Santa Cruz Triathlon 2026

The Santa Cruz Triathlon begins with an ocean swim around the Santa Cruz Wharf, then sends athletes onto coastal roads and paths on the west side of town. This non-profit race in Santa Cruz, California, offers Sprint and International (Olympic-distance) options, plus relays, aquabike, aquathlon, and open-water swim entries. The main races start in the morning, with longer events going first and Sprint-distance races shortly after. It is open to a wide age range, from teenagers to older athletes, and the format suits both first-time triathletes and experienced racers. The course uses a soccer field for transition, then follows West Cliff Drive and Highway 1. The bike leg heads north toward Davenport, and the run returns along West Cliff to finish on Cowells Beach. The swim is sheltered by the wharf area, and the bike and run routes are largely closed, making the race easier to manage than a fully open-road triathlon. The event was formerly called the Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon. of its identity is local giving: it usually donates about $80,000 to $90,000 back into the Santa Cruz community, with proceeds supporting high school and college athletics, the UC Santa Cruz swim program, Cabrillo College Athletics, the Santa Cruz Track Club, and the Santa Cruz Triathlon Association. These same groups also help staff the course with volunteers.