Santa Cruz Triathlon

About the Event

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.

Races Offered

Olympic Aqua Bike

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 25 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:00

sell

$110.00

Olympic Distance

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 31 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:00

sell

$165.00

Olympic Relay

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 31 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:00

sell

$185.00

Open Water Swim

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — Open Water Swim

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:00

sell

$65.00

Sprint Aquathlon

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 4 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:45

sell

$95.00

Sprint Distance

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 15 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:45

sell

$145.00

Sprint Relay

Sep 27, 2026

straighten

Distance — 15 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

08:45

sell

$165.00

Weather History

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Santa Cruz.

thermostat Temperature

14.0° / 24.1°

wb_sunny Feels like

14.1° / 23.2°

light_mode Avg sunshine hours

10h 39m

water_drop Avg rainfall

0.2 mm

ac_unit Avg snowfall

—

air Avg wind speed

5.8 km/h (Light breeze)

opacity Sweat loss rate

Moderate

terrain Course conditions

Firm and slightly soft

sunny Max UV Index

Moderate (5.0)

humidity_mid Humidity

77.3%

wb_twilight Sunrise

06:50

nightlight Sunset

19:14

About Santa Cruz

Learn more about the host city, Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz is a coastal city in Santa Cruz County, at the north end of Monterey Bay in California, about 40 miles south of San Jose and 75 miles south of San Francisco.