Xtreme triathlon

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Xtreme triathlon (or extreme triathlon) is a type of triathlon competition where competitors on extreme courses, which include with night or cold swims and large elevation changes and high altitude during both the cycling and running sections. Athletes also deal with extreme weather conditions due to the remote locations and elevation changes. Participants race over distances broadly equivalent to those of an Ironman triathlon or an Ironman 70.3.

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 original Extreme Triathlon was the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon first held in 2003. Many other races have followed on from this and in 2012 the concept of "AllXTRI was launched" as a global brand that encompassed Norseman along with Celtman and Swissman. This evolved into what is known as the XTRI World Tour although many other well renowned races and series of similar format exist around the world. Extreme Triathlon Series is a series of races that has gained popularity over the years, due to it`s low key and friendly atmosphere.

Course formats

Extreme triathlon should not be confused with Ultra-triathlon. Hence, length is not the defining factor for extreme triathlon.

Extreme triathlons typically include four key elements:

  1. Courses that are point-to-point.
  2. Swims in challenging conditions, such as cold water, night swims, or deep water.
  3. Significant elevation gains in both the cycling and running segments.
  4. High-altitude passes during cycling and running.

It’s important to note that while one or more of these elements may be present in an extreme triathlon, there are also races that don’t incorporate any of them, yet are still considered extreme due to other challenging factors.

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 [1] 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. [2]

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 2024 are as follows: [3]

Women:

  1. Laura Zimmermann (GER)
  2. Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen (NOR)
  3. Claire Weller (GBR)

Men:

  1. Sebastian Norberg (SWE)
  2. Lars Wichert (GER)
  3. Aurélien Le Lay (FRA)


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

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References

  1. "The History of Extreme Triathlon". GlobalExtremeTriathlon.com. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  2. "Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon 2019". events.racetracker.no.
  3. "Extreme Triathlon World Rankings 2024". XTRI World Tour. Retrieved 28 February 2022.