
From the Organizer
Mark your calendars for event #3 of the San Diego Triathlon Series & the Triple Crown of Triathlon
📅 Sunday, October 11, 2026
📍 San Diego, CA – Mission Bay
Proud Host of the 2026 USAT State Championships 🏆
The XTERRA WETSUITS Mission Bay Triathlon is proud to once again host the 2026 USA Triathlon State Championships — featuring Age Group, High School, and Club Championships!
Olympic Distance / Sprint Distance / Duathlon / Aquabike / Aquathlon
What This Means for Racers:
🥇 State Champion Titles
Compete for the honor of being crowned California State Champion in your triathlon division (Sprint or International), as well as in High School and Club categories. Olympic Distance / Sprint Distance
🎽 Coveted State Champion Jersey
1st place winners in each age group, high school, and special category earn the exclusive right to purchase and wear the official California State Championship jersey.
🚩 Club State Championships
All State Championships also serve as the Club State Championships. Clubs (age group & high school) can earn the designation of Top Club in California and win a Club State Champion banner from USA Triathlon.
🎟️ Qualification for Nationals
Sprint Triathlon → Qualifies you for Sprint Nationals
International Triathlon → Qualifies you for Olympic-Distance Nationals
Top 35% of finishers or top 5 athletes (whichever is greater) qualify.
State Championships after June 1, 2026, qualify athletes for both 2026 AND 2027 Nationals.
🎓 High School Championships
Eligibility: Any student currently enrolled in high school and up to six (6) months post-graduation.
Exemption: All athletes who finish a State High School Championship race will automatically qualify for Sprint Nationals, provided they are age 15 or older by December 31, 2026.
🌍 Open to all athletes — residency in California is not required.
Why Race Mission Bay?
Race in San Diego’s iconic Mission Bay, claim your place on the podium, and showcase your achievement in the California State Championship Jersey. 🚴♂️🏊♀️🏃♀️
👉 Don’t miss your moment to race, win, and represent — Register today!
Join us at the birthplace of the sport for the XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon!
2026 is the 38th annual XTERRA Wetsuits Mission Bay Triathlon benefitting Life Sports Foundation. San Diego is the Birthplace of Triathlon! In 1974, the first Mission Bay Triathlon was as a run-bike-swim-run event on Fiesta Island by the San Diego Track Club. Every year competitors from around the country and from around the world, come to Mission Bay to celebrate the birthplace triathlon. We invite you to become part of this wonderful legacy event and become part of history!
The event offers races for adults and kids, from complete beginners to seasoned Professionals. There are many different races going on simultaneously, and while a traditional Triathlon is Swim / Bike / Run, KOZ Events, the organizer of the San Diego Triathlon Series, offers more of a Multisport Race. Our race is very inclusive and we make triathlon accessible to as many people as possible. We have the traditional Swim/bike/ Run Triathlon but we offer so much more. If you do not like swimming, we have the Duathlon which is a Run/ Bike/ Run, if you don’t want to bike then choose the Aquathlon Swim / Run, or if you don’t want to run choose the Aquabike Swim/Bike. We even have a Mini Distance Triathlon for beginners that want to try out the sport. We even offer free training groups every week to help people get started, train, and get connected to the San Diego Triathlon Community.
Events
Weather
It's too far out for a forecast, so here's what weather on this date is normally like in the area. A race day forecast will replace this as race week approaches.
Typical High
75°
Typical Low
63°
Chance of Rain
7%
Based on US Climate Normals data from San Diego Lindbergh Fld, 3 mi from the venue.
Host City
Population
1,385,061
as of 2023
Elevation
352 ft
Nearest Airport
SAN
San Diego International Airport · 3 mi
Time Zone
Pacific Time
From Endurance Grid
A big city race. Expect multiple lodging options and plenty to do the day before.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at 2026 XTERRA WETSUITS Mission Bay Triathlon & San Diego 5K, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
125
Days to train
Coming Up
2026 Solana Beach Triathlon & Duathlon and Solana Beach 5K
18 miles away
2026 CVC San Diego Triathlon and San Diego Tri Series 5K
10 miles away
2026 San Diego Tri Classic & San Diego 5K
Less than a mile away
Pacific Coast Triathlon
66 miles away
From Endurance Grid
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
Three sports, one race — swim, bike, run in sequence, with transitions that are a discipline of their own.
Open water, open roads, and competition with yourself. Cross the finish line knowing what it took to get there.
Swim, bike, run — back to back. The sprint distance makes it far more accessible than most people think.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
2026 XTERRA WETSUITS Mission Bay Triathlon & San Diego 5K
Oct 11, 2026