GRABOUW – XTERRA’s 30th anniversary season kicks off in the Elgin Valley this weekend.
Three decades after the first off-road triathlon, participants arrive for the same reasons – to explore, take on a new challenge or just be outside together.
On Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March, 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.
The event marks the opening weekend of the 2026 XTERRA World Tour. The Full Distance Triathlon leads Saturday, while the 2026 XTERRA Youth Tour gets underway on Sunday. With trail runs, children’s races and duathlon events throughout the weekend, there is plenty for people to experience at the Grabouw Country Club at Eikenhof Dam.
Top field expected
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 50 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,” Stoltz explained.
He often points to the tight mountain-biking community in Grabouw and the role of Pieter Silberbauer at Trail’s End Bike Hotel, who helps manage the trails Stoltz builds. He turned an old sawmill into a bicycle hotel with a small museum that riders love to explore.
Stoltz 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 said.
He also pre-rode the Sprint bike course with Rachel Kolisi. “She is doing her second triathlon ever,” Stoltz related.
“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.”
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Ryno Owen, a familiar local on these trails, 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,” he said.
“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,” she recalled. “I had so much fun on the technical track and I can’t get enough of this landscape.”
An event for all
Qualifications for the third year of the XTERRA Youth World Championship begin on 1 March, bringing together a strong field of young athletes in the Sprint and Super Sprint races. Last year’s Sprint champion, Antony Clayton from Stellenbosch, returns with great memories.
“The venue at XTERRA South Africa is very nice and the water in that dam is so clean,” he said. “Even during the trail run section there is my favourite part, where you have to work your way through part of the river by the waterfall, which is actually really cool.”
Clayton also shared what the start feels like: “I rely quite a lot on the swim with my strong swimming background. You hear the heartbeat sounds on the speakers before the start of the race and then the music blasts… It’s really a lot of people making it really fun.”
The 20th year of XTERRA South Africa shares the trails with children’s races for ages six to 11 on Saturday, as parents and supporters cheer them on. On Sunday, runners can have their pick of 21 km trail half-marathon, the 12 km trail run or the 6 km run, giving anyone a simple way to join in, encourage others and feel part of the gathering.
In the 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.
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