2025 XTERRA Ruidoso Debuts with Elite Champions Middaugh & Felder: Village and Volunteers Win the Weekend

August 18, 2025

/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – After months of anticipation and worldwide coverage since XTERRA announced Ruidoso as the host of the 30th anniversary XTERRA World Championship in 2026, the world got its first real look at what this mountain village is all about. From August 15–17, hundreds of athletes were welcomed by a village of over 7,000 people for a debut embraced by the hospitality of a community, from its officials to its many volunteers, who know how to stand strong against whatever nature brings, just like the athletes themselves.

On the course around Grindstone Lake and beneath the Sierra Blanca peaks, the first XTERRA Ruidoso champions were crowned. Amanda Felder (USA) took the women’s Elite victory one year after winning the inaugural XTERRA North American Championship, and former XTERRA World Champion Josiah Middaugh (USA) claimed the men’s Elite title. But the loudest cheers belonged to Reed Legg (USA, 20–24), who crossed the line ahead of all athletes, finishing just 19 seconds in front of Middaugh. Amari Graber (USA, 25–29) led the women’s age group field, adding to the powerful first chapter of a journey toward future World titles. The Sprint Distance Triathlon also doubled as a Youth World Championship Qualifier, giving Junior, Youth B, and Youth A athletes the rare chance to test themselves on the exact trails where they could return for the Youth Worlds in 2026.

Early mornings brought calm skies and cool mountain air, with highs around 73 °F (22–23 °C). The festivities brought the heat, with concerts filling Wingfield Park on Friday and Saturday night, shops opening their doors for the Midtown Shop Hop, and families gathering around the finish line to share stories and celebrate victories. By Sunday evening, there was no doubt left that XTERRA Ruidoso had arrived and established itself not just as a future World Championship venue but as a host with a character and cultural heritage all its own.

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About XTERRA

Born on the Hawaiian shores of Maui in 1996, XTERRA has grown into a global outdoor lifestyle brand rooted in exploration, community, and care for the natural world. With deep roots in off-road racing, XTERRA now inspires connection through events, storytelling, and apparel built to move through nature. From local gatherings to world-class events, XTERRA is a way of life shaped by the land beneath our feet and the stories we share along the way.