[citation needed] It began in 1996 on the Hawaiian island of Maui as the Aquaterra, and was later renamed the XTERRA.
In the professional division athletes compete for cash prizes and sponsorships.
Several events known as XTERRA Championships Series offer more points due to their larger draws.
As an off-road race, the distances can vary widely depending on the terrain available.
The target distances are as follows: The largest difference between the XTERRA race and a regular Triathlon is in the biking section.