XTERRA Off-Road Triathlons: July '25

Lake Durrance and the surrounding area is close to the city, yet it feels like you’re deep in nature—a perfect setting for an off-road XTERRA race.

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I have so many great memories from the three times I’ve raced XTERRA Victoria, including winning my age group each time. Over the years, I’ve made new friends and always look forward to seeing familiar faces every time I return.

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What really stands out is the peaceful atmosphere—you’re surrounded by trees and immersed in nature for the entire race. There’s something special about diving into a small, fresh water lake to start the day. The mountain bike trails are challenging yet totally rideable, which makes them a blast—especially coming from Whistler, where the biking is world-class. And the run is a perfect mix of flat, technical terrain with a beast of a climb—short but steep—that adds an extra layer of challenge and excitement.

I love the atmosphere and scenery of the course—it feels truly off-road, almost like you’re off the grid. Victoria however, is a fairly big and spread-out city, so the race-day energy doesn’t really kick in until the morning of the event. But once it does, the vibe is great, thanks to the friendly volunteers, other racers and the spectators who are on course.

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The city of Victoria has such a great vibe—set on the ocean with plenty of amazing restaurants to explore. Strolling through downtown after picking up my race package and grabbing an early pre-race dinner at Pagliacci’s has become a bit of a tradition for me. Hitting up the Fairmont Empress Hotel for high tea is also a fantastic experience and something I haven’t done anywhere else. The view, the historic vibe and tradition makes it a very cool experience.

The lake, the trails, and everything around here make this a beautiful spot for outdoor sports. It’s a natural lake surrounded by smaller mountains, with trails winding through pine forests. The trees are tall and spaced out, the ground is covered in moss, and the fresh scent of the pines is always in the air.

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The trails are challenging but not extreme. When it’s dry, they’re fast and fun to ride, not overly technical. This was the site of my last victory as a pro. My second win in 2013, during my final season, was huge. Winning at home in a major event like XTERRA France meant a lot.

The venue is perfect for our sport. Everything is close together. You have the lake, the forest, and the mountains all in one place. The water is mountain-fed, crystal clear, and usually wetsuit-legal. The swim is one big loop. It’s chaotic at first, but the long loop gives you time to find your rhythm.

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The bike course is demanding. Two 20K laps with about 700 meters of climbing each. If you go too hard on the first lap, the second one is going to hurt. The first lap can be crowded, and sometimes you’re forced to ride harder than planned. The second lap opens up and gives you space to settle in.

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The run is technical, with mud, roots, and rocks. You need to stay focused. One small mistake can cost you. The forest here is humid, and sometimes there’s fog, which gives it a mysterious feel. Some of the downhills are really fun to ride. The smell of the trees stays with you. It’s something I always remember.

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The atmosphere is incredible. Around the swim exit and transition, the crowds are massive. With hundreds racing in both the sprint and full distance, the entire venue is packed. The energy from the spectators makes a big difference.

This race is big in every way. Huge sound system, professional announcers, and a finish line show that feels like a championship. The kids races are also packed, with families everywhere cheering. It’s a full weekend of action.

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Gérardmer, the nearby city, is known across France for its linen, called “Linge des Vosges.” There’s a ski resort, mountain biking in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. But people here really know it for the linen.

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And of course, it’s France. There’s always good food. Bonbon des Vosges is a traditional candy from this area. Munster cheese comes from here. Quiche Lorraine is also typical of the region. Wherever you go, you’ll find something good to eat.

At Empire 47, there are so many mountain bike trails, and for all different levels—from beginner to really advanced. You can ride at this destination for days before starting to feel you’ve enjoyed every trail there is to offer, but you feel straight from the start how great of a network it is.

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The best memory I’ve got from this venue is racing and winning as a team with my father swimming, me biking, and my brother running years ago when we were only starting to discover XTERRA.

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Almost every year, the bike course is different, which brings a diversity to the race and gets us to discover new trails in this magnificent location. Even though it is just under half an hour from downtown Québec, you can feel the breathtaking natural scenery as if you were in the wild, deeply connected to nature.

Every weekend event in Manoir Lac Delage feels like a huge party with music playing, people cheering, and celebrations at the finish line.

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When we’re in the area, we always stop at Pascal Le Boulanger in the morning for fresh bread and bakery products, and often finish at La Souche for a nice locally brewed beer.

Magnolia Hill is unique because it is on a private ranch, so the course is not open to the public all year. It’s really fun to come and ride new trails that you don’t get to ride all the time. The trails are very flowy and go through pine forest and woods, giving riders and runners a lot of welcome shade for Texas in July.

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I came to Magnolia Hill after accepting my spot for the World Championships in Italy in 2023 as my last training/practice race. I won overall female at Magnolia Hill that year, which really got me stoked to work hard in preparation to compete in September. Last year I went back with my best friend and we camped out the night before and raced the next day together. It’s one of my best memories. We pre-rode the course, cooled off in the lake, and had the best time.

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The swim really stands out to me for this race. The lake is beautiful and blue. The water is so clear I can see the small fish and grass. Where I live you can’t see your arms even during an open-water swim. I was so surprised to see my arms moving through the water!

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The course feels flowy and green and woodsy. The property is very well maintained and cared for, and everything is clean and beautiful.

I’ve always experienced good vibes at all of the XTERRA races. Magnolia Hill is no exception. Everyone is very chill and very helpful. Everyone is just hanging out and talking the day before and after the race. Giving tips or helping others is commonplace here. The first year I went all alone and it didn’t take me long to find people to chat with — I even had people cheering for me! The race director is super nice and helpful. You just really cannot find nicer people.

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I can’t wait to go back with my friends this year and race.

The park has a wide variety of activities for all ages and fitness levels. The trail system is outstanding and supports biking, trail running, and hiking. The lake offers swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing. There are a variety of lodging options that range from campsite to resort level. The resort even includes a golf course and casino.

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I really enjoyed bringing my family to the race. My daughter and I both raced together, which was very special. My wife volunteers her time in registration and food distribution. We enjoy spending the entire weekend together in a beautiful venue.

The swim is two laps in a very nice lake with a short beach run. Typically, the water is warm and not wetsuit legal. The bike is a mix of different terrains. The first leg is a nice singletrack along the lake with scenic views. The second leg includes steep ascents and descents over very rocky terrain. The third leg brings you back on an additional scenic singletrack to the finish.The run course occurs over beautiful, wooded trails and scenic vistas. It is fairly demanding with lots of elevation changes and technical terrain portions.

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The natural feel of the park is very beautiful and serene. The wooded trail system rolls through a variety of terrains. As the name Rocky Gap implies, there are certain sections with very rocky terrain and significant elevation changes.

The vibe is very chill and friendly. The race director, Andy Bacon, does an excellent job promoting a race where everyone from experienced racers to beginners feels very comfortable. The race is extremely well organized and well attended over a variety of age groups. Lots of families and groups of friends participate. Andy also runs an XTERRA clinic to help beginners have a better race experience.

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We enjoy visiting the small rural towns in the nearby areas. There are unique shops and restaurants in many of these small villages. Our favorite is Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

Scanno is the perfect environment for an XTERRA race that combines water, land, mountains, local culture, and history in an exemplary way. A place that lives among the naturalistic-landscape beauties and the peculiarities of a historic village.

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The 30for30 — the record attempt that ended positively to repeat XTERRA Lake Scanno 30 times in 30 days in 2020 — is a lasting memory. A long story of effort, preparation, sharing of sport and love for the mountains with many athletes who came from all over Italy to share a unique experience in Scanno. When you train on the trails of Scanno, it reminds you of XTERRA.

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Swimming may seem trivial but it has unique features in Scanno compared to other places. Clean waters and variable conditions make Scanno a fantastic experience. The bike, historically the toughest of the XTERRA panorama, was modified two years ago to allow even those who do not have excellent technical skills to test themselves on "our" trails. The trail: an incredible combination of woods, trails, and exciting alleys, among the locals and a breathtaking view of the lake a few km from the finish line. Unique.

I have done many races on the European tour and nowhere have I found the environment so close to the XTERRA spirit as in Scanno. There can be sudden climate changes even during the summer and go from temperatures over 30° to 10° in a few hours. Always ready for anything and equipped in Scanno.

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The community is now completely merged in the event that over the years has been understood and accepted… by almost everyone. The evening party in the village, after the race was moved to Saturday, has a unique charm for the participants who live different and very exciting environmental realities.

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Treat yourself to a nice post-race dinner in one of the trattorias in town is a must. Arrosticini, Cazzellitti, local cheeses and cured meats are what you can find good in Scanno. Walking and getting lost in the alleys, in those photographed by great international photographers, meeting the elders of the town, make you experience culture and tradition without having to wait for specific events. Everything exudes history, everything lends itself to leaving you emotional.

Kivi Park is a beautiful park with many lakes and trails. It’s one of the trail systems in the Sudbury area, so you could plan a longer adventure and try all of them.

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My first time racing in 2023 was also my first time experiencing the trails in Kivi Park. There had been torrential rain in the area the week prior, and on the Friday the race crew were still fixing some washed-out areas on the mountain bike course. By Saturday the course was perfect! In 2024 they added more trails to the bike course too, so it is getting better every year.

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The point-to-point racing with two separate transition areas is very unique. Volunteers shuttle the racers to the start of the swim and bring everything back to the finish line. The swim course is in a beautiful quiet lake with Canadian Shield rock along the shore. The bike is a very fun ride built for true mountain biking. There are some fast, flowy sections interspersed with some challenging technical sections in the rocks. All of the difficult features are well marked and easily walked for novice riders. The run is a fast mix of wide cinder trail and singletrack through the forest.

The course is very natural and uses the contours of the rock for an amazing bike experience. Crawley Lake is representative of the many lakes in the Sudbury area. The landscape of Northern Ontario feels like you’re at a cottage all the time.

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The race site has a great fun vibe on race weekend. There is live music and food trucks in the finish area. Conquer the Crater has raised a lot of money for an organization that provides help to families whose children are going through cancer treatment. You can tell that the community has embraced the event, with many volunteers helping who don’t do XTERRA themselves.

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Science North is a must-do. Sudbury has a large arts community as well.

The route is extremely varied: short flat sections, beautiful flowing trails, and tough steep uphills, with a few forest roads in between for some serious acceleration. It leads through the heart of the Salzkammergut with lush green trees, rugged rocks, and breathtaking views.

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I live nearby, so I ride sections of the race course almost every time I train. I train on the trails on my bike and know Bad Aussee from almost every surrounding peak. It's practically my home race. 

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I have a lot of connections with Bad Aussee because I started my rehabilitation here after my accident 13 years ago. When I started cross triathlon 15 years ago, I always dreamed of XTERRA in Austria. Unfortunately, I thought I had started triathlon too late. When I heard that XTERRA was coming back to Austria, I was immediately fired up.

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You always think that when you live here, you no longer see the unique natural surroundings. But with every workout, I realize how lucky I am to live and train here. The beautiful lush hills, the forests, and the mountains offer an indescribably beautiful view of the landscape. You can see the Dachstein Glacier from almost every angle. We have the beautiful turquoise-blue lakes or the refreshing deep mountain lakes. Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it in the Salzkammergut.

I'm looking forward to seeing the whole XTERRA family. It's like coming home every time. Everyone knows each other, and even though we're obviously competing against each other in the race and everyone wants to be better, at the finish line and at the after-race party, we celebrate together having made it. We in Austria also know how to celebrate. And I think Bad Aussee is the best place for that, where sport meets tradition.

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When in Austria, you can't help but eat Kaiserschmarren, a schnitzel, or roast pork. The evening after the race, you should definitely treat yourself to a beer. If you have the time, I recommend a Cremeschnitte (cream slice) at the Loserhütte. There are also excellent restaurants serving local fish around Lake Altausseersee and Lake Grundlsee or Toplitzsee. So, be sure to arrive a few days early or stay longer to enjoy the culinary delights.