Are you tough enough to complete the “Full G” at the Xterra Sleeping Giant?

Looking for your next endurance challenge? An off-road triathlon event in Thunder Bay has added some interesting new categories sure to challenge even the fittest adventure enthusiasts. (Pictured above is Xterra Sleeping Giant race director Cameron King Gillis competing at the event last year.)

Why off-road?

As more and more triathletes are looking for ways to get out biking that doesn’t involve dealing with traffic, many are turning to gravel and mountain bike riding. While there aren’t many gravel triathlon events (as of yet), off-road triathlon racing has been happening for decades. The most famous off-road triathlon race is the Xterra World Championship, which started in 1996 on Maui. While that race no longer takes place in Hawaii, the Xterra World Tour is an off-road triathlon series that offers professional and age group athletes the chance to race at spectacular venues across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region.

There are 51 races in the 2024 World Tour in 27 countries. Age group athletes who win their division automatically qualify for the Xterra World Championship, with each race offering between 28 to 58 world championship slots. This year’s Xterra World Championship will take place in Trentino, Italy on September 28.

The world tour includes a number of races in North America, including events in April in Texas (Apr. 20) and New Jersey (Apr. 27 to 28), the North American Championship in Pelham, Alabama (May 17 to 19), Waco, Texas (June 1 to 2), Tremblant (June 8 to 9), South Bend, Indiana (June 22), Victoria (July 6 to 7), Manoir du Lac Delage (July 12 to 14), Rocky Gap State Park, Maryland (July 14), Sudbury, Ontario (July 20 to 21), Portland, Oregon (Aug. 4), Thunder Bay, Ont. (Aug. 25) – see below, Bromont, Quebec (Aug. 24 to 25), Whistler (Sept. 14 to 15), Lake Tahoe, California, (Sept. 15) and Branson, Montana (Sept. 21).

Sleeping Giant

Once again part of the world tour is the Xterra Sleeping Giant race, held just outside of Thunder Bay. This year’s event is expected to attract some pro athletes, and will include a number of trail running events to go along with the traditional triathlon and duathlon races.

Triathlon Magazine readers can use the code TM10 for a 10% discount on all Xterra Sleeping Giant events until July 13th

The races take place at Thunder Bay’s Boulevard Lake and utilize the purpose-built mountain bike and recreation trails. Athletes work their way over the unique mesa rock formations, taking in the stark beauty of the landscape at the head of Lake Superior.

While the mountain bike course isn’t as tough as it could be, the mix of double- and single-track trails in the Shuniah Mines/ Trowbridge Forest provide enough of a challenge to ensure athletes enjoy a tough day of racing. (The city has invested heavily in the trails and has done a good enough job that Cycling Canada will host its off-road championships at the park this year.) The run course features a mix of gravel and trail surfaces, with some technical features to keep things interesting.

Races include:

• Full distance triathlon – 1,500 m swim, 26 km bike, 10 km run
• Sprint distance triathlon – 750 m swim, 15 km bike, 5 km run
• Super sprint triathlon – 300 m swim, 8 km bike, 3 km run
• Full distance duathlon – 5 km run, 26 km bike, 10 km run
• Sprint distance duathlon – 2 km run, 15 km bike, 5 km run
• Trail run events: 25 km / 10 km / 5 km

As an added challenge for those looking to turn the day into an endurance test, there are three additional race categories that allow athletes to combine the mornings triathlon and trail races:

• Baby G – Sprint and 5 km
• Mini G – Full and 10 km
• Full Giant – Full and half marathon

For more information or to register for the race, click here.

Destination Thunder Bay

One way to get to to the most populous city in Northwestern Ontario is to follow the Trans Canada highway along the north shore of Lake Superior, which offers spectacular views of the lake and the rugged landscape of the Canadian Shield. Thunder Bay is renowned for its incredible outdoor opportunities – making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is also renowned for its dining opportunities, local breweries and coffee shops.

All of which makes the Xterra Sleeping Giant an ideal destination event to test your off-road skills this summer.