Xtreme triathlon

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Xtreme triathlon (or extreme triathlon) is a type of triathlon competition on extreme courses, which include night or cold swims, and important elevation gain and high altitude during both the cycling and running sections. Athletes also deal with extreme weather conditions due to the remote locations and altitude changes.

Contents

The number of participants is limited (usually to 250 to 300) and some races operate a ballot entry system. These small numbers allow races to be held in remote and inaccessible locations, one of many characteristics of extreme triathlon. Some races are "unsupported" so competitors need to have personal back up crews that support to provide them with food, drinks and other necessities. The support crews also often need to accompany their competitor on any potentially dangerous mountain sections. During these sections, competitors are often required to carry a backpack containing emergency food and clothing should the weather change.

History

The roots of extreme triathlon trace back to the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon , first held in 2003 in Norway. Designed by Hårek Stranheim, Norseman offers a cold-water fjord swim of ~3.8 km, a 180 km bike leg through the Hardangervidda plateau, and a 42.2 km marathon ending atop Gaustatoppen. With over 5,000 m of total elevation, it emphasises self-reliance and endurance. Participation is capped (≈250 athletes), each required to bring a personal support crew for safety and logistics. [1] [2]

Inspired by Norseman, similar races began to appear in Europe in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Altriman (France, 2009), Aurlandsfjellet Xtreme (Norway, 2010), and Oravaman (Slovakia, 2011) adopted similar formats, favouring elevation, remote terrain, and small-scale organization. [3] [4] Between 2012 and 2013, additional events launched such as Celtman Xtreme Triathlon (UK), The Brutal Extreme Triathlon (UK), Swissman Xtreme Triathlon (Switzerland), Jurassicman (UK), and Snæfellsnes Jarnkarl (Iceland). These races emphasised community focus, athlete-crewed support, and wilderness routes. [5] [6] [3]

AlpsMan Extreme Triathlon, held annually since 2016 near Lake Annecy in France, includes a ~3.8 km lake swim, 180 km cycling across multiple alpine cols (~4,300 m ascent), and a marathon run climbing to the summit of Semnoz (~1,300 m ascent). [7]

In 2013, Norseman, Celtman, and Swissman formed an informal alliance, which eventually evolved into the XTRI World Tour . The first XTRI World Championship took place at Norseman in 2019. [8] While the Tour has helped raise the profile of select events, many races remain outside its framework. Some participants and commentators have criticised the Tour’s branded experience and elimination-style formats as diverging from the sport’s grassroots ethos. [9] [10]

As of the mid-2020s, over 45 independent extreme triathlons exist worldwide. Notable events include Austria eXtreme Triathlon, StoneBrixiaMan (Italy), Winterman (Czech Republic), Knysna Extreme (South Africa), and AlpsMan (France), each emphasizing uniquely local terrain and low-capacity fields. [11] [3]

Norseman remains considered the symbolic founding event. In 2025, over 6,300 applicants from roughly 96 countries entered the lottery for ~250 slots, demonstrating sustained demand far beyond its limited capacity. [12] [13] Despite the rise of branded series and media coverage, the core ethos of extreme triathlon continues to revolve around self-supported endurance amid challenging natural settings.


Course format

Extreme triathlons follow the traditional Iron-distance (3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42.2 km run) but are held in remote and often mountainous environments. Courses are typically point-to-point and feature cold-water swims in fjords, rivers, or alpine lakes, steep climbs during the bike segment, and trail runs that may finish at altitude. These environmental and elevation factors significantly increase the difficulty compared to standard triathlon formats. [14] [15]

Many races require athletes to be accompanied by a personal support crew, who provide nutrition, equipment, and safety support—especially on remote run sections. However, not all events have this requirement; some are self-supported or offer partial aid stations. [16]

Field sizes are usually limited to a few hundred participants, often selected through an application or lottery process. This allows organizers to maintain safety, protect natural environments, and preserve the event’s emphasis on personal endurance and self-reliance. [15]

Extreme triathlon communities & activities

Many extreme triathlon races created Facebook groups or similar to allow their athletes to plan and discuss races. Some of these are relatively open format, and some set up with a closed audience related to specific athletes in specific years.

In late 2019, a 'Global Extreme Triathlon Forum' Facebook group and 'Global Extreme Triathlon Club' on Strava were also set up to create a community across all extreme triathlon races worldwide, and also help nurture aspiring athletes. This has been growing ever since. In 2023 a website called Global Extreme Triathlon [17] was set up with the intent to gather information on all Extreme Triathlons in one place. This has been a success, especially for the independent races that are not a part of mainstream Xtreme Triathlon.

COVID in 2020 impacted races globally. All early extreme triathlon races were cancelled or postponed, but some later races managed to convene due to their format of being small in more remote locations. In this backdrop, several races created virtual challenges where athletes completed 'events' wherever they could, or on Zwift (or similar) if unable to get outside.

XTRI World Championship

The XTRI World Championship is an annual event that takes place at Norseman every August. The first championship took place in 2019 with less than 50 athletes starting in a small field before the main race. The entire field of Norseman is now the World Championship. [18]

The international governing body World Triathlon does not recognize any XTRI World Tour Championships as official Xtreme Triathlon World Championships.

The current XTRI World Championship Rankings for 2025 are as follows: [15]

Women:

  1. Julia Skala (GER)
  2. Laura Kessler (CH)
  3. Flora Colledge (GBR)

Men:

  1. Kristian Grue (NOR)
  2. Christophe Martiniger (CH)
  3. Juuso Manninen (FIN)


Starting in 2025, the XTRI Solo Point Five World Championship will be held annually at a different SP5 race location each year.[ citation needed ]

Race catalogues

Active race catalogue

RaceStatusDistanceOrgAscents (mtrs)CountryExtras / Mythical feature(s)EstablishedNotesWorld Championship Qualifier
Alps ManActiveFullIndependent5600Flag of France.svg France "Le Tournant" Bell High Route Cutoff2016
Alps Man halfActiveHalfIndependent3200Flag of France.svg France 2016
AltrimanActiveFullIndependent6320Flag of France.svg France Port de Pailhères (12km @ 9%)2015?
Amazigh XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour Prospect2930Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco 2023
Austria eXtremeActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series5786Flag of Austria.svg Austria Styrian snowfield run2015
AurlandsfjelletActiveHalfIndependent4200Flag of Norway.svg Norway 2011
Bearman XXLActiveFullIndependent6175Flag of France.svg France Bear Chair finish photo.20178848m option for Bears.
Ben Nevis BraveheartActiveHalfIndependent1970Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Highest summit in UK.2017
Blacklake XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour5800Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro Immortals Wall, 2 lake swim, bike over Worlds 2nd deepest gorge.2019YES
BrutalActiveFullIndependent4350Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales They do multiples!2012
Canadaman XTRIActiveFull,1/2XTRI World Tour4000Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Mt Megantic Observatory finish2017YES
CELTMAN! XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour3769Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Cold jellyfish swim, Beinn Eighe Ridge2012YES
CheahaFirst 2022FullIndependent4570Flag of the United States.svg USA, AlabamaMt. Cheaha "The High Place"2022New race, launching 2022.
Diablak BeskidActiveFull,1/2Independent6200Flag of Poland.svg Poland
EagleXManActiveFullIndependent6300Flag of Italy.svg Italy Gran Sasso e Monti; Campo Imperatore2021
EagleXMan halfActivehalfIndependent3300Flag of Italy.svg Italy Gran Sasso e Monti; Campo Imperatore2021
Estonian ForestActiveFull, 1/2Independent2600Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia 180km Gravel/MTB bike (flat country!)2021
EvergreenTBCFullIndependent7850Flag of France.svg France Chamonix Skyline2015
Fodaxman XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour4700Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Serra do Rio do Rastro switchbacks2019YES
Formosa XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour6840Flag of the Republic of China.svg Taiwan 2019YES
Greek HeroActiveFullXTRI World Tour Prospect3900Flag of Greece.svg Greece 2020
Grimm ExtremeActiveFullIndependentc4000Flag of Germany.svg Germany Cross old Iron Curtain2020
GrizzlymanActiveFullIndependent6300Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech 205km bike2019
HardaSuka UltimateActiveFullIndependent8000Flag of Poland.svg Poland
HelveticManActiveHalfIndependent4150Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
HimalayanXtriFirst 2022FullXTRI World Tour Prospect6200Flag of Nepal.svg   Nepal 4000m highest altitude2021
ICON XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour6200Flag of Italy.svg Italy High altitude swim (1.800 MSL). Stelvio Bike2017YES
InfernoActive4 stageIndependent5500Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Janosik XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour5800Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Midnight swim, Rozstuec climb on run2016YES
JurassicmanActiveFullIndi3720Flag of England.svg England 2013
KarakoramFirst 2022FullIndependent2900Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan 7-8c (2km) swim at 2250m altitude
KiwimanActiveFullIndependent4200Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Knysna XtremeActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series3360Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa Longest extreme tri swim & run
LofotenActiveFullIndependent4100Flag of Norway.svg Norway Most northerly extreme tri. Svolvear Harbour swim.
ManXActiveFullIndependent?Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Isle of Man 2019
MercantourmanActiveFullIndependent7300Flag of France.svg France 2020Same area as Cairoman, may be rename?
Norseman XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour5235Flag of Norway.svg Norway It's Norseman! Ferry jump. Zombie Hill.2003HOST
Olympos-XActiveFullIndependent7050Flag of Greece.svg Greece Night swim, 4km off the coast to 2834m altitude. 3000m elevation loss through technical trails2017
Olympos-X halfActiveHalfIndependent3700Flag of Greece.svg Greece highest half, extreme downhill2020
OlympusmanActiveHalfIndependent2916Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus Cyprus highest peak
Extreme OlympusmanActiveFullIndependent6000Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus Full distance test event 2020.
OravamanActiveHalfIndependent2550Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia
Patagonman XtremeActiveFullIndependent3182Flag of Chile.svg Chile Ferry jump. Finish Bell.2018
Pirene XtremeActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series6500Flag of Spain.svg Spain Discover the Pyrenees2017
Pulpit Rock Xtreme TriathlonActiveHalfIndependent3500Flag of Norway.svg Norway 2023
Starvation XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour5260Flag of the United States.svg USA, UtahIron Cowboys Race2021YES
StoneBrixiaManActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series7050Flag of Italy.svg Italy
Swedeman XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour4697Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Swim finish at Waterfall.2018YES
Swissman XTRIActiveFullXTRI World Tour5750Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Run under a waterfall2013YES
TatramanActiveHalfIndependent3245Flag of Poland.svg Poland Swim between 2 castles
ThorXtriActiveHalfIndependentFlag of Norway.svg Norway
TriathlonX Full XLast 2022FullIndependent5137Flag of England.svg England "Toughest Xtreme" (220 article)2015
TriathlonX Extreme XActiveFullIndependent7336Flag of England.svg England "Toughest Xtreme" (220 article)2015
TriverestActiveFull+Independent8900Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Greatest ascents (tied with Himalayan)
WatahaActiveFullIndependent6200Flag of Poland.svg Poland Mountains of The Wolf2021
Wild SiberiaActiveFull3600Flag of Russia.svg Russia 2.5k 9c swim in 'Dead Lake' Cheybek-Kohl.2020Xtremly Wild and beautiful.
WildermanActiveFull,1/2Independent3570North Dakota,Flag of the United States.svg USA Lifejacket on bike & run. Creek crossing.2014Offroad bike. Gravel or MTB.
WintermanActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series4700Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic 9 km downstream swim.2015

SOLO POINT FIVE race catalogue

RaceStatusDistanceOrgAscents (mtrs)CountryExtras / Mythical feature(s)First RanNotes
CELTMAN! XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2550Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Cold jellyfish swim, Belach na ba2022
CANADA XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2100Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada AUtumn colours and Mont Megantic2023
BLACKLAKE XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour3100Flag of Montenegro.svg Montenegro Blacklake and Small Lake2022
FODAXMAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2550Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Serra do Rio do Rastro2022
ORAVAMAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2550Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia Technical Run2010
HIMALAYAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour3400Flag of Nepal.svg   Nepal 2023
SWEDEMAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2000Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 2024
Greek Hero XTRI SOLO POINT FIVEActiveHalfXTRI World Tour3000Flag of Greece.svg Greece 2024

Historic race catalogue

RaceStatusDistanceOrgAscents (mtrs)CountryExtras / Mythical feature(s)First RanNotes
007 XtriOn HoldFullIndependentc8000Flag of Germany.svg Germany, Flag of Italy.svg Italy and Flag of Austria.svg Austria Cross three countries!2019Small test race. 2021 race unlikely.
AlaskamanCeasedFullEEE/XTRI World Tour2400Flag of the United States.svg USA, AlaskaResurrection Bay, Bear bells, River Hhandtram, Aleyska Ridge2017Cancelled 2020.
AlohamanCeasedFullEEETBCFlag of the United States.svg USA, Hawaii2019Cancelled 2020.
AlpineMan XtremeCeasedFullIndependent4900Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia 2016One year only
FjordXtremeCeasedFullIndependent3900Flag of Norway.svg Norway 2016Held 2016 only.
IcelandCeasedFullIndependent4179Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland Midnight swim, Volcanoes.2019
KarkonoszManLast 2021HalfIndependent2900Flag of Poland.svg Poland 2014
Manx Xtreme TriCeasedFullXTRI World Tour Prospect3000Flag of England.svg England 2019Test race only.
Oppland (Oxtri)CeasedFullIndependent2700Flag of Norway.svg Norway 2015

References

  1. "Norseman Xtreme Triathlon". Langrenn.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  2. "Norseman Xtreme Triathlon". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  3. 1 2 3 "History". Swissman Xtreme Triathlon. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  4. "Xtreme Triathlon". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  5. "Celtman Xtreme Triathlon". German Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. "Swissman Xtreme Triathlon". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  7. "Alpsman Extreme Triathlon". German Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  8. "Xtreme Triathlon". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  9. "Xtreme Triathlon". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  10. "Celtman Xtreme Triathlon". German Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  11. "Alpsman Extreme Triathlon". German Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  12. "Norseman Xtreme Triathlon". Nxtri.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  13. "Norseman". Nxtri.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.[ permanent dead link ]
  14. "What Makes an Extreme Triathlon 'Extreme'?". Adventure Race Hub. Retrieved 6 August 2025.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. 1 2 3 "What is XTRI?". XTRI World Tour. Retrieved 6 August 2025.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. "Support Crew Requirements". Multisport Ireland. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  17. "The History of Extreme Triathlon". GlobalExtremeTriathlon.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  18. "Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon 2019". events.racetracker.no.