Photo Gallery: XTERRA Pacific Championship

On the run, Renata Bucher kept Lesley in her sights.

Renata Bucher of Switzerland is all smiles before the start of the race.

Swimmers test the water before the mass beach start.

Melanie McQuaid gets a little help from a friend to clear her goggles.

The elite athletes sprint for the frigid waters of the Pacfic Ocean.

The age group athletes watch what line the elite athletes take in the swim shortly before their start.

Christine Jeffrey, AKA "Big Fish" was the first athlete out of the water on the first lap.

Lesley Paterson cool under pressure runs along the beach looking to start her second lap of the swim.

A small pack of elite men ride by the light house in Santa Cruz.

Dan Hugo of South Africa puts the pressure on early and would keep the intensity to finish 2nd overall.

4 time World Champion, Conrad Stoltz takes a quick feed early on the bike.

Paterson caught lead woman Jeffrey early on the bike and never looked back.

Branden Rakita flies through the "enchanted" forest dodging boulders left and right.

Damian Gonzalez focused on the bike.

Emma Garrard had a breakout effort and finished 3rd overall.

Stoltz took the lead mid way on the bike and kept it.

All the athletes had to negotiate steep bluffs on the run.

Seth Wealing had a great run and finished 3rd overall.

Rakita does his best with a sheer cliff.

With the help of CAF, Jamie Whitmore makes her XTERRA comeback!

On the run, Renata Bucher kept Lesley in her sights.

Bucher gauges the gap she needs to close.

Conrad looked strong from start to finish.

Stoltz wins.

Lesley is thumbs up with the victory in reach.

Lesley Paterson wins her first XTERRA Championship.