Santa Cruz Triathlon
Santa Cruz Triathlon is a triathlon, aquabike, swimming, and swimrun race on September 27, 2026 in Santa Cruz, CA, with entry fees from $65 to $215.
- Date
- September 27, 2026 (66 days to go)
- Price
- $65–$215
- Sports
- TriathlonAquabikeSwimmingSwimRun
From the Organizer
The Santa Cruz Triathlon is a popular, scenic, non-profit race offering Sprint and International (Olympic) distances, plus relays, aquabike, and an aquathlon option, known for its coastal course along West Cliff Drive and along Highway 1. Its an ocean swim around the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf, a spacious transition area on a soccer field, then riding out along West Cliff and Highway 1 to the quaint town of Davenport and back. Then finish with a beautiful run along West Cliff and finish on Cowells Beach.
This is great for beginners and veterans alike, with proceeds funding local high school and college athletics in Santa Cruz County. It's a long-running event that donates significantly to youth sports, featuring a sheltered ocean swim and largely closed-course bike and run, creating a fun, community-focused event.
Events
Weather
Typical Conditions
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
76°
Typical Low
52°
Chance of Rain
6%
Based on US Climate Normals data from Santa Cruz, 2 mi from the venue.
Host City
About Santa Cruz, CA
City Elevation
36 ft
Nearest Airport
SJC
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 26 mi
Time Zone
Pacific Time
From Endurance Grid
Line up lodging and travel early to lock in your race weekend.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Santa Cruz Triathlon, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
66
Days to train
- Race
- Santa Cruz Triathlon
- Date
- September 27, 2026
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From Endurance Grid
About These Sports
This race spans more than one sport — here’s a guide to each, so you can understand what’s involved and decide if it’s the right fit. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
Triathlon
Swim, bike, run — back to back. The sprint distance makes it far more accessible than most people think. Three sports in one race means three movements to train and race day never gets monotonous.
Aquabike
A swim followed by a bike — a triathlon without the run. Sprint and Olympic distances, often alongside a tri at the same venue.
Open Water Swimming
Open water races take place in lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. Distances can run anywhere from a short 500m swim to 10K marathon events. Just you and the water.
SwimRun
A continuous race alternating open-water swimming and running across a series of segments. Distances, format, and legs vary by event.
Coming Up
More Triathlon races near Santa Cruz, CA
Tri Santa Cruz
Sprint · Olympic · 500m · 1500m · From $95 · 119 Center Street
Less than a mile away
Sandman Tri
Sprint · Olympic · From $90 · State Park Dr, Seacliff, CA 95003
8 miles away
Menlo Park Back-to-School Kids Triathlon
Sprint · From $95 · Burgess Pool and Park Area
34 miles away
Silicon Valley Mini Kids Triathlon
Sprint · From $60 · MacDonald High School
31 miles away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Santa Cruz than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to Santa CruzFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Santa Cruz Triathlon?+
When and where is the Santa Cruz Triathlon?+
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Santa Cruz Triathlon
Sep 27, 2026