XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: 2024 World Tour Openers

It’s been over three whole months since XTERRA Tahiti closed the 2023 triathlon season on Moorea island, and since then the itch to get back between the tape across the swim/bike/run format through rivers, lakes, oceans and mountain trails has been growing louder by the day. Training may have its perks, but there is nothing quite like the race-day feeling that comes with pinning a race number on a bike and stepping up to the water’s edge. Metaphorical butterflies that quickly morph into the physical mud, sweat and tears that have long defined the XTERRA World Tour. 

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Now that the off-season is almost over, a total of 50 of the world’s toughest off-road triathlons lie waiting to be conquered by those brave enough to take them on. It’s a fresh new season that comes with all the nerves, hope, and excitement of those with the courage to step up to the line, from those whose aim is to finish first to those whose first aim is just to finish. The XTERRA World Tour has never been for the faint of heart, but what is always guaranteed is the thrill of taking on the most beautiful and brutal terrains nature can serve up, and doing so in the company of a community who live for the challenge. 

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The 2024 World Tour is a wall-to-wall schedule from February to October with every race worthy of a bucket list. Slovakia, Morocco, Colombia, and Costa Rica are all new this year. Czech will have the honours of hosting the Euro Championship while Taiwan will crown APAC’s best. Athletes from Canada, USA, Mexico, and Puerto Rico will go head-to-head for championship crowns for the first time as Oak Mountain prepares to host the first-ever North American Championship. And it all leads to what is bound to be a monumental event as Trentino, Italy, prepares to host its third and final XTERRA World Championship. 

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It’s a season poised to deliver the highest highs and lowest lows, and the countdown to the opening race is no longer measured in months or weeks as those preparing to make their mark in Grabouw, South Africa, will now be counting the days. 

When the single most decorated athlete in XTERRA history switches from winning races to organising races, you can be sure you’re in for a good weekend - both inside and outside the tape. Conrad ‘The Caveman’ Stoltz racked up a record total of 5 XTERRA World Championship crowns in his 53 career wins before partially hanging up his boots to spend less time racing on trails and more time building them. He’s now officially the man at the helm of XTERRA South Africa; and if there’s one thing Stoltz took from his 53 wins, other than the accolades, it’s how to put on a world-class XTERRA event. 

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The Full Distance Triathlon begins in the waters of the Eikenhof Dam, fed directly by mountain streams and aquifers to produce naturally clean water with a distinct tea-coloured tinge from the plant roots it passes through. Two 750m laps with an Australian exit will separate the pack before heading into the signature trails of South Africa’s Western Cape. 

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The iconic bike course, with its dramatic sandstone formations and stunning fynbos flowers, is a mountain biker's dream. Approximately 70% of the loop is singletrack, most of which has been purposely designed by Stoltz. The design forms a figure eight, bringing athletes through the race village at 21K with the use of a spectacular over-and-under bridge. The course has plenty of overtaking space and features a moderate amount of climbing with 750m of elevation spread over the 29K.

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The run features healthy doses of single track and jeep track for those with enough gas left to empty the tanks. There are also 2 significant water crossings that add some technicality and the opportunity to cool down before crossing the line.

XTERRA South Africa 2024 will once again deliver an all-out trail festival from start to finish, complete with glamping, camping, live music, bonfires and beer gardens ready to foster that signature South African festival feeling. Additional trail runs, kids races, and the first races of the freshly-launched Youth Tour will keep the racing action going throughout the 2 days. 

The XTERRA Wellington Festival has mastered the art of packing the biggest punch possible into a single-day festival, combining non-stop XTERRA racing throughout the day with that true Kiwi hospitality that will make you feel right at home. A total of 7 races make up the festival, with the Full Distance Triathlon serving as the headline act. 

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Those stepping up for the Full Distance will take on a 2-lap, 1,000m swim in a sea that is mostly tame but is also known to get choppy at times. Organisers say that while it doesn't become dangerous, it can get a little rough. Strong swimmers will capitalise, but first-timers will be just as capable of enjoying this first section of the race.

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The 29K bike loop has a fast start and those hunting World Champs slots will do well to get into some space before heading into the singletrack sections ahead. A section of 4WD track will again offer plenty of places to attack and those not afraid to keep off the breaks will make ground on what is arguably the best downhill of any XTERRA on the circuit. 690m+ of elevation gain is what is asked before heading into the final section. 

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The run is fast, flat, and open for speedsters to do what they do best. Consistent undulation can make finding a rhythm tricky, but with just 93m+ of elevation there is no reason not to empty the tank on the way home. 

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The Full Distance Triathlon gets the festival started before another 6 races take to the water and trails. A Sprint Triathlon, Duathlon, MTB Race, and 21K, 14K, and 6K Trail Runs will all contribute to the off-road racing action throughout the day before good food, great music, and cold summertime beers close out the show.

The second triathlon of the season and the second on the African continent, XTERRA Morocco will make its debut on the World Tour this year and bring with it the chance to be the first to take the tape, the crown, and the glory. More importantly, it provides the XTERRA Community the opportunity to experience the unique terrain and culture of Morocco. For local racers, Morocco's place on the World Tour provides the chance to qualify for an XTERRA World Championship that has seen a consistently climbing number of nationalities on the starting line in recent years. 

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The inaugural race is set to take place in Taghazout Bay, a small village located 14K from Agadir and a bay where the spectacular Anti-Atlas Mountains meet the Atlantic.

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Athletes will first need to take on the Atlantic Ocean waters for a 2-lap, 1.5K swim before heading into the dry, rocky mountains for a 2-loop bike course with 398m+ of elevation on each loop. The 10K trail sticks largely to the edge of the bay, clocking up just over 160m of climbing in each of the two loops. 

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The debut event is also set to bring a festival atmosphere, with a Kids Triathlon, Sprint Triathlon, and a family friendly trail run added to the lineup.

After making its debut in the World Tour last year, XTERRA Oman returns to deliver one of the most unique racing experiences of the season. Oman is a paradise of towering mountains, rugged cliffs and crystal clear turquoise waters that deliver a course that simply cannot be compared to any other, while the influence of various civilizations and the rise and fall of multiple empires have left behind a fascinating tapestry of cultural heritage. Both on and off the course, XTERRA Oman checks the boxes of what XTERRA racing is all about. 

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Delivering on the promise of a truly unique race experience, the battle begins by diving off a ferry and into the crystal waters for the 1.5K swim section. Once out the water, participants will head into the hardest section of the race. The bike loop is both long and challenging, taking athletes up into Musandam’s unique rock formations for 30K of technical riding in hot conditions. Those who overcome the truly epic bike course will find themselves poised for a strong finish on a flat and fast 10K run course that leads them back to the finish line.

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The team behind XTERRA Oman is dedicated to showcasing the landscape and culture of the location, and a large emphasis is placed on fostering the community feel of the event. Triathletes will share the stage with 21K and 10K trail runners as well as the young guns stepping up in the kids races. 

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Musandam is also known for its incredible diving and snorkelling opportunities. The crystal clear waters are teeming with vibrant marine life and colourful coral reefs. And if you are lucky enough, you may just get a chance to swim with dolphins! 

The first of the regional championships heads back to the rocky trails of Taiwan to crown APAC’s best elite and age group athletes. It was here last year that Kieren McPherson of New Zealand and Maeve Kennedy of Australia claimed the 2023 APAC Championship crowns along with each of the age division champions. Now, one year later, they will need to prove themselves once again to extend their championship reign into 2024. 

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XTERRA Taiwan has consistently served a famously brutal course in every edition of the race, making it the perfect championship decider as those who claim the title will have paid their dues in sweat and grit out on the course. The 40.4K course is almost entirely natural with a high level of technicality, and with the race taking place just before the break of the Taiwanese summer, conditions can get tough when the sun heats up. 

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Indigenous drummers on Little Bay beach have traditionally sounded the call for athletes to step up to the water. From there, athletes will take on a 2-loop, 1.5K swim in the sometimes choppy waters of the Pacific Ocean before a short run from the beach takes them to the start of one of the most challenging bike courses on the circuit. 

The single-loop, 30K bike course will test almost every skill an athlete may have in their arsenal as they balance the difficulty of the course with breathtaking terrain and vistas it snakes through. Rocky riverbeds, short punchy climbs, multiple rock gardens, and long technical descents will separate the potential 2024 champions from the rest, but those who have raced the course before will know that saving some gas for the run is key. 

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The run section will differ from last year’s championship, with the 9K section now being broken into 2 loops. The change means less elevation in a single climb, but the same level of technicality remains and those able to master all three sections of the race faster than anyone in their division will have truly earned their title as 2024 APAC Champion. 

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Returning again is also the double-feature festival format, with the APAC Triathlon Champs on Saturday and the APAC Trail Run Champs on Sunday. Thousands are expected to descend on the tropical town of Kenting and shuttle buses will be available throughout the event to get fans and spectators to the race village in Kenting National Park. Expect DJs, cultural performances, food trucks, and a range of activities to keep the energy pulsating throughout the 2-day festival.