The Super League Triathlon race series is an aggressive, unpredictable, fast, and unconventional take on the triathlon.
The SLT series throws everything triathletes know about the sport out the window. The changing formats are new to many, even those who know or participate in triathlons.
What Is the Super League Triathlon?
The SLT is a challenging race series launched in 2017 to test triathletes in new ways. Featuring five distinct formats, SLT pits short- and long-course athletes against one another. It also stages back-to-back events, which favors versatile triathletes in a wild pressure-cooker format.

Katie Zaferes, 29, is the poster child for how to thrive in this frenzied format. She won the most recent head-to-head SLT in Jersey, a tiny atoll in the Channel Islands.
But that was a world away. Zaferes grew up playing soccer and lacrosse, swimming, and running track, only trying her first triathlon after high school with her dad. It was a Father’s Day race.
She went on to run Division 1 track at Syracuse. Then, USA Triathlon recruited her. She did well as an age-group triathlete and turned pro in 2013. Today, Zaferes is using the SLT to become resilient and well-rounded enough to reach her ultimate goal: Olympic qualification in 2020.
“All weaknesses are exposed, and you really have to be strong in all areas to survive the multiday, multiround, back-to-back racing,” she said. “It’s dynamic and cutthroat. Some race formats even eliminate athletes throughout the rounds. No one can hide, and there’s not much room for error or mental or physical weakness.”

Super League Triathlon Race Formats

- Enduro: Considered the toughest overall, the enduro comprises two speed triathlons (each with a 300-m swim, 5-km bike, and 1.6-km run) with no break in between.
- Triple Mix: The normal swim-bike-run triathlon sequence shuffles over three stage races.
- Eliminator: Three traditional swim-bike-run ordered races where athletes need to hold their ground in each stage or get eliminated.
- Equalizer: A solo time trial and a surprise discipline followed by an enduro-style race.
- Sprint Enduro: Fastest athletes from a sprint triathlon advance to stage two for an all-out mini double enduro race.
Inside a Triple Mix SLT Race

Top SLT Pro Katie Zaferes Interview
GJ: How do you train for and race SLT differently than a traditional triathlon?
What tips do you have for athletes considering getting into SLT?

What are three things that everyone should know about SLT?
- It’s even more fun to watch in person. If you can’t be there in person, it’s aired at superleaguetriathlon.com and the SLT Facebook page. Even local broadcasters are picking it up worldwide.
- You never know what’s going to happen. Even the athletes have no idea who will prevail in the end. The standings are ever-changing, and it’s very hard to know who’s going to be the best throughout the two days.
- It takes speed but also endurance. Though on first look the races are short, the most successful racers are those who can rebound and recover the quickest after multiple rounds of explosive racing.