XTERRA‘s 30th anniversary season is set to begin this weekend in the Elgin Valley of South Africa. Marking three decades since its first off-road triathlon was held, the event returns to the Grabouw Country Club at Eikenhof Dam from February 28 to March 1, 2026.
The weekend marks the 20th edition of XTERRA South Africa event and serves as the opening fixture of the 2026 XTERRA World Tour. The schedule in South Africa features a ‘full distance’ off-road triathlon on Saturday (swim 1500m, bike 28km with 623m+ elevation, run 10K 190m+). This is followed by the start of the 2026 XTERRA Youth Tour on Sunday.
The event weekend, which takes place within the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, includes a variety of disciplines such as trail runs, kids’ races, and duathlons.
Four-time XTERRA World Champion Conrad Stoltz has been a key figure in the development of the event. Conrad Stoltz, who has secured seven world titles across XTERRA and ITU Cross Triathlon, now focuses on building experiences for the off-road community and developing trails in the Grabouw area.
Conrad Stoltz said “We’re very enthusiastic about kids and youth racing. Seeing their smiles and excitement is one of the best parts of the weekend.”
He noted the international draw of the race, having already met competitors from Austria and the UK.
Local athlete Ryno Owen returns to the event after finishing as the fastest man in the 2025 XTERRRA Full Distance. Ryno Owen said “XTERRA SA is always special for me being next to the beautiful Eikenhof Dam surrounded by mountains. With all the competitors and spectators sticking around at the race venue after the race for food and drink, the vibes are unmatched.”
Andrea Schöfmann, the 2025 women’s winner from Mozambique, is also returning to the field.
Sunday’s proceedings will focus on the third year of the XTERRA Youth World Championship qualifications, featuring Sprint and Super Sprint races. Antony Clayton, the defending Sprint champion from Stellenbosch, highlighted the unique nature of the course.
Antony Clayton said “The venue at XTERRA South Africa is very nice, and the water in that dam is so clean. Even during the trail run section there is my favourite part where you have to work your way through part of the river by the waterfall, which is actually really cool.”
The 20th anniversary of the South African race also includes trail running options for the wider public, with distances of 6km, 12km, and a 21km Trail Half Marathon.
As the first stop on the 2026 World Tour, the event offers qualification slots for the 30th XTERRA World Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Ruidoso, NM, in October 2026.
