On February 22-23, under clear skies and warm conditions, the 2025 XTERRA World Tour officially launched where athletes took on the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Africa’s first UNESCO-listed biosphere, for the event’s 18th edition.
In the Elite men’s race, Ryno Owen (ZAF) made a statement in his XTERRA professional debut, taking the overall victory in 2:37:10. He finished ahead of fellow South African Elite Joshua Steytler (2:45:41) and Jacques Badenhorst (ZAF, 2:47:00)
The women’s race featured a breakthrough performance from Andrea Schöfmann (ZAF, AG 20-24), who crossed the line in 3:12:22, ahead of Elite newcomer Linda Detering (ZAF, 3:16:37). The defining moment, however, came at the finish, where Owen and Schöfmann—partners off the course—celebrated together as champions.
“Watching my girlfriend come through the finish line, also winning overall—it was pretty special that both of us could grab the tape!” Owen said. Schöfmann added, “It’s not every day you experience something like this. That made it even more special.”
XTERRA legend and 2-time Olympian, Conrad Stoltz (ZAF), once again helped design a challenging course. The 1.5K swim in Eikenhof Dam was a two-lap format, while the 28K mountain bike course featured over 70% singletrack, including the infamous Rock Garden. The 10K trail run took competitors through technical terrain, steep climbs, and signature water crossings.
A Chase Family Sweep
The XTERRA Youth Tour helped deliver one of the key stories of the weekend with the Chase family of Namibia claiming three separate victories.
- Micah Chase (NAM) won Youth A (14-15) in 27:36, holding off South Africa’s Matthew Ratcliffe (27:54) and Caleb Jonathan Hunter (33:55).
- Nathan Chase (NAM) dominated Youth B (16-17), finishing in 1:07:43, well ahead of Steffan Hillebrand (ZAF, 1:13:00) and Christopher McLagan (ZAF, 1:18:12).
- Their father, Greg Chase (NAM, 3:00:35), completed the family sweep with a win in the AG 50-54 division, making it a historic three-title victory for Namibia.
South African athletes also delivered standout performances across all youth divisions, with Antony Clayton (ZAF, 1:02:56) winning the Junior (18-19) event, and Jeané Smith (ZAF, 31:34) taking the Youth A (14-15) Girls victory.
Trail Run World Series: Half Marathon Champions Crowned
The XTERRA Trail Run World Series continued on Sunday, February 23, with the 21K Half Marathon, offering 28 qualification slots for the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Snowdonia, Wales. Siviwe Nkombi (ZAF, 1:33:59) took the men’s title, while Tish Jones (GBR, 1:45:36) secured victory in the women’s race, punching her ticket to Wales.
A Weekend of Racing, Community, and Exploration
Beyond the competition, XTERRA South Africa brought the community together with live music, food vendors, and the signature South African ‘braai’. With 28 triathlon slots to the XTERRA World Championship in Trentino, Italy, XTERRA South Africa not only launched the season but set the tone for an intense year of off-road racing.
