Weekend Highlights From South Africa as XTERRA Enters Its 30th Year

March 2, 2026

March 2, 2026 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The 30th anniversary season of XTERRA began in South Africa with a weekend that felt like a reunion across generations. Families, friends, longtime supporters, and first-timers shared laughter, and celebrated the challenge they took on together in Grabouw to mark the 20th year of the event.

It was visible in small ways, from veteran participants who have been part of the community since the early days to younger groups stepping onto the trails with curiosity and growing confidence. That passing of the torch was clear on Saturday during the kids races and again on Sunday when the XTERRA Youth Tour began its new season.

Out on the Full Distance course, local Ryno Owen claimed his second straight win at XTERRA South Africa, crossing the line in 2:30:56. In the women’s race, Carina Wasle of Austria finished as the fastest woman in 2:56:53. Full results are available on the XTERRA South Africa event page.

It was also an exploration around the beauty of the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, the first UNESCO-listed biosphere in Africa and a core part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. The water at Eikenhof Dam, the trails that led to a fun-filled event expo area, and the surrounding hills of Grabouw Country Club brought out the best in everyone who chose to gather in this unique outdoor playground.

From the work of Conrad Stoltz and the local XTERRA South Africa team, the focus stayed on people and participation. With XTERRA Trail Run events kicking off as well for 2026, runners chose between the 21K, 12K, and 6K routes and were cheered on by many who have been gathering here for two decades. The people who care for it, and the long history of XTERRA in this part of the Western Cape continued through the support shown by all across February 28th and March 1st.

Those who lined up each pointed to something different that stayed in their mind. Ryno Owen, who is from the region, said the feeling came down to one thing, “the vibes were unmatched.” Austria’s Carina Wasle leaned on what has carried her through more than twenty years of racing, saying “I love the adventure and the challenge and I love the feeling of running through the finish line after a great race.” Mozambique’s Andrea Schöfmann kept coming back to what she saw on course, saying “I can’t get enough of this landscape.” And the local favorite in the XTERRA Junior Sprint Triathlon and back-to-back champion Antony Clayton, focused on the atmosphere around him, saying “It’s really the people making it really fun.”

In the end, the opening event of XTERRA’s 30th anniversary around Grabouw carried the mix of family, tradition, and new energy that defines the feeling of being alive in nature. This was a genuine feeling that showed up from the first kids race to the last finisher on Sunday.

The combination of longtime participants, youth athletes, and local organizers supported this gathering for two decades and set a clear start to a momentous season. As the 2026 XTERRA World Tour moves forward, the momentum built here will carry into every stop that follows.

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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.