Xtreme triathlon

Extreme (or Xtreme) Triathlon refers to a type of triathlon competition where competitors race over distances broadly equivalent to those of an Ironman triathlon (3.8k swim, 180k bike, 42k run). They are by definition held over more extreme courses and potentially more extreme conditions due to the remote locations and large elevation changes.

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 now known as the XTRI World Tour® although many other non-affiliated races of similar format exist around the world, falling under the general term of extreme triathlon. In 2019 Norseman hosted the first XTRI® World Championship in Extreme Triathlon which athletes are eligible for by qualification at the previous year's XTRI World Tour® partner races.

The number of participants is limited (usually to 250, sometimes less) and some races operate a ballot entry system due to high demand for slots. Many athletes have tried and failed to gain entry to some races over many years. These small numbers allow races to be held in remote and inaccessible locations which is a defining characteristic of extreme triathlon.

Races are predominantly "unsupported" so competitors need to have personal back up crews that support them with cars to provide them with food and drink. 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.

Trademarks

The terms "XTRI" and derivatives are owned by XTRI World Tour AS, Norway. These terms are not generic descriptions of Extreme, or Xtreme triathlon but are registered and protected trademarks.

Course formats

One of the defining aspects of extreme triathlon is that the courses are typically far more challenging than a typical long distance and can be longer.

Swims often incorporate colder water temperatures than would not be permitted in a normal race and the smaller number of competitors allows swims to be conducted from much more remote or inaccessible locations including deep water starts accessed by boats and challenging point to point courses.

The cycle sections can be in excess of 200k to fit remote roads and may contain several thousand meters of ascent. They are frequently point to point and participants require a support team to follow them throughout.

Extreme triathlon runs can vary in length. Whilst the Norseman course has been officially accredited as marathon distance, other courses may be a little less or more. They all have a large component of often challenging and technical off road running with some courses being almost entirely off road. They also typically have a large amount of elevation gain, sometimes more than the cycle sections and a number have mountain finishes.

Extreme triathlon communities & activities

Many extreme triathlon races created Facebook groups 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 successfully growing ever since.

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, Norseman and also the XTRI World Tour® created MyXTRI® virtual challenges where athletes completed 'events' wherever they could, or on Zwift (or similar) if unable to get outside.

World Championship in Extreme Triathlon

The "Grand Finale" of Extreme Triathlon, or the XTRI® World Championship takes place at Norseman each August. Every official XTRI® World Tour race is a qualifier for the championship, giving 4 slots (1st 2 male, 1st 2 female) to be on the start line in Eidfjord.

World Rankings

The current Extreme Triathlon World rankings for 2022 are as follows:[1]

Women:

  1. Eilidh PRISE (GBR)
  2. Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen (NOR)
  3. Hannah SAITCH (GBR)

Men:

  1. Jon Sæverås Breivold - NOR
  2. Kristian Grue - NOR
  3. Allan Hovda - NOR

Active Race catalogue
RaceStatusDistanceOrgAscents (mtrs)CountryExtras / Mythical feature(s)EstablishedNotesWorld Championship Qualifier
Alps ManActiveFull & HalfIndependent5600 France"Le Tournant" Bell High Route Cutoff2016
AltrimanActiveFullIndependent6320 FrancePort de Pailhères (12km @ 9%)2015?
Amazigh XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour Prospect2930 Morocco2023
Austria eXtremeActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series5786 AustriaStyrian snowfield run2015
AurlandsfjelletActiveHalfIndependent4200 Norway2011
Bearman XXLActiveFullIndependent6175 FranceBear Chair finish photo.20178848m option for Bears.
Ben Nevis BraveheartActiveHalfIndependent1970 ScotlandHighest summit in UK.2017
Blacklake XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour5800 MontenegroImmortals Wall, 2 lake swim, bike over Worlds 2nd deepest gorge.2019YES
BrutalActiveFullIndependent4350 WalesThey do multiples!2012
Canadaman XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour4000 CanadaMt Megantic Observatory finish2017YES
CELTMAN! XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour3769 ScotlandCold jellyfish swim, Beinn Eighe Ridge2012YES
CheahaFirst 2022FullIndependent4570 USA, AlabamaMt. Cheaha "The High Place"2022New race, launching 2022.
Diablak BeskidActiveFull,1/2Independent6200 Poland
EagleXManActiveFull, 1/2Independent6300 ItalyGran Sasso e Monti; Campo Imperatore2021
Estonian ForestActiveFull, 1/2Independent2600 Estonia180km Gravel/MTB bike (flat country!)2021
EvergreenTBCFullIndependent7850 FranceChamonix Skyline2015
Fodaxman XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour4700 BrazilSerra do Rio do Rastro switchbacks2019YES
Formosa XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour6840 Taiwan2019YES
Greek HeroActiveFullXTRI World Tour Prospect5100 Greece2020
Grimm ExtremeActiveFullIndependentc4000 GermanyCross old Iron Curtain2020
GrizzlymanActiveFullIndependent6300 Czech205km bike2019
HardaSuka UltimateActiveFullIndependent8000 Poland
HelveticManActiveHalfIndependent4150 Switzerland
HimalayanXtri®First 2022FullXTRI World Tour Prospect8900   NepalGreatest ascents (tied with Triverest)2021
ICON XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour6200 ItalyHigh altitude swim (1.800 MSL). Stelvio Bike2017YES
InfernoActive4 stageIndependent5500 Switzerland
Janosik XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour5800 SlovakiaMidnight swim, Rozstuec climb on run2016YES
JurassicmanActiveFullIndi3720 England2013
KarakoramFirst 2022FullIndependent2900 Pakistan7-8c (2km) swim at 2250m altitude
KiwimanActiveFullIndependent4200 New Zealand
Knysna XtremeActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series3360 South AfricaLongest extreme tri swim & run
LofotenActiveFullIndependent4100 NorwayMost northerly extreme tri. Svolvear Harbour swim.
MercantourmanActiveFullIndependent7300 France2020Same area as Cairoman, may be rename?
Norseman XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour5235 NorwayIt's Norseman! Ferry jump. Zombie Hill.2003HOST
Olympos-XActiveFull & HalfIndependent7050 Greece2017
OlympusmanActiveHalf/FullIndependent2916 CyprusFull distance test event 2020.
OravamanActiveHalfIndependent4750 Slovakia
Patagonman XtremeActiveFullIndependent3182 ChileFerry jump. Finish Bell.2018
Pirene XtremeActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series6500 SpainDiscover the Pyrenees2017
Starvation XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour5260 USA, UtahIron Cowboys Race2021YES
StoneBrixiaManActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series7050 Italy
Swedeman XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour4697 SwedenSwim finish at Waterfall.2018YES
Swissman XTRI®ActiveFullXTRI World Tour5750 SwitzerlandRun under a waterfall2013YES
Segura - TRADEMARK BREACH, Legal Proceedings Underway. Unauthorised use of XTRI Brand Mark
TatramanActiveHalfIndependent3245 NorwaySwim between 2 castles
ThorXtriActiveFullIndependent2951 NorwayToughest swim! Legendary bike hill.
TriathlonX Full XLast 2022FullIndependent5137 England"Toughest Xtreme" (220 article)2015
TriathlonX Extreme XActiveFullIndependent7336 England"Toughest Xtreme" (220 article)2015
TriverestActiveFull+Independent8900 SwitzerlandGreatest ascents (tied with Himalayan)
WatahaActiveFullIndependent6200 PolandMountains of The Wolf2021
Wild SiberiaActiveFull3600 Russia2.5k 9c swim in 'Dead Lake' Cheybek-Kohl.2020
WildermanActiveFull,1/2Independent3570North Dakota, USALifejacket on bike & run. Creek crossing.2014Offroad bike. Gravel or MTB.
WintermanActiveFullExtreme Triathlon Series4700 Czech Republic9 km downstream swim.2015

SOLO POINT FIVE Race catalogue
RaceStatusDistanceOrgAscents (mtrs)CountryExtras / Mythical feature(s)First RanNotes
CELTMAN! XTRI SOLO POINT FIVE™ActiveHalfXTRI World Tour3769 ScotlandCold jellyfish swim, Belach na ba2022
BLACKLAKE XTRI SOLO POINT FIVE™ActiveHalfXTRI World Tour3100 MontenegroBlacklake and Small Lake2022
FODAXMAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVE™ActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2550 BrazilSerra do Rio do Rastro2022
ORAVAMAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVE™ActiveHalfXTRI World Tour2550 SlovakiaTechnical Run2022
HIMALAYAN XTRI SOLO POINT FIVE™Launches 2023HalfXTRI World Tour3400   NepalThe Highest Half2022

Historic Race catalogue
RaceStatusDistanceOrgAscents (mtrs)CountryExtras / Mythical feature(s)First RanNotes
007 XtriOn HoldFullIndependentc8000 Germany,  Italy and  AustriaCross three countries!2019Small test race. 2021 race unlikely.
AlaskamanCeasedFullEEE/XTRI World Tour2400 USA, AlaskaResurrection Bay, Bear bells, River Hhandtram, Aleyska Ridge2017Cancelled 2020.
AlohamanCeasedFullEEETBC USA, Hawaii2019Cancelled 2020.
AlpineMan XtremeCeasedFullIndependent4900 Slovenia2016One year only
FjordXtremeCeasedFullIndependent3900 Norway2016Held 2016 only.
IcelandCeasedFullIndependent4179 IcelandMidnight swim, Volcanoes.2019
KarkonoszManLast 2021HalfIndependent2900 Poland2014
Manx Xtreme TriCeasedFullXTRI World Tour Prospect3000 England2019Test race only.
Oppland (Oxtri)CeasedFullIndependent2700 Norway2015

References
  1. "Extreme Triathlon World Rankings 2021". XTRI World Tour. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
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