Building Champions: What to Know About the 2025 XTERRA Youth Tour

In 2024, XTERRA opened the trail for athletes aged 14-19 to compete in their own dedicated off-road triathlon series for the very first time, giving the up-and-coming young guns of multisport the opportunity to experience every ounce of dedication, determination, and exhilaration that comes with completing an off-road triathlon. It came as a highly anticipated development in a sport that began some 29 years ago, and to say that the response was immense would be an understatement. 

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Across nearly 40 events in over 20 countries around the world, thousands of eager athletes took on almost every natural terrain imaginable with the exact energy and fearlessness expected from the sport's youngest division. When the inaugural Youth Tour culminated beneath the Italian Dolomites with XTERRA’s first-ever Youth World Champions, it was clear the youth division wasn’t just here to stay, it was destined to become a cornerstone of the XTERRA legacy and a fresh new chapter of the sport’s continued evolution.

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The concept now tried and tested, the Youth Tour stands as the world’s premier off-road triathlon series for athletes aged 14-19, with big news coming for those looking to compete regionally in 2025.

Mirroring the globally renowned XTERRA World Tour in both structure and spirit, the Youth Tour is designed to allow young athletes of all abilities to compete at their own level, in their own age division, and at their own pace.

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For newcomers, the series offers a supportive and gradual introduction to the world of off-road triathlon, fostering a sense of adventure, a connection to nature, and holistic personal growth. At the same time, athletes aiming to compete at higher levels can sharpen their skills on varied terrains across the globe, following a clear pathway from local events to regional championships and the international stage.

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The series is flexible, allowing participants to race in as many or as few events as they choose, with age divisions, distances, qualifying races, slots, and the Youth World Championship each playing a role within the structure of the series. With the series still in its infancy, wild card entries also play a key role.

Age Divisions and Distances

In alignment with World Triathlon and the majority of national federation standards, the Youth Tour features three distinct age divisions—Youth A, Youth B, and Junior—to ensure fair competition and a clear progression as young athletes grow in the sport. Youth A participants, aged 14-15, start with the Super Sprint distance (400m swim, 8K bike, 2K run) to build confidence and skills, while Youth B and Junior athletes, aged 16-17 and 18-19 respectively, step up to the more challenging Sprint distance (750m swim, 15K bike, 5K run). Athletes are placed into divisions based on their age as of December 31st in the race year, ensuring consistency throughout the season and a level playing field for all participants.

Qualifying Races and Slots

Every event on the Youth Tour schedule is open to all youth athletes of all abilities, with the majority of participants racing purely for the enjoyment of the sport. However, for those looking to progress within the sport, each event serves as a qualifier for the XTERRA Youth World Championship, providing the top five male and female athletes of each division at every race with a slot to compete internationally with the world’s best at the Youth World Championship.

The XTERRA Youth World Championship

As the only qualification-only race of the season, the Youth World Championship is the pinnacle event of the Youth Tour. Bringing together the top youth athletes from across the globe, it is both a celebration of the highest level of racing in the Youth division and a showcase of XTERRA’s values—community, nature, and the transformative power of sport. In 2024, and now again in 2025, the Youth World Championship will be held at the iconic XTERRA World Championship in Trentino, Italy, allowing young and aspiring athletes to share the stage and trails alongside some of the biggest names in the sport, with the world watching on.

Wild Card Entries

For athletes unable to qualify directly, wild card entries provide an alternative path to the XTERRA Youth World Championship. These entries are designed for youth athletes who may face logistical challenges, such as the lack of an appropriate race distance for their age division, no XTERRA events within 500km of their location, or missing a local event but still wishing to compete in the upcoming championship. The wild card system ensures that talented athletes can showcase their skills on the global stage, regardless of circumstances. Learn more about qualifying via wild card here.

In just its second year, the Youth Tour will see regional championships added in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America, with plans underway to include South America in seasons to come. While regional championship events are open to all nationalities, championship titles and jerseys are only awarded to the top male and female finishers in each division who represent a country within the region. 

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The regional championships are designed to attract athletes from around the world to provide a truly international experience for young athletes, with those from the region spurred on with the chance to take top honours. Each of the three regional youth championships in 2025 will take place alongside the elite and age-group championships for a collectively epic festival of off-road racing.

Asia-Pacific Youth Championship Debuts in Australia

Dunsborough, Australia, will have the honour of hosting the first Asia-Pacific Youth Championship, and a fitting start it will be. XTERRA Australia has long been a champion of young athletes, with its groms and kids' races consistently highlighted as key features of the event. Dunsborough boasts one of the most vibrant, passionate, and welcoming communities in off-road sports, along with a backyard of dusty trails and turquoise ocean waters to match.

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From March 27-30, the coastal town will come alive with XTERRA spirit as the Asia-Pacific Triathlon, Trail Run, and now Youth Championship converge with the opening stop of the World Cup series, delivering a wall-to-wall weekend of XTERRA racing.

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North American Youth Championship Added to Oak Mountain

With nearly two decades of history, Oak Mountain has earned its place alongside the legendary Maui as one of the USA’s most iconic off-road triathlon destinations. Already home to the elite and age-group North American Championship and a staple on the World Cup circuit, the serene waters of Double Oak Lake and the tree-lined trails surrounding it will now further solidify their legacy with the addition of the first-ever North American Youth Championship.

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From May 16-18, the event will welcome the Youth division to compete for top honours for the first time on the same terrain that has shaped some of the sport’s greatest heroes.

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European Youth Championship Launches in Germany

The final regional youth championship of the season lands in Zittau, Germany, from August 15-17, elevating what is already the country’s largest off-road festival. Germany has a strong triathlon culture, both on and off-road, with the XTERRA O-SEE Festival now one of the top bucket-list races for XTERRA athletes and unarguably one of the most renowned events on the European Tour.

The combination of Zittau’s unique terrain, an action-packed lineup of races, and signature atmosphere has seen the XTERRA O-See Festival grow in size and spirit for 25 years running. With the addition of the European Youth Championship, it’s set to reach even greater heights in 2025.

While the Youth Tour provides essentially a path for young athletes to enter and progress within the sport, the core of the series maintains what XTERRA racing has always been about since its origin in 1996—the strength of community, the transformative power of nature, and the undeniable ability of sport to connect. 

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The Youth Tour welcomes any aspiring athlete, whether they’re aiming to finish first or first aiming to finish. It’s about the experience of taking on new challenges, facing fears, exploring the unknown, and coming out stronger every single time. 

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Check the Youth Tour schedule for races coming up this season. Distances and divisions available at each event are indicated, so ensure the event you choose offers the right division for you and any other racing partners. Register directly through the event page and get ready to race off-road.