XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: 2026 Season Openers

Grabouw is famous for its apple orchards and its apple industry, and this is apple harvesting season, so on the moment as you go around the course you can see the apples being harvested. The climate is well known for white wine, with a few interesting wines in the Algern Valley region and a lot of small boutique farms that are interesting to visit. There is also the railway market with all kinds of different food stalls and music things, live bands on the weekends, and every now and then a steam train comes from Cape Town to Grabouw and stops at the market.

Grabouw, in my mind, is nature. It is only forty five minutes from Stellenbosch and an hour from Cape Town, and it feels very remote and away from the city. Beautiful fynbos flowers are everywhere. Fynbos is endemic to this area, a unique species plant kingdom with a lot of interesting plants. It is a beautiful place to spend time outdoors.

The cycling community here is really strong and they really stick together. Many are very excited to do XTERRA South Africa. The swim course takes you on an out and back loop on this picturesque dam. The mountain bike route includes a brand new Dream Trail with fast, flowy trails on hard packed clay soil, and a jeep track climb gaining 170 meters. The run is a trail runners extravaganza with sweeping trail in the fynbos, dense woods with wooden bridges, another steep jeep track climb, technical bundu bashing (traversing), and an 80m swamble down a knee to hip deep mountain stream before finishing on the Moon Landscape next to the Eikenhof Dam.

I feel that rush of nervous excitement when I enter the venue headquarters for the weekend. I love what XTERRA stands for with off-road racing around the world, so to be part of that in Australia is a great feeling. The mood is upbeat but there is a relaxed social feel to it all, and even though I am not a local to the area, the casual chats with fellow athletes, their families, or volunteers over bike checks creates a great feeling of being part of the community. Those moments make the difference to an event.

For me this event is a chance to reunite with my family who are in Perth. It is a mini holiday for us. The location is beautiful and there is so much to explore. You can enjoy the food, relaxed places to sit, and plenty to see. Even if you are not racing, you are still part of the atmosphere. You get to cheer people on, wander around together, and enjoy a shared experience in a beautiful part of the country.

The time with family, catching up with friends, and the chance to do what I love, off-road racing. It is rare to find a place that offers everything in one spot. I honestly cannot recall racing anywhere else that combines an ocean swim, awesome mountain bike trails, and those stunning beach views that make you want to stop and take it all in, even though you know you have to keep running to reach the finish.

What stays with me long after I leave is the clear water and challenging terrain and the atmosphere of the day. There is something addictive about pushing through such a tough course surrounded by scenery that is also distracting with its beauty. It makes me want to come back, do better, and experience it all over again.

Dunsborough is the perfect place to unwind. The whole town has that easy going feeling that makes you forget about the hundred other things on your to-do list. You can sit back on the beach watching the calm ocean or wander through the local shops or a number of cafes for a great meal. It always feels like a friendly town and a sense that no one is in a rush.

Set around the clear water of Lake Tikitapu and the treeline of Whakarewarewa Forest, the Rotorua Festival brings together everything people picture when they think of the Bay of Plenty. The lake is fresh, often cold, and bright in the early morning light. The forest is dense, green, and alive. Steam rises from nearby geothermal pockets, reminding you that this part of Aotearoa sits on a shifting landscape.

The swim begins from a narrow stretch of sand where the water deepens quickly, giving athletes the chance to settle into their stroke early. The bike starts with a road climb before reaching the single track, a moment where athletes fight for position and try to settle their breathing. Once inside the forest, the ground shifts between pine and native bush. There is a long downhill with wide, banked corners that riders from past years always mention. The run loops the lake twice with tree roots, short muddy sections, steep stairs, and stretches where you are close enough to the shoreline to hear the water beside you.

Away from the race, the area offers more to explore. The Buried Village, the stories of the Pink and White Terraces, and the naturally heated pools of the Polynesian Spa express the region’s long history. The lakes surrounding Rotorua each have their own look, and Rainbow Springs gives visitors a chance to see a variety of native species.

XTERRA Rotorua has grown into one of the most recognizable off-road events in New Zealand and the weekend continues to reflect what makes this region unique. It definitely has a familiar community feel. Athletes cheer for one another. Families stand close to the transitions. The competitive field is strong, but the atmosphere stays open and welcoming.

Borneo is a different experience of culture with much gentle terrain, an ideal playground to start and have a taste of off-road triathlon. The weekend is filled with play mud time and laughing at each other, all the great ideas, stunts and bonding time. Feeling recharge after such a high adrenaline driven weekend is what keeps me going forward.

Sematan is an ideal location for sports tourism. A mere 1.5 hour drive from Kuching city to a quaint seaside village with plenty of fresh seafood, surrounded by mountain range and charming waterfalls. It is how I disconnect, reconnect with nature and the friendly local community and recharge. MTB or hiking to the waterfall and seafood is part of the experience.

Kuching Airport to Sematan Township is approximately 110km, about a 1.5 hour drive. Borneo Sarawak has a diverse culture mainly formed by the Malays, Chinese and the ethnic groups, Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau and many more. One of the signature breakfasts of Kuching is Sarawak laksa, a unique combination of rice vermicelli in slightly spicy broth topped with prawns, chicken and bean sprouts. There are two places which I personally like, Lepau and The Lamin. Check out Sarawak's Bario highland rice, pansoh bamboo chicken and not forgetting our local rice wine, tuak.

Last year's award ceremony was welcoming with local cultural dance performance and rainforest music. Buffet dinner was delicious too. In terms of the Full Distance race, it is a good introduction to off-road triathlon. The bike leg will take you through charming padi fields, farm lands, plantations while dodging coconuts along the way. Finally, trail running can be tricky. Tip: be mindful of the vines. They got me every year. No major wear and tear, just a good laugh at myself and wonder whether my friends also got caught. The small moments with people were such positive vibes and sportsmanship.

It truly means a lot to be recognized by XTERRA, especially for an event that has played such a big role in my journey as an athlete. When I think about XTERRA Puerto Rico, the first thing that comes to mind is the atmosphere. The entire weekend feels like a happy, festive celebration. There is music everywhere, local food, nervous but excited athletes, and a beach party vibe that makes the event feel welcoming even before you race. The first edition I did was in Fajardo, and the most recent ones have been in Cabo Rojo, both coastal towns, so that ocean energy and relaxed Caribbean feeling are always present.

My first XTERRA Puerto Rico was also my first real experience with trail running, and I had very little triathlon experience at the time. I always end up signing up for the Saturday’s trail races along with the Full Distance Triathlon on Sunday. I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into, and I did not know anyone there, but the courses have a way of bringing people together. During and after the races, you start meeting others and that shared experience builds real connections.

Trail running was not very big in Puerto Rico a few years ago, but it has grown tremendously, and XTERRA has played a huge role in that growth. By including trail running, triathlon, MTB, gravel, and kids races, XTERRA has helped build a true outdoor community that keeps expanding every year. Over the past four years,I have met incredible people through these events and stayed in touch long after race day, sharing experiences and supporting each other across different races and disciplines.

The fans and families are a huge part of what makes XTERRA Puerto Rico special. Because the event is right by the beach, it is easy to convince family and friends to come along. They can cheer during the races and then relax at the beach afterward. Cabo Rojo is hot, but it is absolutely worth it, with incredible views, ocean breeze, and a course that transitions from sand to compact dirt. It is truly an all in one racing experience.

As a destination, it is ideal. There are plenty of Airbnbs and hotels, amazing local food, and everything is right on the beach. It is extremely family friendly, kid friendly, and even pet friendly. You can spend Saturday cheering for the trail races and Sunday supporting the triathletes, all while enjoying a full weekend together.

Vouliagmeni is a place I know well. It is part of the Athenian Riviera, and the gulf is mostly calm and clear. When people arrive for XTERRA, most of them go straight to the beach because the water looks perfect for swimming. The area also has a long history in triathlon, serving as the site of the Athens 2004 Olympics.

The course shows what this coastline is like. The swim is clean and easy to follow. The bike is fast in some parts, with Mediterranean ground that can change from hard to loose very quickly. The run has the steep climb that everyone talks about. It is tough, but when you reach the top and look back at the gulf, it feels worth the effort.

What I like most is the support on the course. Greek families and local athletes stand almost everywhere. People call your name, shout from the side, clap, and wait for friends to pass. Even athletes from abroad tell me they feel welcome from the first day.

Outside the race, Vouliagmeni is simple to enjoy. There are small cafés and places to eat right by the water. The beach is close to everything, and Athens is only a short drive away. Most people come early to settle in because the weather and the food make it easy to relax before race day.

XTERRA Greece Vouliagmeni works for beginners and for athletes with more experience. The course is tough and rewarding, the setting is beautiful, and the weekend always feels enjoyable when you get to spend it with the off-road community.

Ten years in, XTERRA New Jersey moves to Stokes State Forest. There is a calm intensity to the weekend. Mornings start quietly with mist on the lake, bike pumps in transition, and focused conversations about tire pressure and wetsuit choices. It feels remote in the best way, like everyone has stepped out of their routine and into something more elemental. It is competitive, especially with championship slots on the line, but the vibe remains welcoming and distinctly off-road.

The small moments reveal the local community. A volunteer offers trail advice, a local hiker pauses to cheer, and park staff share stories about the ridgelines and lakes that define this corner of northwest New Jersey. It feels integrated, like the forest and the local outdoor community are part of the race itself.

XTERRA New Jersey has always been more than a single start line, and Stokes State Forest amplifies that. With racing across the weekend, triathlon, duathlon, trail runs, mountain biking, families settle in rather than rush in and out. One person races Saturday, another lines up Sunday, kids explore the lakeshore, and friends pre ride sections together. For non racers, it is not just spectating. It is hiking, paddling, and relaxing by the water. The venue allows everyone to be part of the experience, whether they are wearing a bib or not.

Racing here in spring, with the forest just beginning to come alive, feels raw and real. It is the kind of place that keeps calling you back. Northwest New Jersey feels like a mountain retreat tucked inside the Northeast corridor. It is relaxed, outdoors first, and unpretentious. A free afternoon might mean hiking a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, visiting a local farm stand, or grabbing a craft beer in a nearby town. Meals are hearty, conversations are easy, and nobody seems in a hurry.