October 6, 2026 - October 9, 2026 | Grindstone Lake Park

Community Course Sessions

Join XTERRA coaches, elites and fellow athletes for guided sessions on the all-new Ruidoso course. These swim, ride and run meetups are a chance to preview key sections, settle the nerves and share trail time with the global XTERRA community.

Introduction

In the days leading up to the race, XTERRA-certified coaches and elite athletes will host a series of no-pressure, community-driven sessions across the course. From open water swims in Grindstone Lake to high-altitude trail runs and technical mountain bike segments, these group sessions offer a rare opportunity to explore the terrain, ask questions and learn from those with deep experience in the sport.

Designed for all levels and open to all registered athletes, the Community Course Sessions are about more than just scouting lines and learning landmarks. They’re a way to connect with others, build confidence and soak in the spirit of XTERRA—together, on the trails, before the starting gun goes off.

Clinics

Explore the Community Course Sessions designed to help athletes get familiar with the terrain before race day

Capacity for the MTB Skills Session on Thursday, Oct 8th is limited. To reserve your place, please fill out this form.

Timetable

Tue, Oct 610:00 - 11:00Grindstone Lake
Tue, Oct 614:00 - 15:00Wingfield Park
Wed, Oct 711:00 - 12:00Grindstone Lake
Wed, Oct 711:00 - 12:00Grindstone Lake
Wed, Oct 714:00 - 15:00Wingfield Park
Thu, Oct 810:00 - 11:00Grindstone Lake
Thu, Oct 810:00 - 11:00Grindstone Lake
Thu, Oct 813:00 - 14:00Grindstone Lake

Tue, Oct 6

10:00 - 11:00

Community Ride

MTB | Grindstone Lake

Get some time on the trails before the big day alongside certified XTERRA coaches. These community rides are designed as relaxed, social sessions with no pressure—open and accommodating to every level. It’s a chance to get familiar with the course, dial in your lines, and arrive at the start line feeling confident and ready.

Coaches

14:00 - 15:00

Community Run

Run | Wingfield Park

Get used to the terrain and altitude with a few race-week runs before the gun goes off. The community runs are an opportunity to get out on the course while learning from certified XTERRA coaches. They come with no pressure at all and are open to all levels—a chance for a shakeout run before the big day, with practical tips along the way.

Coaches

Wed, Oct 7

11:00 - 12:00

Community Bike (Ladies Only)

MTB | Grindstone Lake

A ladies-only session designed to connect with fellow riders and XTERRA coaches for a dedicated walk-through of the bike course. Built for every skill level, this session offers a supportive, zero-pressure space to read the terrain, test your lines, and talk through technical features together.

Coaches

11:00 - 12:00

Community Ride

MTB | Grindstone Lake

Get some time on the trails before the big day alongside certified XTERRA coaches. These community rides are designed as relaxed, social sessions with no pressure—open and accommodating to every level. It’s a chance to get familiar with the course, dial in your lines, and arrive at the start line feeling confident and ready.

Coaches

14:00 - 15:00

Community Run

Run | Wingfield Park

Get used to the terrain and altitude with a few race-week runs before the gun goes off. The community runs are an opportunity to get out on the course while learning from certified XTERRA coaches. They come with no pressure at all and are open to all levels—a chance for a shakeout run before the big day, with practical tips along the way.

Coaches

Thu, Oct 8

10:00 - 11:00

Community Ride

MTB | Grindstone Lake

Get some time on the trails before the big day alongside certified XTERRA coaches. These community rides are designed as relaxed, social sessions with no pressure—open and accommodating to every level. It’s a chance to get familiar with the course, dial in your lines, and arrive at the start line feeling confident and ready.

Coaches

10:00 - 11:00

MTB Skills Clinic

MTB | Grindstone Lake

A practical, skills-focused session built around the fundamentals of fast and flowing mountain bike riding. Learn directly under the guidance of XTERRA coaches, then apply what you’ve learned straight onto key sections of the World Championship course.

Coaches

13:00 - 14:00

Community Swim Session

Swim | Grindstone Lake

Come test the waters of Grindstone Lake and get open-water swim guidance from XTERRA coaches with years of experience in the water. These sessions are ideal for shaking off pre-race nerves and getting practical open-water advice—especially for those who have trained primarily in indoor pools.

Coaches

Meet Your Coaches

Meet the coaches leading the Community Course Sessions. This section introduces the XTERRA coaches and athletes who will guide you through the swim, bike and run sessions, sharing local insight, practical tips and experience from the course. Get to know the people you'll be learning from before joining them out on the trails.

Michael Pearce

Wheatland, Wyoming, USA

A fixture on the trails for decades, Michael brought a deep foundation in endurance sports to the XTERRA circuit in 2023. Since then, he has put together 29 age-group podiums across 38 starts in nine countries, earning the Americas Tour age-group championship alongside overall points leadership. A retired teacher and youth coach, he balances racing with a lifelong commitment to guiding others. As an XTERRA Certified Coach and USAT Level 1 coach, Michael focuses on bringing positive mindsets, practical physical readiness, and steady guidance to help athletes navigate world championship terrain and reach the finish line.

Specialities

Mountain Bike, Open Water Swimming, Trail Running, Mental Preparation, Beginners

Michael Pearce

What to Expect

A grounded approach to mental and physical preparation. Michael focuses on practical feedback to help you navigate the process of reaching the start line, pacing your effort on course, and finishing strong.

Jenny Smith

Gunnison, Colorado, USA

Jenny’s path into off-road triathlon began in 2004 when a background in running and mountain biking led to her first XTERRA start at Keystone—a push encouraged by fellow racers Jamie Whitmore, Melanie McQuaid, and Melissa Thomas. A fifth-place finish launched a long career in elite off-road racing and endurance coaching. Coaching XTERRA athletes since 2009, she co-directs Aim High Performance Coaching alongside her husband, Brian, working with endurance athletes across all levels and guiding a USA Cycling U23 development team.

Specialities

Mountain Bike, Trail Running, Beginners, Elites

Jenny Smith

What to Expect

A practical, on-course mountain bike skills session. Jenny breaks down foundational riding techniques directly on the trail, giving you actionable tools to build speed and natural flow on race day.

Brian Paul Smith

Gunnison, Colorado, USA

With two decades of experience racing as an XTERRA Elite athlete and cross-country mountain biker, Brian brings a deep understanding of off-road terrain. Co-director of Aim High Performance Multi-Sport Coaching with his wife, Jenny, he focuses on a holistic training approach—helping aspiring athletes build efficient bike handling, confidence, and their full potential on the dirt.

Specialities

Mountain Bike, Elites

Brian Paul Smith

What to Expect

A holistic look at training for off-road triathlon. Brian shares insights focused on bike handling, efficiency, and helping athletes reach their full potential on the trails.

Suzie Snyder

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

As a USA Triathlon and XTERRA Certified Coach, Suzie works with athletes across every level of the sport, from first-timers to the elite field. Her coaching philosophy centers on meeting people where they are—factoring in personal history, individual goals, and everyday life stressors to build sustainable training. Whether preparing for a world championship or simply building strength and health to live life outdoors, she emphasizes steady, personal progress.

Specialities

Mountain Bike, Open Water Swimming, Trail Running

Suzie Snyder

What to Expect

On-course preview sessions focused on riding key sections of the mountain bike trail. Suzie helps athletes work through technical features and practice the specific skills needed to ride them with confidence.

Kurt Dallow

Summit County, Colorado, USA

A grand master athlete and retired sports physician, Kurt brings a lifetime of medical knowledge and endurance sport experience to the trails. A US Masters swim coach who continues to train and compete, he centers his coaching on patient listening, direct answers, and helping athletes improve while keeping the joy of being outside at the heart of every session.

Specialities

Mountain Bike, Open Water Swimming, Trail Running, Beginners

Kurt Dallow

What to Expect

Undivided attention, practical answers to your questions, and a low-pressure session built around enjoying time outdoors.

Calvin Zaryski

Calgary , Canada

Clavin's ultimate goal is to empower athletes to reach greater performances and lead by example. The process must be challenging with frequent micro successes but realistic without sacrificing their heath or life balance. This philosophy works for Elite, Age Group and Novice multi-sport athletes. Coaching XTERRA athletes allows me to incorporate new and radical training methods which creates excitement and ultimately more consistency for greater success.

Specialities

Swimming, Track and Field and Triathlon

Calvin Zaryski