XTERRA World Championship Off-Road Triathlon Treks into Ruidoso, New Mexico
The global lifestyle brand brings its championship races to the Lincoln National Forest in partnership with Ruidoso Village, Parks and Recreation, and more.
In partnership with Ruidoso, New Mexico, XTERRA announced on Tuesday, March 25th, that the village will host the brand’s 2026, ‘27, and ‘28 World Championship off-road triathlon for elite outdoor athletes.
XTERRA racers compete worldwide at sites like Australia, China, Europe, South Africa, Hawaii—and now Ruidoso’s Grindstone Lake and Wingfield Park.
Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford officially announced the big news at the riverside Downshift Brewing Company. He called hosting XTERRA a "boon" for Ruidoso, especially in light of last year's tragic Salt and South Fork Fires, which affected the village and surrounding areas.
The XTERRA World Championship will be held in Ruidoso starting in 2026, and the event will sustain its impact on outdoor tourism for the following three years. For 2025, a qualifier race will be held on August 15th- 17th.
XTERRA U.S. Tour Manager Steve Andrus says the championship race is slated to attract 1,000 to 1,500 athletes, their families, and friends. He estimates up to 7,000 visitors in total for each World Championship event.
Mayor Crawford expects the event to add more than 12 million dollars to the economy.
From the XTERRA website:
“Our vision for bringing the XTERRA World Championship to Ruidoso is about more than just racing—it's about elevating a community and redefining sports tourism,” said Andrus.
“After discussing our plans with community leaders, including Mayor Lynn Crawford and the governor’s office, I saw firsthand how a group that’s weathered major setbacks—from fires to floods—remains optimistic. Initially, our discussions focused on successfully introducing XTERRA Ruidoso to the 2025 World Tour, but that quickly blossomed into deeper, more committed conversations about bringing the XTERRA World Championship here in 2026 and beyond.”
Andrus added, “It inspired me because our collaboration doesn’t stop at just hosting a race; we’re bringing quality experiences, assisting with the expansion of trail networks, and enhancing the festival atmosphere of Ruidoso.”
The Village of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Parks and Recreation, XTERRA, local businesses, and more will collaborate for the race and social events leading up to the XTERRA World Championship 2026, the 30th anniversary of the off-road triathlon that began in Maui in 1996.
This August, elite athletes can compete in a qualifying race for a shot at the $15,000 prize purse. Over the event weekend, a youth qualifier race, concert, and more will be held. For more information and to register, check out XTERRAplanet.com.
Because Ruidoso is over 6,000 feet high, organizers expect athletes to train at a higher altitude, beginning days, even weeks, ahead of the competition.
Just 45 minutes south of Ruidoso—and at 9,000 feet in elevation—the neighboring villlage of Cloudcroft’s Mayor Timothy King and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Amy Coor attended the announcement event.
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