Xterra Triathlon

Testing Your Limits with the Xterra Triathlon

Though some might be scared off by the fierceness and blood, sweat, and tears attitude of Xterra competitions, all are welcome to come join in the fun. Whether you're a schoolteacher, Hell's Angel, or seasoned cyclist, there's such a variety of events that everyone is sure to find a suitable competition if you've got that drive to compete, to push yourself to the limit, and to have a great time.

Xterra events are international, held in a total of 14 countries, from New Zealand to Mexico to Japan to Germany, as well as all over the United States. The Xterra Triathlon has two race formats: XTERRA Sport and XTERRA. XTERRA Sport is the half-distance race, mainly catering to newcomers. Hailed as a good starting place for those unfamiliar with off-road triathlons, participants compete in a 500-meter swim, a 15-kilometer mountain bike, and a 5-kilometer trail run. These Sport races take place at all of the five Nissan Xterra USA Championship Series. The XTERRA race is the full-distance race, which is made up of a 1.5K swim, a 30K mountain bike, and a 10K trail run. Both races are open to individuals or teams.

Other events include Scrambles, 9-mile and 5K races, and the XTERRA Duathlon, a race designed as a run-bike-run format. The Nevada Passage is a six-day competition, made up of six different events. Ten teams of two compete against each other in these events, which include mountain biking and treasure hunts. Footage of this competition has been filmed and recently made into an award-winning reality show.

The Xterra Iceman Cometh competition is a tradition spanning 15 years, held in Traverse City, MI. Approximately 2500 participants compete in this mountain bike race annually, vying for their chance to win nearly $30,000 in prizes. The Iceman Cometh competition is a 27-mile race, held on the first Saturday of November, and will be featured on television this year.

If you're an extreme participant in an Xterra triathlon or similar race, you've got to get a Shuttle Pack to organize your gear so you can focus on the adventure ahead!