Zuma Beach Triathlon brings competition, community impact and fire recovery to Malibu

By Hayley Mattson · Sat Sep 19 2026

Two-day event Sept. 19-20 will feature races for youth and adults, the Challenged Athletes Foundation Corporate Challenge and complimentary entries for athletes affected by the 2025 fires

Athletes of all ages and abilities will descend on Zuma Beach this weekend as the Zuma Beach Triathlon returns Sept. 19-20, combining endurance competition with fundraising, inclusion and continued support for communities recovering from the devastating 2025 wildfires.

The two-day event will take competitors through some of Malibu’s most recognizable scenery, beginning in the waters off Zuma Beach before sending athletes along the Malibu coastline by bicycle and past the cliffs of Point Dume on foot.

Beyond the competition, organizers say the event remains focused on giving back to the community through its partnership with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, support for the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu, and complimentary race entries for athletes impacted by the Palisades, Franklin and Eaton fires.

“With our Malibu location, we offer an experience that other sports destinations can’t: the spectacular setting of Malibu’s natural wonders and star sightings that are quintessential to Southern California,” Zuma Beach Triathlon founder and Executive Director Michael Epstein said. “We’re a race unlike any other.”

Epstein said the event continues a tradition of Malibu endurance events that have raised more than $20 million for charitable causes over the years.

Fire survivors return to the course

For the second consecutive year, organizers are offering complimentary race entries to people affected by the Palisades, Franklin, and Eaton fires, extending an effort launched following the 2025 disasters.

Among those returning is longtime participant Ian Maxtone-Graham, who lost everything in the Palisades Fire.

“The greatest loss for us was the loss of the neighborhood, in which we had many, many friends, some of whom will not be rebuilding and coming back,” Maxtone-Graham said.

Now living in Santa Barbara, Maxtone-Graham accepted a complimentary entry for the 2025 event and will return to compete Sept. 20 with another fire-relief entry.

His connection to the Malibu race stretches back decades. Maxtone-Graham has competed in the relay division with two close friends nearly every year since 2000. The three worked on “The Simpsons” when they began racing together and named their team the “Springfield Isotopes” in honor of their shared history with the television series.

The returning athletes represent another dimension of an event organizers say is designed not only around physical achievement, but around resilience and community.

Three races planned over two days

Competition begins Saturday, Sept. 19, with the Kids Triathlon for athletes ages 9 to 14.

Children ages 9 to 11 will complete a 100-yard swim, 3-mile bike ride, and half-mile run, while athletes ages 12 to 14 will face a 200-yard swim, 6-mile bike ride, and 1-mile run.

Parking opens at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, with the Kids Triathlon beginning at 8 a.m. and an awards ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. The beach expo opens at noon.

The main competition takes place Sunday, Sept. 20, with two race distances.

The Zuma Distance consists of a half-mile swim, 16-mile bike ride, and 4-mile run. The Olympic Distance features a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike ride, and 10-kilometer run.

Sunday parking opens at 4:30 a.m. The Olympic Distance begins at 7 a.m., followed by the Zuma Distance at 7:30 a.m. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

Corporate Challenge supports adaptive athletes

A major charitable component of the weekend will be the Challenged Athletes Foundation Corporate Challenge, presented by Pepperdine University.

The Corporate Challenge follows the Zuma Distance course and raises money for CAF programs that help people with physical disabilities participate in sports through adaptive equipment, training and community support.

The concept also has deep roots in Malibu. Epstein launched the first Corporate Challenge at Zuma Beach in 1997. Over the years, Malibu endurance events have raised money for organizations including the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, with CAF now continuing that philanthropic tradition.

“Triathlon is about discovering what’s possible and the Zuma Beach Triathlon brings athletes of all abilities together on the same course,” CAF co-founder Bob Babbitt said. “We are proud to partner with an event that brings competition, inclusion and meaningful impact together in such a powerful way.”

Participants in the Corporate Challenge commit to raising at least $250 per person, with additional benefits available at higher fundraising levels.

Companies and organizations participating include Bank of America, J.P. Morgan, Lido Advisors, Lionsgate, United Talent Agency, Compass Real Estate, Minimed and Amgen.

CAF athletes are expected to compete throughout the weekend, along with Paralympic athletes preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games. Organizers also expect celebrity participants and other recognizable competitors, continuing a tradition that has long been associated with Malibu's triathlon events.

Supporting Malibu youth

The Zuma Beach Triathlon is produced by The Zuma Foundation, a Malibu-based nonprofit focused on athletic, health, and wellness initiatives for participants of all ages.

The foundation also directs support toward Malibu youth-serving organizations with programs centered on character development, healthy lifestyles, mental health, and wellness.

That includes continued support for the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu.

The event donated $50,000 to the organization in 2025 and plans to increase its contribution to $55,000 this year. The club provides youth mentoring and programs designed to help children develop the skills and support needed to become healthy and engage members of the community.

The weekend's combination of professional-level competition, first-time triathletes, youth racers, challenged athletes, fire survivors, corporate teams, and charitable fundraising reflects what organizers hope has become the event's defining characteristic: bringing people together through sport while generating an impact that continues after competitors cross the finish line.

Registration remains open for the 2026 Zuma Beach Triathlon and CAF Corporate Challenge. More information, including registration and race details, is available through the Zuma Beach Triathlon website.