Zuma Beach Triathlon (Malibu Triathlon)
Malibu, California, United States · September · Independent (Zuma Foundation, benefits Challenged Athletes Foundation and Boys and Girls Club of Malibu)
Why people love it
- Closed Pacific Coast Highway bike, called flat and fast. The Zuma Distance is a 25.7 km (16 mi) out-and-back.
- LA County lifeguards cover the ocean swim, holding a kayak is allowed and swim clinics are offered.
- Park at Zuma Beach. Swim, transition and finish are together, with a flat run to Point Dume.
- The Zuma Distance suits all levels. The Olympic is capped at 500 athletes.
- Charity race with adaptive athletes and about 1,500 starters.
Watch out for
- Surf entry and ocean swell. Water is unpublished, probably 18 to 21 °C (64 to 70 °F).
- No race-day check-in. Packet pickup is Saturday 12:00 to 16:00 and parking opens at 04:30.
- Spectator lots close at 06:30 with no exits until 10:30, so plan a long morning.
- Highway repairs cancelled the 2024 race. An alternate course exists if the Zuma tunnel closes.
- Malibu hotels are scarce and costly. Most racers stay 30 to 60 minutes away.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
Press recaps from 2021 to 2026 are positive and the charity crowd is large, but no athlete has written a first-person report. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
Long-time producer with a closed highway, lifeguards and a clear schedule. The 2024 race was cancelled over road repairs and the permit changed hands. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
The organiser labels it advanced, with a cap of 500 and a single start into surf. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Flat closed 40 km (24.9 mi) bike per the organiser. The 2022 winners ran 2:02:34 and 2:26:08. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.2
USA Triathlon allows wetsuits up to 25.6 °C (78 °F), and mid-September Pacific water is probably 18 to 21 °C (64 to 70 °F). · Low confidence
- Water temperatureComfortable3.6
No temperature is published. Mid-September water is probably 18 to 21 °C (64 to 70 °F). · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop2.9
Open ocean with a surf run-in, and a large wave was noted in 2022. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate3.0
A 1.5 km (0.93 mi) ocean rectangle through surf. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.8
Beach start with a Malibu backdrop, and dolphins were seen in 2022. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.0
Full LA County lifeguard cover, holding a kayak is allowed and clinics are offered. The beach start and swell limit how gentle it is. · Medium confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.4
Pacific Coast Highway asphalt, with repairs under way. Surface condition is not described. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.2
The organiser says the highway is fully closed, and the city requires a safety plan. No athlete confirms it. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.4
Malibu coastline with cliffs and ocean along the highway. · Medium confidence
- WindSome wind3.2
The organiser mentions ocean breezes, while a racer from around 2021 recalled no wind. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.8
Two flat laps with turnarounds. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.1
The organiser calls it flat. No gain is published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.9
Straight out-and-back on the highway. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent3.3
About 1,500 athletes and a lively beach finish, but spectator lots close at 06:30. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
Participants quoted on the organiser site praise frequent water, chews and electrolytes. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful4.3
Beachfront run toward the Point Dume cliffs and the ocean. · Medium confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.8
Longer exposed run than the Zuma Distance. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat out-and-back along the beach. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.9
Cool overcast mornings warming later, probably 17 to 27 °C (63 to 81 °F) in mid-September. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.8
Dry season in Southern California, though marine layer, heat or fire smoke are possible. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.4
Zuma Beach with the Santa Monica Mountains and Point Dume cliffs behind it. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Free viewing of the swim and finish from the beach, but the spectator lot closes at 06:30 with no exits until 10:30. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Sea level, about 5 m (16 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Malibu lodging is limited. Most racers stay in Santa Monica or Calabasas. · Low confidence
- Hotel valuePricey2.1
Malibu and coastal Los Angeles prices are high. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.8
Park at the Zuma Beach lots. Swim, transition and run are together. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.7
LAX is about 45 km (28 mi) away, one to one and a half hours with traffic. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.1
Packet pickup is Saturday only, parking opens 04:30 and transition reopens after the 10:30 awards. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.5
Malibu restaurants and Point Dume are nearby but pricey and spread out. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Malibu, California, California, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 19 September 2027
- Organiser
- Independent (Zuma Foundation, benefits Challenged Athletes Foundation and Boys and Girls Club of Malibu)
- Field size
- About 500 athletes
- First held
- 1986
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Zuma Beach, Pacific Ocean (ocean)
- Water temperature
- 18–21 °C (64–70 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Optional
- Swim start
- beach (run-in through surf; Olympic one start at 7:00, Zuma Distance waves from 7:30)
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike laps
- 2
- Run laps
- 2
- Run shade
- None; open beachfront promenade
- Air temperature
- 17–27 °C (63–81 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate, marine layer
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Los Angeles International (LAX), 45 km (28 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Malibu, Santa Monica, Thousand Oaks
- Booking
- Malibu lodging is scarce and expensive; many racers stay in Santa Monica, Calabasas or Thousand Oaks. Spectator and athlete parking lots at Zuma Beach; athlete parking opens 4:30 a.m., spectator lots close 6:30 a.m. with no exits until 10:30 a.m.
What racers and reviewers say
- Santa Monica Daily Press (2026 recap)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Report on the 19-20 September 2026 edition: nearly 1,500 athletes including first-timers, veterans and adaptive racers, swim off Zuma Beach, bike on the Malibu coast, run to Point Dume. Celebrity relay and a charity corporate challenge that raised over 155,000 USD. Event-friendly tone.
- Santa Monica Daily Press (2026 preview)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview listing Olympic at 1.5 km (0.9 mi) / 40 km (24.9 mi) / 10 km (6.2 mi) and the Zuma Distance at 0.5 mi / 16 mi / 4 mi. Open-water swim clinics, bike and transition training and 8 to 16 week plans for non-locals are offered. Organiser-sourced.
- Malibu Times (2022 edition)Raced 2022 · article · Positive
37th annual race under the old Malibu Triathlon name with over 5,000 starters and a Super League championship race. Racers saw dolphins in the swim; a training swimmer was bitten by a seal two days before. Shallow Pacific water, big wave noted. Olympic winners 2:02:34 and 2:26:08.
- 2XU Malibu Triathlon recapRaced 2021 · article · Positive
Photo-led sponsor recap of the 2021 weekend at Zuma Beach with local triathletes, celebrities and first-timers across Olympic and Classic distances. Upbeat, no detail on the courses.
- Time Out Los Angelesarticle · Positive
Listing for the older two-day Malibu Triathlon: Olympic on Saturday and a shorter Classic on Sunday along Zuma Beach and Pacific Coast Highway, 255 USD entry, free spectating with bleachers by lifeguard tower 10 and parking at Malibu High School or Point Dume. Undated.
Show 3 more
- Slowtwitch (permit history)Raced 2024 · article · Mixed
Tells how the city permit moved to the Zuma Foundation, the race was cancelled in 2024 because of Pacific Coast Highway repairs including the Trancas Bridge, and an alternate course was promised if the Zuma tunnel closes. Forum comments question whether promised sponsor money arrived.
- Malibu Times (2026 preview)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Preview describing fire-survivor complimentary entries, Paralympic hopefuls, corporate teams and charity donations of 50,000 to 55,000 USD to the local Boys and Girls Club. Community-focused; no race-day problems reported.
- Zuma Beach Triathlon organiser pagesRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Organiser course pages: surf entry then a rectangular 1.5 km (0.93 mi) ocean swim with lifeguards, two closed PCH laps described as flat and fast, flat out-and-back run to Westward Beach. Quotes participant reviews praising frequent water stops and uncongested transitions. Marketing source, facts only.
Raced Zuma Beach Triathlon (Malibu Triathlon)? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Zuma Beach Triathlon (Malibu Triathlon)? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.