Xterra Sleeping Giant
Thunder Bay, Canada • 16 Aug 2026
Event overview
XTERRA Sleeping Giant takes place in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on August 16, 2026. The event uses Boulevard Lake and Kinsmen Park as primary locations and runs on trails in the Shuniah Mines / Trowbridge Forest area near the head of Lake Superior. Course previews and open practice on the bike and run routes are scheduled in the days before the race.
Races and distances
The event features off-road triathlon, duathlon, relay and trail run races, including:
- 1500 m swim, 26 km bike, 10 km run - Full Distance Triathlon
- 750 m swim, 15 km bike, 5 km run - Sprint Triathlon
- 300 m swim, 8 km bike, 3 km run - Super Sprint Triathlon
- 5 km run, 26 km bike, 10 km run - Full Distance Duathlon
- 25 km - Trail Half Marathon
- 10 km - Trail Run
- 5 km - Trail Run
The full distance triathlon and the duathlon include qualification spots for XTERRA World Championship and other world championship events.
Course characteristics and logistics
Bike and run courses mix gravel paths, doubletrack and singletrack trail. Bike trails used are purpose-built mountain bike trails, generally rated green or blue (easy to moderate). The event specifies mountain-bike-only for the bike leg; gravel bikes are not permitted. There are two transition areas: Transition 1 at Boulevard Lake and Transition 2 at Kinsmen Park. Run events start from Kinsmen Park.
Water quality and lake temperature will be monitored; if the swim is shortened or canceled a duathlon format will be used. The event typically requires 50–75 volunteers to operate.
Policies and local info
Online registration and pricing windows are published for different race categories. All purchases are final; refunds, transfers or rollovers are not offered. Accommodation options are listed by the organizers, including nearby hotels and a campground adjacent to the race course. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.