The triathlete and coach, who has completed more than 30 long-distance triathlons and made seven appearances at Kona, explains why the island has become one of the key destinations for his camps; an experience that allows amateur triathletes train, recover and live for a few days like true professionals.
For more than two decades, triathlon has shaped the life of Iván Álvarez, one of the most recognisable names in Spain’s long-distance scene. A tireless competitor, coach and passionate ambassador of the sport, his career has been defined by challenges ranging from some of the toughest IRONMAN races on the international calendar to seven appearances at the Ironman World Championship in Kona. But if there is one place that has remained a constant throughout his sporting life, it is Lanzarote; an island he considers truly special, both as a place to train and as a place to experience triathlon from the inside.
Lanzarote has something special. That’s why we come back every year with the camp
Álvarez’s relationship with Lanzarote goes back many years. The Madrid-born triathlete has built a very special bond with the island, largely through his experience at IRONMAN Lanzarote, one of the toughest and most prestigious races on the international circuit. Over the course of his career he has competed in the event eight times, making it one of the races that has left the deepest mark on his sporting journey. Its demanding course, relentless wind, climbs and the volcanic landscapes have turned IRONMAN Lanzarote into a challenge that stays with everyone who takes it on. And like so many triathletes who have crossed the finish line in Puerto del Carmen, Álvarez recognises that Lanzarote has something special that always draws you back.
It was with this same philosophy that XportXperience was born more than a decade ago; an initiative combining training, camaraderie and learning for athletes of all levels. What began as an idea for sharing knowledge with fellow triathletes has grown into a well-established programme, bringing together dozens of athletes each year at different locations across Spain. Fuerteventura was one of the first destinations where Álvarez started to develop these camps, but over time Lanzarote has established itself as one of the most important fixtures on the project’s annual calendar.
After all these years, the island still hasn’t stopped opening itself up to me. And honestly, that only makes me love it even more.
The camps organised by Álvarez have one clear hallmark: they aim to bring elite-level triathlon within reach of amateur athletes. Over several days, participants share training sessions, talks and experiences with a team of coaches who tailor the sessions to different levels. The goal is not simply to clock up kilometres, but to offer a complete experience that helps athletes improve their performance, get to know the sport better and, above all, enjoy the process.
Across the year, XportXperience runs several camps in different destinations, including Lanzarote, Cabo de Palos and Salou. The Canary Island, however, holds a special place on the calendar. Each season sees several training meet-ups on the island, with a winter camp and a summer camp that often bring together close to a hundred people, including athletes and companions. It is a format that has grown steadily over the years and which has managed to build a community of triathletes who return season after season.
One of the things first-time participants single out most is the setting in which the training takes place. Lanzarote offers an exceptional stage for triathlon: quiet roads, unique volcanic landscapes and a climate allows athletes to train practically all year round. Add to that the demands of the terrain, with routes that combine constant climbs, wind and technical sections that put any athlete to the test.
But the camp is not limited to training alone. From the very start, Álvarez wanted the experience to go beyond the sporting sessions. Time spent together, shared experiences and a strong team spirit are all fundamental parts of the project. For many amateur triathletes, taking part in one of these camps is a chance to feel, for a few days, like professional athletes, sharing training, analysis and advice with an experienced technical team.
The camp also takes into account the companions who travel with the athletes. In many cases, family or friends who do not practise triathlon are part of the experience too, so the organisers lay on parallel activities that allow them discover the island. Excursions, visits to iconic spots, routes through volcanic landscapes and gastronomic experiences all form part of a programme designed to make the most of everything Lanzarote has to offer beyond sport.
With more than 12 years of experience organising camps, Iván Álvarez has seen the project evolve and grow into a reference point for many amateur triathletes. What began as an almost personal venture has ended up taking root as a sporting community that brings together people of different levels, ages and backgrounds with a common goal: to enjoy triathlon and keep learning within the sport.
For Álvarez himself, returning to Lanzarote each year carries a personal dimension too. Beyond the training and the organisation of the camp, the island has become a place where he also spends time with his family. In fact, he admits that he always tries to set aside several trips a year to return to a destination he now sees almost as a second home. His children have grown up visiting the island, and for him Lanzarote represents not only an ideal place to train, but also somewhere to switch off and enjoy the surroundings.
In this interview, the triathlete and coach looks back on the history of XportXperience, explains how Lanzarote became one of his favourite destinations for hosting a camp, and reflects on what makes the island so special for triathlon. Demanding roads, contrastinglandscapes, no shortage of things to do: for Álvarez, Lanzarote is one of those places that keep surprising you, no matter how many years you’ve been coming.
It is a one-of-a-kind setting where sport, nature and shared experience come together to create something that goes far beyond training. Because, as Iván Álvarez himself acknowledges, triathlon is not just about competing or chasing a personal best. It is also about enjoying the journey, the people you share it with, and the places that become part of it. And in that sense, few places embody that philosophy as naturally as Lanzarote.
