's disease (alsa.org). Hamilton, referred to by Men's Journal as the "World's Greatest Surfer", is also a co-inventor of tow-in surfing. A long time supporter of Autism, Hamilton will be pedaling for The Beautiful Son Foundation (beautifulsonfoundation.org). California native, Jason Winn is a seasoned athlete who completed his first Ironman Triathlon at age 23. Musician Tim Commerford, who is riding for Hans Rey's "Wheels4life" (wheels4life.org), is known as an obsessive mountain biker who thanks his bikes in the liner notes of his albums. The athletic prowess and inspiration goals of "Team Surf" make them a force to be reckoned with.

Not to be outdone by the maturity of Don Wildman is Team Grand Pac Masters, this 4 person entry consisting of Lee Mitchell, Robert Kash, Lew Meyer and Chris Stauffer, are vying to establish a record as the first team aged 75+ to complete RAAM. Also expected to make an impact are two-time 8-Person Team RAAM Champions Team Type 1 and Team ViaSat a perennial frontrunner in the 8-Person division. Many new faces have signed on in the 4 person division and race organizers and fans anxiously wait to see who will emerge as front runners.

In 2008 the Race Across the West was introduced, primarily, as an introduction for people not ready for the challenges of a 3,000 mile race. RAW will be contested by racers from Europe, Canada, Australia, South America and the United States. Joining the ranks of Race Across the West racers this year is Gary E Johnson, the Governor of New Mexico from January 1, 1995 to January 1, 2003. Once referred to as the Most Dangerous Politician in America, Mr. Johnson hopes to bring his edge to the sport of ultra-cycling. Mr. Johnson who has competed in approximately 500 sporting events around the world is no stranger to serious athletic endeavors. Asked how he assesses the difficulty involved in competing in the Race Across the West, he said, "It ought to be brutal and yet only 1/3 (the distance) of RAAM, which has always been a dream of mine. I really look forward to competing in RAW which has a finish line at my home in Taos."

All races and racers will receive a big send off in Oceanside, California. "Publisher and Funky Dude", Bob Babbitt is expected to deliver his flair as he hosts the start of the men's Solo Race (June 17, 2009) which will also feature a demonstration of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team, "The Leap Frogs."

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/RAAM/2009/prweb2350214.htm