Off-Road Triathlon
Welcome to the Wild Way
What Is XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon
XTERRA off-road triathlon isn’t triathlon with dirt added. It is triathlon transformed. Open-water swims in oceans, rivers, and alpine lakes. Mountain bike trails that cut through forests and over mountains. Trail runs that reach ridgelines and weave through landscapes shaped entirely by nature. It is a sport born from exploration and challenge, shaped by a community who race with curiosity as much as courage. No two courses alike and no experiences the same.
At its core XTERRA off-road triathlon is still defined by the same formula that shaped the first race back in Maui in 1996: 10% open-water swimming, 65% mountain biking, and 25% trail running. But what it’s become in the three decades since is a global way of life rooted in living more with nature. One where the time you have is far more important than the time you finished. A sport for some. A lifestyle for many.
Distances & Formats
XTERRA off-road triathlon offers more than one way in. Every format is a different path into the sport, shaped by the terrain and designed for athletes of all levels. While each distance follows the same core formula, every course brings its own character, challenge, and sense of discovery. Whether you are taking your first steps off-road or building toward bigger goals, XTERRA has a format that meets you where you are and carries you into the wild.
Super Sprint Distance
A short, approachable format designed for first-timers and young athletes. A confidence-building introduction to open-water swimming, mountain biking, and trail running. It is also the official distance for the Youth A division on the XTERRA Youth Tour.
Sprint Distance
The most popular pathway into XTERRA. Sprint races balance challenge with accessibility, offering enough distance to feel adventurous while remaining friendly for newcomers. It is also the official distance for the Youth B and Junior divisions on the XTERRA Youth Tour.
Full Distance
The original XTERRA format and the backbone of the World Tour. Full Distance races deliver the full off-road triathlon experience across terrain that shapes every leg of the course. Demanding, rewarding, and iconic, it is the distance most associated with XTERRA’s heritage.
Long Distance
Offered at select events for athletes seeking more time in wild places. Long Distance races extend the challenge across greater terrain, adding more distance, more elevation, and more unpredictability. A format built for those who want the journey to last a little longer.
Short Track
A high-intensity format reserved for pro athletes and made for spectators. Short Track condenses the off-road triathlon experience into a fast, multi-lap spectacle that gives fans a front row seat to XTERRA racing at the highest level.
XTERRA Off-Road Triathlon Series
XTERRA off-road triathlon has grown from a single race into three core series, each designed to support athletes of different ages and abilities as they move through the sport. Together, these series offer pathways to compete locally or globally and the chance to take part in Regional and World Championships.
XTERRA World Tour
The origin story of XTERRA and the backbone of off-road triathlon. Full Distance racing across continents, across age divisions, and across the world’s wildest terrain.
The XTERRA World Tour is the series where the sport began, a global collection of Full Distance off-road triathlons held in some of the world’s most distinctive natural environments. Each event follows the XTERRA formula of 10% open-water swimming, 65% mountain biking, and 25% trail running, with courses shaped entirely by the terrain they cross. From alpine lakes to coastal trails and forested singletrack, no two races are the same. It’s one of the purest expressions of XTERRA’s off-road spirit, built on the same core values that defined the sport from the very beginning.
The World Tour supports age-group athletes, para athletes, and elites. Age-group competitors race within five-year divisions ranging from 20–24 through 70+, ensuring every performance is measured against peers of similar age and experience. Para athletes compete within a dedicated category. Elite athletes race in a single pro division for prize money, professional rankings, and international standing.
Athletes can choose to race just one event or as many as they wish, shaping their own path through the series. Regardless of category or number of events, every athlete competes only against others within their division, preserving fairness while celebrating achievement across all levels of the sport.
Divisions on the XTERRA World Tour are structured to ensure fair and meaningful competition for every athlete. Age-group athletes are placed into five-year divisions based on their age on December 31 of the race year, beginning at 20–24 and extending through 70+. Para athletes compete within a dedicated category. Elite athletes race in a single pro division for prize money, professional rankings, and international standing.
Regardless of category, every athlete competes only against others within their division, preserving fairness while celebrating achievement across all levels of the sport.
Yes. Regional championships are open events, and any eligible athlete may take part. However, regional titles and jerseys are awarded based on regional representation, not overall finish position. This means the regional champion in a given division is the first athlete from that region to finish.
An athlete’s region is determined by the country they choose to represent at the race, and athlete's are required to hold a valid passport for their represented nation.
Every race on the XTERRA World Tour is a step toward the XTERRA World Championship. Each event on the World Tour is a World Championship qualifier, with athletes earning their slot through their performance within their age division. Slot allocation varies by event, with Gold events offering 56 slots across all divisions and Silver events offering 26. No matter the division or destination, the pathway is the same: race your division, rise through the field, and earn your chance to line up at the invite-only XTERRA World Championship.
Qualifying on the World Tour opens the door to the sport’s biggest stage. World Championship Week brings together athletes from across the XTERRA community, including elites, age groupers, para athletes, youth, and supporters, for a week of racing, culture, connection, and celebration. It is the moment the entire season builds toward, where the world’s best line up on the same course and the XTERRA spirit is at its strongest. For many, earning a slot is not just a race opportunity but a rare chance to stand alongside the sport’s top athletes and experience a part of XTERRA that has defined the spirit of the sport from the very beginning.
The XTERRA World Performance Index, or WPI, is the global ranking system that measures an athlete’s performance across XTERRA off-road triathlons. Rather than relying on finish times alone, the WPI considers course difficulty, weather, event status, and the strength of the field to create a score that reflects how well an athlete performed on that course, on that day. This allows athletes to be compared fairly even if they compete in different regions or never race head to head.
An athlete’s world ranking is based on the average of their two best WPI scores over a 24 month period, giving a clear picture of progression and consistency and all World Tour participants with a transparent way to track their growth as they take on new races, new terrain, and new challenges.
XTERRA Youth Tour
The starting point for young athletes stepping into off-road triathlon. Age-appropriate racing designed to build skills, confidence, and a lifelong connection to movement in nature.
The XTERRA Youth Tour is the developmental series for athletes aged 14 to 19 entering the world of off-road triathlon. With Super Sprint and Sprint distances tailored to each age group, the series helps young athletes build confidence, learn race skills, and experience XTERRA’s community and spirit for the first time. From coastal swims to forest trails, the Youth Tour provides a welcoming pathway into the sport and the global XTERRA movement.
The Youth Tour supports athletes aged 14 to 19 through age-appropriate distances that grow with them. Youth A athletes aged 14 to 15 race the Super Sprint distance, while Youth B athletes aged 16 to 17 and Junior athletes aged 18 to 19 take on the Sprint format as they advance within the sport. Athletes can choose to race a single event or as many as they wish, shaping their own path through the series at a pace that suits their development. The series is designed both for athletes trying off-road triathlon for the first time and for those progressing quickly through the divisions, providing a clear pathway toward regional races and the XTERRA Youth World Championship.
Divisions on the XTERRA Youth Tour are based on age and follow the same Youth A, Youth B, and Junior structure used in World Triathlon. Athletes are placed into their division according to their age on December 31 of the race year. Youth A athletes aged 14 to 15 race the Super Sprint distance, while Youth B athletes aged 16 to 17 and Junior athletes aged 18 to 19 progress into the Sprint format as their skills and experience grow.
Each athlete competes only within their division, ensuring fair competition and a clear pathway as they advance through the sport.
Yes. Regional championships are open events, and any eligible athlete may take part. However, regional titles and jerseys are awarded based on regional representation, not overall finish position. This means the regional champion in a given division is the first athlete from that region to finish.
An athlete’s region is determined by the country they choose to represent at the race, and athlete's are required to hold a valid passport for their represented nation.
Every race on the XTERRA Youth Tour is a qualifier for the XTERRA Youth World Championship. Athletes earn their slot by finishing near the top of their division, with each event awarding 10 slots per division split evenly between genders. These slots are available across Youth A, Youth B, and Junior categories. The pathway is the same at every race, giving young athletes a clear and consistent opportunity to earn their place at the XTERRA Youth World Championship.
A Youth Tour qualification unlocks the chance to race at the XTERRA Youth World Championship, held as part of XTERRA World Championship Week. This is where young athletes join the global XTERRA community, lining up alongside competitors from around the world while sharing the trails and experience with pros, icons, and legends who have shaped the sport. It is a chance to experience XTERRA at its highest level and write their story into an event that remains one of the defining moments of the XTERRA season.
XTERRA World Cup
The wildest show on dirt. A pro series of Full Distance and Short Track racing where the world’s best compete for points, season standings, and the XTERRA World Cup title.
The XTERRA World Cup is where the world’s best elite off-road triathletes meet the wildest terrain in the sport. Full Distance endurance and Short Track intensity come together in a condensed series that awards points at every stop, building toward the crowning of the XTERRA World Cup champion. It is the purest expression of speed, skill, and the XTERRA spirit at the professional level, recognising the best across the season rather than the best on the day.
The XTERRA World Cup is built for elite athletes competing at the highest level of off-road triathlon. It is also for the fans who follow every stop, every sprint finish, and every shift in the standings. And for age-group athletes racing on the same courses, it offers the unique experience of lining up at the same venues and riding the same trails as the icons who shape the sport.
The XTERRA World Cup is a global, points-based series built on both Full Distance and Short Track racing. Athletes earn points at every stop, with Full Distance wins worth 100 points and Short Track wins worth 75. Regional championships see points multiplied by 1.2, while the season finale sees points multiplied by 1.5.
To help mitigate travel limitations, missed races, or mechanical issues, each athlete receives one Joker for Full Distance and one Joker for Short Track, allowing their lowest score in each format to be dropped.
All other results count toward the season total. Scoring is simple: accumulate the most points across the series and you are crowned XTERRA World Cup champion. The challenge comes in doing it better than a field stacked with the fastest pro off-road triathletes in the world.
XTERRA World Championship Week
XTERRA World Championship Week is the ultimate expression of the XTERRA spirit. It is an annual gathering where elites, age group athletes, youth competitors, families, and supporters come together for a week of racing, connection, and celebration. From its early years in Maui to its European era in Molveno and its new chapter in Ruidoso, Championship Week has always been the place where the trails of the World Tour meet and where the best age division athletes from across the planet come to share the same terrain and challenge, each bringing a different story.
With the XTERRA World Championship and the XTERRA Youth World Championship at its heart, the week blends high-level racing with the shared joy of discovery, exploration, and a respect for nature. Community swims, group rides, trail runs, culture-led dinners, awards nights, and local experiences fill the days between races, creating moments that connect athletes not only with one another but with the host destination itself.
It is where the season culminates, where journeys from every corner of the XTERRA community converge, and where the heart of the sport is felt at its strongest.
How to Get Started
Pick your distance, find a course that excites you, and take the first step into off-road triathlon. You do not need specialised gear or a lifetime of experience; only the curiosity to explore the trails and the respect to move through them. Whatever your background or ability, off-road triathlon gives you the space to start where you are and see how far the sport can take you.
