From 28 February to 1 March 2026, the Elgin Valley town of Grabouw hosts XTERRA South Africa, opening the 2026 XTERRA World Tour and launching the off-road triathlon series’ 30th anniversary season. Now in its 20th year, the event returns to the familiar setting of Grabouw Country Club at Eikenhof Dam, drawing athletes, families and supporters back to the trails.
Three decades after the first off-road triathlon, participants continue to arrive for the same reasons: to explore the outdoors, take on new challenges and spend time together in a natural setting.
A Weekend That Offers More Than One Race
While the Full Distance Triathlon headlines Saturday’s racing, the weekend programme extends far beyond a single event. Duathlons, trail runs and youth races take place across the two days, giving spectators and participants plenty to experience.
On Saturday, children aged six to eleven line up for kids’ races as families gather around the course. Sunday’s trail running events — a 21km half marathon, a 12km trail run and a 6km option — provide accessible ways for runners of all levels to be part of the weekend.
Local Knowledge on Familiar Trails
A long-standing presence at XTERRA South Africa is Conrad Stoltz, four-time XTERRA World Champion and two-time Olympian. With seven world titles across XTERRA and ITU Cross Triathlon and more than fifty XTERRA victories, Stoltz now focuses on shaping the experience for others rather than competing himself.
He remains closely involved with the local trail network and the community around Grabouw, and is especially enthusiastic about youth participation. For him, seeing young athletes excited to race is one of the highlights of the weekend.
Familiar Faces Return
Defending Full Distance winners Ryno Owen and Andrea Schöfmann are both back after crossing the line first in 2025. Owen describes the course as one of the most memorable on the circuit, while Schöfmann highlights the technical bike trails and surrounding landscape as key reasons for returning.
Sunday also marks the start of the XTERRA Youth Tour, with Sprint and Super Sprint races serving as qualification events for the XTERRA Youth World Championship.
Racing in a Protected Landscape
XTERRA South Africa takes place alongside the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Africa’s first UNESCO-listed biosphere and a central part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. As XTERRA celebrates 30 years of off-road racing worldwide, the road to the 2026 World Championship in New Mexico begins here in Grabouw, with a weekend built around sport, scenery and the connections that keep people coming back year after year.
