From 6,304 dreamers to 250 warriors.
Photo: Ariel Wojciechowski
Athletes from 38 nations will be ready to do the iconic jump from the ferry to participate in Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon and XTRI World Championship on August 2, 2025.
The official start list for the Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon 2025 has now been published! Interest in participating in the world's toughest triathlon reached an all-time high when the ballot for the 2025 edition opened in October 2024. A total of 6,304 athletes from 96 countries applied for a coveted spot.
"Norseman has become a mecca for triathlon. This year's start list includes 291 athletes who are now preparing for race day. Based on previous years, we know that some will have to withdraw before the event, so we expect around 250 participants to do the iconic jump from the ferry into the freezing Hardangerfjord on Saturday, August 2," says race director Fredrik Mandt.
This year's athletes represent a wide array of backgrounds and nationalities. Participants hail from 38 different countries, underscoring Norseman's global appeal. Of the 291 athletes, 87 are from Norway—roughly 30 percent of the field.
Mette Pettersen Moe finishing at Mount Gausta in 2018. Photo: Agurtxane Concellon
Will the women's course record from 2018 be challenged?
In 2018, the Norwegian athlete Mette Pettersen Moe set a new course record at the Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon with an impressive time of 11 hours, 16 minutes, and 10 seconds.
Last year, the female champion, Laura Zimmermann, was close, finishing just 14 minutes behind Pettersen Moe's record from 2018.
- We believe the female course record will be challenged this year, but, as always, the athletes never know what Mother Nature will bring on race day, says Mandt.
Julia Skala from Germany just earned a P4 in the PRO field at Ironman Lanzarote on May 17 and, on paper, a favourite. For the 2025 start, there are also many athletes with years of experience from the course, including Flora Colledge (P1 in 2023 and several Norseman podiums) and Claire Weller (P2 in 2024). Laura Kessler from Switzerland is also making her debut at Norseman, and she can also challenge the podium on August 2, she just earned a P15 at Ironman 70.3 Pays d'Aix.
Kristian Grue at Mount Gausta in 2022, finishing P2. Photo: Lars-Erik Blenne Lien
In the men's start field, Kristian Grue from Norway is the favourite. In 2021 and 2022, he was second behind Jon Breivold. Grue knows the Norseman course very well, and he just earned a P16 at Ironman Lanzarote in May. Another Norseman veteran is also back on the start line; Hans Christian Tungesvik will yet again jump off the ferry. He has officially retired, but he knows the course very well and will be fast on August 2.
