XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: 2025 Season Closers

The White River Trail System embodies everything that makes XTERRA racing what it is: grit, determination, and perseverance. The trails require a lot of technical riding and running experience, but they also showcase the beauty of the Ozarks.

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The Branson venue is one of the toughest courses I’ve competed at. It may not be at elevation, but the toll it takes on your legs during the bike ride makes it very rigorous. One memory that stands out is from one of my first races here: I went out too hard on the swim start and before the first buoy started to hyperventilate. It got so bad I had to turn on my back and just float for a while. In that moment, I reflected on the beauty around me and the thrill of being among so many others doing the same thing. Once I calmed down, I went back to work, made up distance, and finished strong, even winning my age group. That experience taught me that no matter how hard things may seem during a race, you just need to keep moving forward — in the swim, the bike, or the run — and good things will happen.

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Like most off-road triathlons, Branson is all about the bike. The swim in Table Rock Lake is smooth and welcoming, especially in the new location. The bike course demands a “big picture” approach — it’s rigorous and rewards proper training, good bike setup, and smart decision-making on technical sections. Sometimes the wisest move is to get off and hike, saving your legs for the run. The run itself follows a lovely hiking trail that rewards anyone with trail running experience.

The terrain at Branson feels natural and old-school. Unlike many venues with purpose-built trails, here the course is almost entirely natural, requiring a full spectrum of mountain biking skills. There are rocky sections, but also flow, downhill, and climbs that make it a well-rounded challenge.

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The atmosphere around Table Rock Lake is relaxed and inviting. Last year, during the first official XTERRA version of the event, there was a real buzz of excitement at check-in, and that energy carried through race day. Off the course, Branson offers something for everyone, from a quiet lake scene to a bustling downtown with restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. My wife and I always camp at Table Rock State Park, then enjoy a post-race meal at Danna’s BBQ and Burger Shop. Other favorites include the Branson Belle ShowBoat and ending the night with coffee and a view at Vintage Paris.

This is undoubtedly the ideal terrain for outdoor sports, especially for a cross triathlon. What makes it special is the beauty of this part of Sardinia, where sea and land meet in unforgettable panoramas. The sea, with its crystal-clear waters, reflects the blue sky and takes on spectacular colors. Playing sports in such a setting adds motivation even when the course is demanding.

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XTERRA Sardinia is my home race. As a child, I watched the world’s best athletes compete in Villacidro, the town where I grew up, one of the first XTERRA venues in Italy. I will never forget watching Renata Bucher win several times there and the joy of holding the banner at the finish line. Having XTERRA return to Sardinia is special for me, and competing against Renata herself last year was surreal. Winning the first edition in 2023 was meaningful, but racing against someone who had been a role model made it even more unforgettable.

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The sea defines the course. The swim is a privilege, with transparent waters on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. On the bike, the route climbs through the mountains but runs alongside the coast, with signature sections like the single tracks on the sand and the crossing of Cala Pira beach. The run is equally challenging, climbing the hill overlooking the sea and finishing with a stretch along Cala Sinzias beach.

If there’s one word to describe the terrain, it’s sand. The coastal trails are predominantly sandy, framed by the crystal-clear sea on one side and rugged mountains on the other. These inland routes are rarely visited by tourists, making them distinctively wild and authentic.

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The atmosphere on race weekend is incredible. The collaboration between the XTERRA crew, K3 Triathlon, and local teams makes the event well-organized and increasingly popular. Hosting it at the Garden Beach Resort adds to the sense of celebration and comfort, while the community embraces the energy of the event.

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October is the perfect month to visit Sardinia, with quiet beaches and cooler air. Visitors should take the time to explore beyond the coast and enjoy the island’s traditions. Pane carasau is the staple, often turned into pane frattau with tomato, pecorino, and egg. Roast suckling pig is an icon of Sardinian culture, while culurgiones — ravioli filled with potatoes, mint, and pecorino — showcase the care of passed-down recipes. Cheeses, seadas with honey, pardulas, pabassinos, nougat, and almond sweets like gueffus and amaretti fill the table. Along the coast, seafood specialties such as fregola allo scoglio or spaghetti with clams and bottarga complete the experience.

Moorea is an island that combines the beauty of the sea with the majesty of the mountains. Swimming in the warm Pacific waters, then biking and running through the trails of this paradise, is the best way to appreciate Tahiti’s sister island. Since 2018, I have competed at XTERRA Tahiti every year, and it has given me my strongest competitive memories. Each edition is unique because the course changes, and the weather can transform the challenge completely. One special moment I’ll never forget was riding my mountain bike through pineapple fields as the beat of Polynesian drums echoed in the distance, signaling that transition was near. It was a powerful and unforgettable feeling.

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The swim takes place in Opunohu Bay. Athletes are taken by boat to the middle of the bay, then return by swimming 1500 meters toward shore — it feels like embarking on a mission, immediately setting the tone for the race. The mountain bike course winds partly through maple forests, where roots and humidity create a technically demanding environment. The run is defined by a long climb along the “ancestor’s trail,” passing Polynesian ruins before arriving at a viewpoint overlooking the twin bays of Moorea — a breathtaking reward after the effort.

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The terrain is as diverse as it is stunning. The XTERRA Tahiti course unfolds in the heart of the Caldera, surrounded by lush green mountains. Riders and runners traverse tropical forests, pineapple fields, rolling paths, and technical sections that demand skill and stamina. The variety ensures both difficulty and enjoyment, with the natural beauty amplifying the experience.

The atmosphere is one of the great highlights. XTERRA Tahiti is one of the most anticipated sporting events in French Polynesia, and the weekend feels like a festival. Organizers and volunteers take great care of the athletes, while spectators bring warmth and energy along the course. At the close of the weekend, the awards ceremony turns into a communal celebration, with traditional dance and song performances that leave a lasting impression.

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Tahiti is also about hospitality and culture. Visitors should experience traditional Tahitian dances and music, and taste the local cuisine. A must-try is raw fish in coconut milk, one of the signature dishes of Polynesia. The kindness of the people, combined with the richness of the culture, makes XTERRA Tahiti much more than a race — it is an immersion into a way of life.

San José del Cabo is a unique location for XTERRA. The ocean welcomed us this year with fresh, crystal-clear Pacific water free of currents, which made the swim especially pleasant. The beach entry and exit were soft and clear of rocks, fine sand underfoot contrasting sharply with the desert challenges of the bike and run that followed.

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The terrain changes radically once you leave the beach. Desert trails bring thorns, sand traps, and demanding climbs that require complete concentration. In some sections, it feels like you could almost embrace a cactus, but lifting your eyes reveals vast desert landscapes framed by the sea. It transforms the effort into a picture-perfect experience, the kind of image you carry with you long after the race ends.

The atmosphere throughout the weekend is relaxed and family-friendly. Many families compete across different categories, from triathlon to trail running, and the energy carries into transitions and the finish line. On the course, there are moments of camaraderie running alongside other athletes, and times of solitude when the silence of the desert makes you feel the immensity of the place.

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The celebration continues well after the race. Food trucks serve craft beer and local flavors, children join in activities, and as evening falls, the awards ceremony unfolds to the rhythm of music and conversation. It leaves everyone with a lasting sense of positive energy and the true taste of Baja. XTERRA Cabo blends sport, nature, and community in a way few destinations can.

Nepal is an incredible country. It is 200km wide at its widest point but in that space goes from essentially sea level up to the world's tallest peak. Everything about Nepal is special, and Pokhara is one of the most beautiful places, the city of lakes. The Himalayas have a presence that you can feel when you get the opportunity to see them. You feel you are in the presence of something incredible. When you line up to start at Begnas Lake and you look over the calm waters to the towers peaks of the Annapurna range beyond it is awe inspiring.

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What makes everything special in Nepal is the people. No matter what else happens, the kids on the course shouting “best of luck” at you, the new friends you will make from the team putting the race on to fellow competitors, the post-race party, it never fails to bring a smile to your face. I was clearly a nervous cyclist. I went out on a bike course familiarization where the group spent a lot of time waiting for me, but they were never bothered by it. One man who was the former downhill national champion took it upon himself to offer me tips and coaching for different types of technical sections. When I had a problem with my bike on race morning, and I thought I wasn’t going to be able to race at all, another fellow competitor took the time to try and fix the bike and in the end, with 20 minutes before I needed to be in transition, the only Nepali woman racing offered to lend me an extra bike she had, which is what I raced on. That’s Nepal for you.

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The swim is generally relatively warm, but very well marked and measured. If you get the opportunity to see the mountains in the morning it will be something you will never forget. Similarly, on the bike at some high points there can be opportunities for mountain views, and then you only have to be careful not to ride off the side of a mountain just staring at them in awe. The run has always been my strong suit, but trail running in Nepal is not for the faint of heart. I used to run several times a week in Nepal, but without that training I was not prepared. I am pretty sure the race director has a video of me stopped for water at the top of a very steep climb through the jungle trying to catch my breath and telling him this was the hardest race I’ve ever done.

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As a non-mountainbiker I found the challenge quite significant. I’ve been told it’s not a very technical course, which was a huge relief for me, but the terrain makes it challenging still. The course feels like you’re out for a ride and run in the hills, running through the people of Nepal’s daily lives. 

The energy in Nepal is always great. It’s not a big hype or super excited crowd. Nepal is a very chill country. But people are kind and friendly. They are welcoming in the most sincere way and a stronger will go out of their way to help you. It runs on Nepali time, it’s true. But if you can go with the flow of that time and trust that everything will work out, you will have an unforgettable experience.

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You should, and will, eat daal bhat. The typical Nepali dish that they say gives you energy for 24 hours — daal bhat power, 24 hours. It’s rice and lentils with curried vegetables and a selection of pickled sides, as well as some meat if you eat it. It’s ideal carb loading and the perfect post-race meal. Easy on the stomach and makes you feel good and fully energized. For culture, you should take time to visit the classic sights in Kathmandu and get a guide to explain the details to you: Boudha, Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) as well as the Durbar Squares. In Pokhara, if you have time the best thing to do would be to take a short trek for a few days, or paddle across Fewa Lake and hike up to the Peace Pagoda.