The first-ever XTERRA South American Championship is heading to Paipa, Boyacá, in Colombia on May 24-25, 2025.
The full distance off-road triathlon serves as the inaugural XTERRA South American Championship on May 25th, offering 58 qualifying slots for the 2025 XTERRA World Championship in Molveno, Italy, along with a US$15,000 elite prize purse.
Competitors from South American countries will also vie for the honour of becoming the first-ever XTERRA South American Champions across elite and age group divisions.
The weekend also features a sprint distance triathlon and 21K Trail Half Marathon on May 24th, both serving as qualifiers for the 2025 XTERRA Youth World Championship and 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship, respectively.
Additional events include a 10K Trail Run and various kids’ races that combined aim to make the weekend a family-friendly edition.
Paipa, located about 80 miles from Bogotá, sits at an elevation of 8,284 feet (2,525m) with an average temperature of 64°F (17-18°C). XTERRA adds that the rolling hills, fertile valleys, and Andean highlands of Paipa create a setting that invites exploration, offering an immersive connection to its diverse natural environment.
Kirk Ermels, Technical Director of XTERRA Americas, said “The Paipa area is beautiful and very biker-friendly.
“The race course starts with a swim in Lake Sochagota, the training base for numerous water sport Olympians. The bike course is an immersive tour of the Colombian countryside, winding and climbing through farms and fields with abundant views around every corner.
“The run begins with a smooth jaunt along the lake before a tough climb up to an overlook of Paipa and its mountainous backdrop, then descends through farm communities back to the finish and festival grounds.”
Steve Andrus, XTERRA Americas Tour Manager, added “We are extremely pleased to announce that there will be a South American Championship for 2025.
“This move allows for champions to be crowned in both North America and South America for the first time. After last year’s successful inaugural event with XTERRA Colombia and support from the local community of Paipa, the decision was easy to make. With the support of XPORTIVA, it will be sure to be a bucket-list event.”
