APAC Champs: What to Know About the 4-in-1 Off-Road Festival in Australia

The Asia-Pacific Championship is back in Australia after an 11-year wild ride through some of the most tropical and untamed terrains to have featured on the XTERRA circuit. It was back in 2014 that the hunger for off-road adventure in the region reached critical mass, leading to New South Wales, Australia, being chosen as the first-ever host of a newly minted Asia-Pacific Championship—an event designed to unite the region’s most passionate off-road athletes on some of the best and most challenging trails APAC has to offer.

Eleven years on and the adventurous, community-driven spirit of the event remains unchanged, but XTERRA has evolved. Off-road triathlon is now faster and younger than ever, with the XTERRA World Cup pushing the limits of pro racing at the highest level, while the recently launched Youth Tour has introduced a new wave of rising talent. At the same time, the XTERRA World Tour continues to expand, with new races offering challenges for competitors of all ages and abilities. The 2022 debut of the Trail Run World Series has also brought together a global community of endurance runners under a unified series, which is now an integral part of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Championship.

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Having taken on the challenging terrains of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan, the APAC Champs now returns to Australia in 2025, with an all-new venue set to showcase every facet of XTERRA’s evolution.

When the APAC Champs makes its return down under, it won’t be to New South Wales. Since 2023, XTERRA Australia has found a new home in the coastal town of Dunsborough, and in just two years, it has more than proven that while small in size, it packs a punch worthy of championship status. Located just a three-hour scenic drive from Perth, Dunsborough offers an accessible yet remote feel, combining all the signature ingredients of the XTERRA experience.

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Dunsborough is a town that feels like a race village, with a tight-knit community that lives and breathes off-road sports. Accommodation is plentiful and within minutes of the trails, keeping athletes close to the action. The well-marked bike trails, with green, blue, and black lines, cater to riders of all skill levels. The ocean is as inviting as it is stunning, with its glistening turquoise waters, while trail runners are spoiled with kilometres of ocean-side trails at the ready. 

For those travelling from afar, world-class wineries, white sand surf beaches, and a collection of must-visit cafés and breweries make the journey well worth the flight or drive.

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From a racing perspective, Dunsborough brings a fresh challenge—the kind every XTERRA Championship aims to deliver when rotating to a new location. A stark contrast to last year’s grueling climbs in Taiwan, this course scales back the elevation, but makes up for it with diverse and demanding terrain. Athletes can expect a mix of twisting singletrack, rolling fire roads, sandy trails, and rocky headlands, creating a course that will test both endurance and technical skill for off-road triathletes and trail runners alike.

This edition of the APAC Champs will be the biggest yet, featuring the opening stop of the World Cup, the APAC Triathlon Championship, the APAC Trail Run Championship, and the first-ever APAC Youth Championship—all taking place on the Dunsborough trails over three days of racing. The event is expected to draw well over a thousand athletes, with competitors from 19 nationalities already confirmed across seven race categories.

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It’s the first time a regional championship has brought together all four of XTERRA’s major race formats in one festival, creating an action-packed experience for both athletes and spectators. Alongside the main races, the weekend will feature the fan-favorite Short Track race, swim, bike, and run clinics, community-driven activities, kids’ races, awards dinners, and live music.

All race start times and activities are available on the APAC Championship page, with a breakdown of what to know and who to watch on each race day below.

Taking the reins from Taiwan, Australia will host the opening stop of the XTERRA World Cup pro series, bringing many of the world’s best off-road triathletes to the rapid and sometimes rowdy trails of Dunsborough. The 2025 XTERRA World Cup will see pros compete across 8 stops and 11 races—including 7 Full Distance races and 4 Short Track showdowns—as they battle for series points throughout the season. If you haven’t followed the series in its first two years, get everything you need to know here.

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Australia will be the time the World Cup has opened the fast and furious Short Track format, and Dunsborough’s tight, twist-laden trails are primed to deliver an epic. With continuous turns, sharp features, and technical sections, position changes will be frequent, keeping the race wide open until the very end. Three-time World Champion and 2025 World Cup winner Solenne Billouin will be the name to watch in the Women’s race, while bike specialist and World Cup runner-up Jens Emil Sloth Nielsen will likely set the pace in the Men’s. 

For those new to the format, it’s short, fast, and loud. Only the top elites are invited, with separate men’s and women’s races to deliver back-to-back action. The condensed course is designed for spectators, giving fans a front row seat to the race. Both races kick off with a lightning-fast 2-lap, 400m swim, followed by a 3-lap, 8K bike ride, and capped off with a 2-lap, 3K sprint to the finish. 

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This is off-road triathlon at its fastest, where every second counts and athletes will be looking to make an early statement in the race for the World Cup title. If you’re in Dunsborough or nearby, get trackside on March 27 for one of the most explosive races of the year. And if you can’t be there in person, follow the action in Australia and the rest of the pro series on the XTERRA World Cup page.

Short Track Start Times:

Women’s race: 15:30 (GMT+8)

Men’s race: 16:30 (GMT+8)

Shortly after the Short Track dust has settled, the Full Distance Off-road Triathlon gets the weekend started. 

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For the pros, who start an hour ahead of the age division athletes, the race carries a dual purpose. With the APAC Champs serving as part of the World Cup, every pro on the start line will be racing to bank additional series points, while regional athletes will have the added stakes of competing for the Asia-Pacific Championship title in the elite division. Keep close watch on reigning APAC Champions Hannah-Lee Young and Kieran McPherson, with the Aussie and the Kiwi out to defend their crowns.

For the 200+ age division athletes arriving from all corners of the globe, an epic adventure through the terrain of Southwest Australia awaits, with the added stakes of championship titles in each division for those from the region. 

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The race begins with athletes standing waist deep in the crystal-clear waters of Geographe Bay, launching into a 1.5K swim at the sound of the horn. Back on dry land, they transition to bikes for a 30.2K MTB ride through the purpose-built trails of Meelup Regional Park. The bike course is 90% singletrack with plenty of features, quick descents, and tight turns ready to bring the championship hopefuls to the front. The race finishes with a 10K trail run, including stretches on the beach, the infamous rock scramble, and a final sprint on fast gravel tracks to then finish.

Top finishers in each age division will have punched their ticket to the World Championship in Trentino, Italy, while top regional finishers will be honoured as the 2025 class of reigning champions for Asia-Pacific.

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APAC Triathlon Championship Start Times:

Elite Race: 07:00 (GMT+8)

Age Group Division: 08:00 (GMT+8)

One of the biggest milestone moments of the weekend, Australia will host the first-ever Asia-Pacific Youth Championship. The XTERRA Youth Tour debuted last year to an emphatic response from young athletes eager to dive into the world of off-road triathlon, with its inaugural season culminating at the first-ever Youth World Championship last September. Now in its second year, the Youth Tour is expanding to include three regional championships, starting with the Asia-Pacific Youth Champs in Australia, followed by the North American Youth Champs in Oak Mountain, Alabama, and the European Youth Champs in Germany.

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The Youth Tour is divided into three divisions: Youth A (ages 14-15), Youth B (ages 16-17), and Junior (ages 18-19). While Youth A athletes will compete in the Super Sprint distance, Youth B and Junior athletes will take on the Sprint distance, both designed to give each category an age-appropriate race experience with enough range for first timers to get a taste for the sport and more experienced athletes room to shine.

Dunsborough will crown the first-ever APAC Youth Champions across all three divisions, with athletes from the region competing for championship titles. Regardless of nationality, top finishers in each division will also earn a spot at the Youth World Championships beneath the Dolomite Mountains in Italy later this year.

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If you’re new to the Youth Tour, here’s everything you need to know for the 2025 season. And if you’re in the area, head down to the race village and make some noise for the future stars of off-road triathlon and the debut class of Asia-Pacific Youth Champions.

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APAC Triathlon Youth Champs Start Times:

Youth B & Junior: 11:10 (GMT+8)

Youth A: 15:10 (GMT+8)

The final day of the festival sees trail runners take center stage, with two races to decide whose names will be added to the 2025 APAC Trail Run Champions list. The Trail Marathon and Trail Half Marathon invite runners of all backgrounds and abilities to explore the wonders of Southwest Australia, but when it comes to championship titles, the same rules apply—only those from the region will be in contention. However, there’s still plenty to race for, as slots to the Trail Run World Championship in Wales will be up for grabs for top finishers in each division, regardless of nationality.

The Trail Marathon kicks off first, sending runners on a spectacular 38K course through Meelup Regional Park to Cape Naturaliste and back. This demanding route offers plenty of variety, with technical trails, 4WD tracks, and sandy paths, ensuring a true test of endurance and adaptability.

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The Trail Half Marathon follows close behind, covering a challenging 21K route through the postcard coastline and hinterland trails of Meelup Regional Park. With the same technical variety as its longer counterpart, the course gives back just as much as it takes with incredible views across Geographe Bay and the rugged coastline for large sections of the race.

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Much like the World Cup, World Tour, and Youth Tour, the Trail Run World Series has plenty in store this year for runners eager to keep the adventure going. Get the season preview here, along with a detailed breakdown of distances, qualifying races, slots, points, and everything else to know as the series heads towards its first-ever World Championship on European soil.

APAC Trail Run Champs Start Times:

Trail Marathon: 07:30 (GMT+8)

Trail Half Marathon: 08:30 (GMT+8)

If you’re itching to get behind the start line, registration is still open via the event page. The Sprint and Super Sprint races offer the perfect entry point for newcomers, while the Full Distance and Sprint Triathlon are also open to relay teams. If trail running is calling but you’re not quite ready to take on the Full or Half Marathon, there’s also a 10K Trail Run to dive into. And last but certainly not least, the Groms Race for kids under 9 is one of the weekend’s biggest highlights, as some of the most passionate young athletes of the weekend tackle an 800m run followed by a 1.2K bike ride.

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Whether you’re racing or spectating, the energy and excitement will carry through the entire weekend. And if you’re following along from afar, be sure to follow XTERRA APAC and XTERRA Trail Run on social media for live updates, race info, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the 2025 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championship.