The international race scene fires up this weekend, with magnum short-course, long-course and off-road events kicking off on all corners of the globe.

First up on Saturday is the tropical off-road romp, XTERRA Guam, where Aussie star Andrew Noble will attempt to continue his springtime dominance of Western Pacific races. The Guam event is part of the XTERRA America Tour and serves as a qualifier for the USA championship later this fall.

Moving eastward across the Pacific, we find one of the most-important early-season tests for the world’s top long coursers, Ford Ironman 70.3 California. Looking to repeat as men’s champion, Andy Potts of Colorado Springs, Colorado, will be challenged by David Thompson of St. Paul, Minnesota, 2007 Kona runner-up Craig Alexander of Australia, Sweden’s Bjorn Andersson and the Aussie duo of Richie Cunningham and Paul Ambrose.

In the women’s race, last year’s Ironman 70.3 world champion Mirinda Carfrae of Australia will duke it out with 2006 70.3 world champ Samantha McGlone of Canada, while Ironman veteran Michellie Jones, Erika Csomor of Hungary, Britain’s Leanda Cave, Germany’s Katja Schumacher and duathlon star Catriona Morrison challenge for podium steps.

Skipping across the planet to Australia, the International Triathlon Union World Cup season officially begins Sunday with a heated showdown at the Mooloolaba BG Triathlon World Cup on the Sunshine Coast. More than 150 athletes from 38 nations will toe the start line, eager to test their mettle against the world’s best in preparation for this summer’s Beijing Olympics.

The day’s biggest battle will shake down between defending race champ Emma Snowsill of Australia and Portugal’s Vanessa Fernandes, who, with a win on Sunday, will break Emma Carney’s record for most World Cup wins. The race is also clutch for Australian athletes Erin Densham and Annabel Luxford, who are looking to secure spots on their country’s Olympic team. Beijing-bound American Laura Bennett, Kiwi Debbie Tanner and Great Britain’s Michelle Dillon will also stir up trouble Down Under.

On the men’s side, 2007 world No. 1 Javier Gomez of Spain will go head to head with defending Mooloolaba champ Brad Kahlefeldt and feel the heat from Aussies Greg Bennett and Peter Robertson, as well as Kiwi Bevan Docherty and 2006 ITU world champion Tim Don of Great Britain.

Last but not least is the Lone Star Triathlon Festival in Galveston, Texas, featuring half-iron-distance, sprint and quarter-distance races. Five-time ITU world champion Simon Lessing will race the quarter, while Michael Lovato competes in the sprint. Pros Amanda Lovato and Andrea Fisher will race the quarter, as well.

Check back to InsideTri.com throughout the weekend and early next week for recaps of all the action!