XTERRA Launches its 30th Anniversary Season in South Africa

February 25, 2026

February 25, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – XTERRA’s 30th anniversary season kicks off this weekend in the Elgin Valley of South Africa. Three decades after the first off-road triathlon, people arrive for the same reasons. They want to explore, take on a new challenge, or just be outside together.

From February 28 to March 1, the 20th edition of XTERRA South Africa gathers families, friends, and supporters to hit the trails again, take in the fresh air, and enjoy the connections that grow naturally throughout each event.

This is the opening weekend of the 2026 XTERRA World Tour. The Full Distance Triathlon leads Saturday, and the 2026 XTERRA Youth Tour gets underway on Sunday. With trail runs, kids races, and duathlon events throughout the weekend, there is plenty for people to experience at Grabouw Country Club at Eikenhof Dam.

Someone Who Knows This Place Well

Four-time XTERRA World Champion and two-time Olympian Conrad “The Caveman” Stoltz has become a guiding presence at XTERRA South Africa. With seven world titles across XTERRA and ITU Cross Triathlon and more than fifty XTERRA wins, he now focuses on building experiences for others and staying close to the people who make this place what it is. “We’re very enthusiastic about kids and youth racing. Seeing their smiles and excitement is one of the best parts of the weekend.”

Conrad has been meeting up with the community throughout the week. “I already bumped into two Austrians who are here for the event, and a British family who flew in especially for this race. They’re so happy to see the sun and very excited.” He also pre-rode the Sprint bike course with Rachel Kulisi. “She is doing her second triathlon ever. She loves adventure and challenging herself, and she really enjoyed the morning. She’s someone a lot of people look up to. It’s really cool to welcome her into the XTERRA family this weekend.”

Why They Keep Coming Back

A familiar local on these trails, Ryno Owen returns as the fastest man from the 2025 Full Distance Triathlon. “XTERRA SA is always special for me being next to the beautiful Eikenhof Dam surrounded by mountains.”

Owen continues, “A course like no other, each corner brings you to a more beautiful area. This is where my love for XTERRA was born. With all the competitors and spectators sticking around at the race venue after the race for food and drink, the vibes are unmatched and just get better and better as the weekend progresses.”

Andrea Schöfmann from Mozambique also returns after crossing the line first in 2025. “I loved the trails on the bike stint. I had so much fun on the technical track, and I can’t get enough of this landscape.”

Visit the Full Distance Triathlon page for course descriptions written by Conrad Stoltz.

Youth Lining Up on Sunday

Qualifications for the third year of the XTERRA Youth World Championship begin on Sunday, bringing together a strong field of young athletes in the Sprint and Super Sprint races. Last year’s Sprint champion Antony Clayton from nearby Stellenbosch, returns with great memories.

“The venue at XTERRA South Africa is very nice, and the water in that dam is so clean,” he says. “Even during the trail run section there is my favorite part where you have to work your way through part of the river by the waterfall, which is actually really cool.”

Clayton also shares what the start feels like. “I rely quite a lot on the swim with my strong swimming background,” he says. “You hear the heartbeat sounds on the speakers before the start of the race, and then the music blasts and everything, and it’s really a lot of people making it really fun.”

A Place for Everyone to Join In

The 20th year of XTERRA South Africa shares the trails with kids races for ages 6 to 11 on Saturday, as parents and supporters cheer them on. On Sunday, runners can choose the 21K Trail Half Marathon, the 12K Trail Run, or the 6K Run, giving anyone a simple way to join in, encourage others and feel part of the gathering.

In this 30th anniversary for XTERRA, the road to Ruidoso begins with Grabouw, with qualification opportunities for the 30th XTERRA World Championship in New Mexico this October. All of this takes place in and around the quiet beauty of Kogelberg Nature Reserve, the first UNESCO-listed biosphere in Africa and a cornerstone of the Cape Floral Kingdom, for a weekend filled with moments that people look forward to coming back to every year.

Photo credit: @XTERRAplanet

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.