XTERRA Triathlon
Encyclopedia
XTERRA is a series of off-road triathlon
races, (three-sport races which include swimming
, mountain biking
, and trail running
). The XTERRA Global Tour is owned and produced by TEAM Unlimited. The XTERRA race series is the best-known series of off-road triathlon
s, and is considered by most to be the de-facto world championship of the sport.
It began in 1996 on the island of Maui as the Aquaterra, and was later renamed the XTERRA. The Nissan Motor Corporation
named their popular sport utility vehicle
line after the race and was the race series' primary sponsor for many years. The two companies parted ways at the end of 2006.
Several events known as XTERRA Championships Series offer more points due to their larger draws. In the United States, there are championships for each region of the country. These venues also offer a "sport" version of the race where contestants complete races that are typically half the distance of the full version.
In the United States
the sport distances are often used as miles yielding a 1/2 mile (805 m) swim, 15 mile (24 km) mountain bike, and a 5-mile (8-km) trail run.
Women
Off-road triathlon
Off-road triathlon is a form of triathlon, or three-stage race, consisting of a swim stage, mountain-biking stage, and a trail-running stage.Off-road triathlons are distinguished from conventional triathlons in that the terrain for the cycling and running stages are generally unpaved, rough, and...
races, (three-sport races which include swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, mountain biking
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
, and trail running
Trail running
Trail running is a variant on running that differs markedly from road running and track running. Trail running generally takes place on hiking trails, most commonly single track trails, although fire roads are not uncommon. A distinguishing characteristic of the trails is that they are often...
). The XTERRA Global Tour is owned and produced by TEAM Unlimited. The XTERRA race series is the best-known series of off-road triathlon
Off-road triathlon
Off-road triathlon is a form of triathlon, or three-stage race, consisting of a swim stage, mountain-biking stage, and a trail-running stage.Off-road triathlons are distinguished from conventional triathlons in that the terrain for the cycling and running stages are generally unpaved, rough, and...
s, and is considered by most to be the de-facto world championship of the sport.
It began in 1996 on the island of Maui as the Aquaterra, and was later renamed the XTERRA. The Nissan Motor Corporation
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
named their popular sport utility vehicle
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
line after the race and was the race series' primary sponsor for many years. The two companies parted ways at the end of 2006.
Organization
The XTERRA has two primary divisions, professional and "age-groupers". In the professional division athletes compete for cash prizes and sponsorships. The age-group division was created for those who still want to compete but have no aspirations to become professional athletes. Both divisions compete in a points series, where athletes accumulate points by placing in the top fifteen positions of any race in which they compete.Several events known as XTERRA Championships Series offer more points due to their larger draws. In the United States, there are championships for each region of the country. These venues also offer a "sport" version of the race where contestants complete races that are typically half the distance of the full version.
Race format
As an off-road race, the distances can vary widely depending on the terrain available. The target distances are as follows:- Championship/pro: 1.5 km swim, 30 km mountain bikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, 11 km trail run - Sport: 500 m swim, 15 km mountain bikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, 5 km trail Run
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
the sport distances are often used as miles yielding a 1/2 mile (805 m) swim, 15 mile (24 km) mountain bike, and a 5-mile (8-km) trail run.
XTERRA pro triathletes
Men- Franky Batelier
- Hamish CarterHamish CarterHamish Clive Carter ONZM is a New Zealand triathlete. He won the gold medal in triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics, his second Olympic games. Carter also competed on the International Triathlon Union World Cup circuit as a professional for many years, culminating in a silver medal in 2006 before...
- Dan HugoDan HugoDan Hugo is a professional XTERRA triathlete based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. He matriculated in 2003 at the well-known Paul Roos Gymnasium, in Stellenbosch.-Results:-External links:...
- Nicolas Lebrun
- Olivier MarceauOlivier MarceauOlivier Marceau is an athlete from France, who competes in triathlon.A member of the Poissy Triathlon Club he competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He took seventh place with a total time of 1:49:18.03.Four years later, at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Marceau competed...
- Peter ReidPeter Reid (triathlete)Peter Reid is a Canadian elite level triathlete. He has gained fame mainly by winning ten Ironman triathlons, including winning the Ironman World Championship three times. During his career as a triathlete Reid lived and trained in Victoria, British Columbia...
- Conrad StoltzConrad StoltzConrad Stoltz is a triathlete from South Africa.He competes in triathlons and is four time World Champion of the XTERRA Series and ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion of off-road triathlon races....
- Michael Weiss
- Jim ThijsJim ThijsJim Thijs is a Belgian pro triathlete who may consider himself a top competitor at the Xterra circuit. At the 2010 Xterra World Championships, he finished 10th....
- Eneko LlanosEneko LlanosEneko Llanos Burguera is a Basque triathlete.Llanos competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He took twenty-third place with a total time of 1:50:48.35. Four years later, at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Llanos competed again, moving up in the ranking to twentieth place...
- Lance ArmstrongLance ArmstrongLance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
Women
- Julie DibensJulie DibensJulie Claire Dibens is a professional triathlete. She represented Great Britain in the 2004 Summer Olympics and has won the 2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championship as well as the XTERRA Triathlon World Champion in 2007, 2008, and 2009...
- Eszter Erdelyi
- Marion Lorblanchet
- Melanie McQuaid
- Cindi Toepel
- Shonny Vanlandingham
- Jaime Whitmore
- Helena ErbenováHelena ErbenováHelena Erbenová is a Czech cross country skier who has been competing since 1997. She finished fifth in the 4 x 5 km relay at the 2007 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Sapporo and earned her best individual finish of 20th in the sprint at the 2001 championships in Lahti.Erbenová's best Winter...