(Tumon, Guam) The year round summer-like climate on Guam is great for sports, but this spring is especially loaded with athletic events. April features another in the series of what is called �the toughest one day race in Asia,� the GEAR Sprint Series Race #4. This tough race pits competitors against the elements, as well as each other, in a grueling race over rough terrain in exhaustive heat and high humidity, all leading towards the Guam Extreme Adventure Race 7 in May. The GEAR Sprint Series Race #4 takes place on April 14th and for more information, including how to participate, log on to their website at www.guamextremeadventurerace.com

Guam�s population numbers will jump the entire weekend of April 13th through the 15th, as international competitors arrive to put the pedal to the metal in Guam�s longest running off road race, the 25th annual Smokin� Wheels. This motorsports extravaganza will include three days of competition that includes off-road buggies, trucks, ATV�s, mini-bikes, and motocross along with 4X4 rock crawling and mud-bog drag racing, auto-x, and two nights of drag racing that will bring out the top cars of sport. Participants from Guam will be going up against some of the best racers in the world, including racers from the Japan All Terrain Vehicle Association (JATVA) who have been sending drivers to participate in Smokin� Wheels since 1985. One very special competitor this year is Japan�s top racer, Hiro Mitsushita. In 1995, Mitsushita was the first Japanese racer to ever compete in the Indy 500 and the only rookie to finish. He is expected to give fellow racers some tough competition.

In an effort to attract an even more diverse audience, Smokin� Wheels will feature remote control car racing for the first time with the help and participation of Remote Control Car Racing � Guam (RCCRG). This internationally recognized race will be held at the Guam International Raceway Park. Hosted by the Guam Racing Federation along with sponsors Shell, Miller Lite, Kyowa Shipping Co., and the Guam Visitors Bureau. Smokin� Wheels is a highly anticipated event that is eagerly waited for each year by international racing fans and local residents alike. For more information, visit www.guamsmokinwheels.com

The following weekend is a special event of an entirely different nature, literally. The Guam National Wildlife Refuge, Ritidian Unit, will hold the Grand Opening of its new Nature Center at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 28th. The Nature Center features detailed murals of the four types of geography found at the Guam National Wildlife Refuge, located on Guam�s northernmost tip, as well as an interactive display of Guam�s indigenous birds. Several of the featured species are now extinct, but many others continue to fight for survival, including the flightless Guam Rail, or Ko�ko�, Guam�s territorial bird, which lives exclusively in captivity under the watchful eye of the Department of Aquatics and Wildlife. While several Ko�ko� have been released on the island of Rota, located to the north of Guam, the population remains too fragile for the species to survive in the wild on Guam.

The Nature Center will be a perfect addition to the Guam National Wildlife Refuge, which is a federally protected region of Guam where the limestone cliffs are dotted with natural caves, several with pictographs that are hundreds of years old. The Refuge is a protected site and while visitors are welcome to take tours of the caves, a Park Ranger must accompany you and any violators will be cited. Everyone is invited to visit the new Nature Center once opened and to make arrangements for a tour of the forest and caves, call the Guam National Wildlife Refuge at 355-5096.

May is Tourism Month on Guam, which is sponsored annually by the Guam Visitors Bureau, and host to an exciting array of events, including more athletic competitions, starting with the 4th Annual Guam International Tennis Open. The Open takes place over two non-consecutive weekends at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa Tennis Courts and involves a $15,000 grand prize purse. The 4th Annual Guam International Tennis Open begins with tournament matches on the weekend of May 4-6 in the 3.0, 4.0, and 35+ Masters Divisions. Competition continues May 16 through 20 with open division matches. International players are expected and welcomed. Registration will continue until April 16 at 6 pm and you will find more information at the official tournament website, www.guamopen.com

The final race, #5, of the GEAR Sprint Series Race will take place on May 5th. This will be competitors� last opportunity to get some race experience in Guam�s warm weather before the Guam Extreme Adventure Race 7 on May 27. The GEAR 7 includes running, trekking, mountain biking, ocean kayaking, orienteering, swimming, and extreme teamwork on a course that isn�t announced until the day of the race to insure no one has an unfair advantage. Do you think you�re tough enough for the Guam Extreme Adventure Race 7? Visit www.guamextremeadventurerace.com for more information on how you can find out!

Every month, several of Guam�s villages honor their patron saint with a fiesta celebration and on May 5 and 6 the southern village of Inarajan will incorporate the Fiestan Inalahan Songfest as a major part of their festivities which last the entire weekend. This annual event, which is held at and sponsored by the Gef Pa�go Chamorro Cultural Village features food, games, local performances, arts & crafts, and Carabao rides all in honor of Inarajan's patron St. Joseph. The Fiestan Inalahan Songfest is a wonderful way to experience Guam�s culture through song at one of the island�s most scenic villages.

Saturday, May 19th is a busy day with two major events occurring. The 4th Annual Tumon Bay Ocean Swim takes place in the morning with swimmers crossing the beautiful Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, from one side of the bay to the other. There will be several courses, ranging from a 3200m course, an 800m course, and a 3 x 200m relay course. The Tumon Bay Ocean Swim is sponsored annually by the Greater Pacific Aquatics. From the ocean to the road, Saturday continues with X-5, pronounced Cross Five and also the Way of Japan Xtreme Supershow. This exciting show brings together five extremely different, extremely hot events in a super show with something for everyone to enjoy! Combining Xtreme Cars, Xtreme Girls, Xtreme Sounds, Xtreme Gear, and Xtreme Sports, X-5 is scheduled to happen on Saturday, May 19 from 3 to 8pm on the rooftop of K-Mart in Tamuning. Featuring some of the hottest cars from Japan, Los Angeles, and Guam who will be competing for trophies and prizes in categories like Xtreme 2-door, Xtreme Chopper, and more, including the Best JDM, or Japan Domestic Market, which features specialized detailing and custom features not found on typical Japanese models. Selected cars will be invited to participate in the LUXG Luxury and Exotic Showcase, sponsored by LUXG magazine of Japan.

Gorgeous models make up Xtreme Girls, Xtreme Sounds will be defined by a stage hopping with performances by local bands and off-island talent, and Xtreme Gear will include hip clothes and other associated items like remote control cars and more. To top it all off, Xtreme Sports will feature three pro BMX riders from Japan will amaze the audience with a killer display of flatland BMX, a series of demonstrations that showcase the balance, skills, and discipline of the riders in a flurry of awe inspiring jumps, turns, and tricks all done with their feet never touching the ground. Tickets for X-5 will be $10 for adults and $5 for children between 6-12 years old. X-5 is organized locally by Vertical Productions and sponsored by Heineken beer, the Outrigger Guam Resort, and Guam Visitors Bureau.

May activities continue the following weekend beginning on Friday night, May 25th with the American Cancer Society� annual Relay for Life, a twenty-four marathon of business and community members who will walk non-stop to raise funds to continue the fight against cancer. From an event that encourages the sweeter side of human nature to one that honors one of the world�s sweetest fruits, the mango. Taste the many flavors of the mango during Guam�s first ever Mango Festival. Held May 25th through the 27th, the Mango Festival will be held in the southern village of Agat and is hosted by the Agat Municipal Planning Council. Learn how to grow healthy mango trees that produce luscious fruit, enjoy activities for the kids, participate in the Mango Cook-off and try mango cuisine at the Mango Brunch, all in the beautiful setting of Agat Town. Guests will also learn how to buy the perfect mango tree for the garden, the basics of preparing and freezing pulp, making juices and jams, pickles, preserves, dehydrated slices and pastries. Everyone is invited to this delicious festival. May ends the same way it began, with one of Guam�s oldest athletic events, the 20th Annual Manukai Cocos Crossing on May 27th. Swimmers make the two-mile crossing from the Merizo Pier on Guam�s southernmost tip across the lagoon to Cocos Island, the tiny island off the southern coast. Swimmers enjoy the gorgeous turquoise water of the Cocos Lagoon and may even be joined by dolphin or two as they make the annual crossing hosted by the Manukai Athletic Club.

Springtime is full of athletic fun on Guam along with a healthy slice of our Chamorro culture, sweetened with the taste of mango. Throw in Guam�s gorgeous beaches, sunny days, and full itinerary of other exciting attractions and April and May quickly become another wonderful time to visit Guam, USA!

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Media Contact: Cindy Hanson chanson@visitguam.org 671-646-5278