XTERRA World Championships returning to U.S. in 2026
The premiere off-road triathlon will celebrate its 30th-anniversary in Ruidoso, New Mexico in 2026
@XTERRAplanet/Courtesy photo
After spending the last four years in Italy, the XTERRA World Championships will return to U.S. soil for its 30th-anniversary.
After the 2025 iteration is held in Molveno this fall, the world’s most prestigious off-road triathlon race will move to Ruidoso, New Mexico for 2026, 2027 and 2028, according to a Tuesday press release.
“It’s a privilege to bring the XTERRA World Championship back to the Americas, where a thriving and passionate community continues to grow,” said J.D. Cousens, vice president of operations and marketing. “Returning to the United States and specifically to Ruidoso is about more than just competition. It’s about forging connections, embracing XTERRA’s pioneering spirit and immersing participants in an experience that goes beyond the racecourse.”
Lynn Crawford, mayor of Ruidoso, said the town is thrilled to be hosting the XTERRA World Championships for the next three years.
“This is a tremendous honor for our mountain community and a testament to the natural beauty and challenging terrain that makes our area so special,” Crawford stated in the press release. “This multi-year commitment will showcase our incredible outdoor recreation opportunities and bring significant economic benefits to our local businesses and residents. We’re ready for the world stage as a premier destination for outdoor adventure sports as we welcome outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe to experience our trails, our hospitality and the unique spirit of Ruidoso.”
Support Local Journalism
XTERRA Worlds was held in Hawaii from its inception in 1996 until 2021. It moved to Molveno, Italy in 2022, where it has been held for the last three years and will be once again Sept. 25-28. Local athletes have experienced tremendous success in Europe. Last fall, Sullivan Middaugh — the son of 2015 XTERRA world Champion Josiah Middaugh — captured the short-track title. Along with his younger brother, Porter, all three Middaughs competed in Italy last fall.
“Sullivan Middaugh grew up surrounded by the XTERRA Community and is an example for the youth currently competing and aspiring to follow his upward trajectory,” said Nico Lebrun, former XTERRA world champion and current global technical director.
The third XTERRA Youth World Championships, for athletes ages 14-19, will come to Ruidoso as well. Youth A athletes (ages 14-15) will contest a 400-meter swim, 8-kilometer bike and 2-kilometer run, while Youth B (16-17) and Junior (18-19) jump up to a 750-meter swim, 15-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run.
The world championship long distance course begins with a 1.5-kilometer swim in Grindstone Lake before the 30-kilometer bike leg kicks off with a lap around the lake. After a 5.5-kilometer climb to the the summit of Grindstone Mesa, riders will receive well-earned views of Sierra Blanca Peak above and Mescalero Lake below. Technical director Kirk Ermels said athletes will have “tight singletrack and chunky terrain leading back to transition.”
“The 10K run features two loops around Grindstone Lake before a final 2K sprint to Wingfield Park,” Ermels continued in the press release. “Runners face rolling, rocky terrain and punchy climbs, but there are plenty of spectator opportunities to keep energy flowing. The final stretch includes one last climb, then a smooth sprint to the finish line.”
Ruidoso, a village set in the Sierra Blanca mountain range near Ski Apache Resort with a population of just under 8,000 residents, sits at an elevation of 6,739 feet. With XTERRA Beaver Creek off the schedule in 2024, Colorado XTERRA athletes are looking forward to having a global championships close to home again.
“I’ve heard really great things about Ruidoso,” said Avon’s Suzie Snyder, a six-time XTERRA USA champion.
“XTERRA has been a love of mine for so long,” the 22-year veteran continued. “I’m really looking forward to adding Ruidoso to my race calendar, experiencing all that Ruidoso has to offer and making it a yearly tradition.”
The proximal location has fellow Coloradan Elizabeth Haney, a silver medalist in the 40-44 division at last year’s XTERRA Lory, excited to bring her parents, husband and two kids to watch.
“Ruidoso is a drivable distance from Colorado Springs, and I’m looking forward to the challenge that a different geographical location brings with it,” Haney told XTERRA.
XTERRA Americas Tour manager Steve Andrus said initial conversations with Crawford centered around successfully introducing XTERRA Ruidoso to the 2025 World Tour.
“But that quickly blossomed into deeper, more committed conversations about bringing the XTERRA World Championship here in 2026 and beyond,” Andrus stated.
The XTERRA North American Championship, which replaced the XTERRA USA Championships (held at Beaver Creek in 2022 and 2023), will return to Pelham, Alabama in 2025. As of this writing, there is no XTERRA Beaver Creek on the event calendar. Athletes can scope out the Ruidoso course at XTERRA Ruidoso Aug. 15-17.
