After spending the past few years getting myself into shape using triathlons as the primary focus area (I need goals to get out of bed in the morning) I finally feel fit enough to just go out and do whatever the heck I feel like. This is an amazing feeling and has gotten me interested in getting back to the first type of racing I ever did, mountain biking! Now, to be clear, I was racing mountain bikes in the 90’s so…it’s been a bit, but man did I love it. In looking around new england there are a few mountain bike races but for the life of me I can only find one off-road triathlon (and its too far away and too short to be worth it). Am I missing something? I feel like New England has always been a huge mountain biking area and for the life of me I can’t understand why there wouldn’t be any xterra type events, seems like a perfect fit.
So I guess I have 2 questions–am I missing some races that exist in new england? and 2–if not, why the heck not?
And if there’s any race director’s sneaking around slowtwitch looking for ideas–there’s at least one guy who will go anywhere within a 6-8 hour drive of Boston to do a offroad triathlon!
You missed the new Xterra NJ, it was 5/7. The RD mentioned he is trying to put on an off road tri at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, PA on 8/13 but hasn’t released any information yet. XTERRA EX2 Rocky Gap is 7/9 and it’s a really well run event with a great course.
Thanks. Those are some good ideas. I may be able to do the 7/9 one. Appreciate the ideas but really find it confusing that there aren’t more in my area. There are tons of triathletes and tons of mountain biking, I’d have imagined that there would be more interest. Oh well. Thanks
Yea - no idea why there are not more but like all triathlons they seem to be dying off. There used to be one in Webster MA, and one in Hanover NH.
I was wrong - there are actually four in Quebec but one of them is way out on the Eastern tip of the St. Lawrence Seaway. But there are three others that are pretty accessible to New England, Quebec City, Bromont, and Mt Tremblant.
Looks like the Top Notch triathlon in Franconia, NH is happening this year August 6, should be right up the alley of what you’re looking for. (I’ll miss it due to scheduling constraints for the Nth year in a row)
Edit: Sorry, I forgot it’s 2023, no idea if this race is happening, website is for 2022.
Eric is right - totally forgot about this one - Top of the Notch in Franconia NH.
Its a mass start 6 mile mountain bike, then 1/2 mile swim, then uphill hike/ climb/ run up Cannon Mountain Ski area. Its a blast. You have to stage T2 with running shoes and a shirt, the swim is cold (you cant put on a wetsuit after the bike- too sweaty), and its hilarious to see people lined up at the start on mountain bikes with swim suits and swim goggles around their necks. It climbs over 3300 vertical between the bike and the run. The first couple of miles are on a wide road with a climb so the pack gets stretched out right away, the ride is not too technical, it is only single track for maybe a mile and a half. Its August 5 2023. Ideal bike is a hardtail.
I heard recently that it was Heather Jacksons first ever triathlon.
This is perfect! And it does look like it’s happening this year! Thanks!
No idea how, having searched the interwebs for several hours for offroad triathlons in new england this one didn’t show up. Thanks so much! I’ve signed up and hopefully will be able to find more.
Super appreciate the tip!
in the past there used to be a bunch put on by FIRM ie rockbuster Du, hopkinton off road tri and hale reservation. shame they all disappeared. xterra had its own issues, according to some RD friends they charged a lot to use the name, then when reg numbers were only around 100 racers it was a financial loss overall.
i would love to see more mtb or gravel type events. it is just so much more flexible in terms of location and course design… and probably in locations that are by nature safer in terms of traffic and other logistics…
Thanks. I’ve seen some of these and am doing the monadnock, though the FIRM ones seem to have disappeared. I already signed up for Topnotch and I’m so happy to find that my research was lacking to some degree. It does seem like most of these have very short swims (which for me is a bummer since that’s the area I’m most working on these days) but whatever, they’ll be fun!
So frustrating to hear that Xterra makes it harder, feels like its opposed to their own goals. To be honest, I don’t really care if it is a branded race, in fact I prefer small shop races personally.
As I’ve said before, it is just so funny to me that there aren’t more of these given how many people in New England are into mountain biking and trail running. Hopefully as folks are coming out of a pandemic mindset and doing more and more races plus more riding we will see an uptick in this type of event!