371 Swimmers Participating in Joe Kessler’s Beach To Beach Power Swim

PRESS RELEASE | In its 22nd year, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s Annual Joe Kessler’s Beach To Beach Power Swim is ranked in the top 25 of Open Water Swims in the world and takes place every Memorial Day weekend. This year there will be 371 participants, ranging in age from 7 to 82, swimming down St. John’s North Shore beaches from Maho Bay beach to Cinnamon or Trunk or Hawksnest.

“I wish everyone a great swim in our beautiful park. This is the first year of the new name and I would like to think that Joe Kessler, who founded the event 22 years ago, would be so proud of the community spirit and joy that pervades the Power Swim,” said Tonia Lovejoy, Executive Director, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. “Beyond the fun of the event, we are so grateful for the critical funds raised to support our work including our Learn To Swim program that trains instructors and lifeguards and offers free swim lessons throughout the year.”

Participants come from near and far to help raise funds for Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s programs including Learn To Swim, Sea Turtle Protection, and education outreach. This year, 29 US states are represented plus Puerto Rico, the BVI, the USVI and the person traveling the farthest is coming from Manchester, UK. 

Swimmers include members of the United States Virgin Islands Swimming Federation team who recently participated in the 2025 Caribbean Free Trade Association Games (CARIFTA). Keep an eye out for Reagan Uszenski, Kaeden Gleason who won the 2024 Power Swim in record breaking time, and Teague Gleason who came in second. In addition, this year’s swim hosts 221 repeat participants with a range of 1 to 21 Power Swims under their swim caps and 4 swimmers from Team River Runner. Proving that swimming is truly a family event, about 30 families are registered!

At 8:00am on Sunday, swimmers will be competing in the distance of their choice:

• Cinnamon Short Course for solo swimmers only from Maho Beach to Cinnamon Beach (1 mile)
• Trunk Intermediate Course for solo swimmers only from Maho Beach to Trunk Beach (2.25 miles)
• Hawksnest Long Course for solo swimmers from Maho Beach to Hawksnest Beach (3.5 miles)
• Relay Long Course for 3-person relay teams from Maho Beach to Hawksnest Beach (3.5 miles). The relay team transition points will be at Cinnamon Beach and Trunk Beach.

In 2024, St. Croix’s Kaeden Gleason set a new record finishing the unassisted long course from Maho to Hawksnest in 1 hour, 9 minutes and 26 seconds. The top female finisher for the third straight year, was Lindsay Barr from St. Thomas who finished in 1:23:04 and was third overall.

Open Swimming Talk

This is an opportunity to learn what it takes to be a distance open water swimmer and get some tips from a Power Swim GOAT! The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s Young Professionals Board presents marine biologist and ocean swimmer, Jeff Miller. 

Entitled Just Keep Swimming!, Jeff’s talk will include lessons learned crossing the Drake Channel from the BVI to St. John, circumnavigating the island, and swimming in Joe Kessler’s Beach To Beach Power Swim every year since the first event 22 years ago. The talk will be on Thursday, May 22 from 6pm to 7pm at the National Park Service Lind Point Building on St. John. A shuttle is available from the National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay departing at 5:30pm and returning after the event.

Power Swim Sponsors  

This event is made possible thanks to the local business community and sponsors. This year’s sponsors are Guardian Insurance Group, St. John Insurance, USVI Tourism, 340 Real Estate Co., First Bank, Friends of Joe & Christina, Paradise Lumber, Vibe Jewelry, Mongoose Junction II, Salty Daze Charters, Islandia Real Estate, Merchants Bank, Antares Properties, St. John Hardware, Heavy Materials, Rapier Med, Lime Inn, Lime Out, Baker Magras & Associates, High Tide Restaurant, Windspree Vacation Homes, Seaside Properties at Grand Bay, Designs, Elevate Island, Gallows Point, St. John Physical Therapy, Chelsea Drugstore, Prosolar Systems, Holiday Homes, Alfredo’s Landscaping, St. John Dinghy Rental, Rotary Club of St. John, The Longboard, Synergy Fitness & Wellness Center, Go North Management LLC, Femme Royale, Muilenburg Law LLC, Cruz Bay Watersports, The Little Things, Stream 2 Sea, St. John Brewers, Reef2Peak, T-Shirt One, Love City Ice, St. John Coastal, Race Impressions, Cinnamon Bay Campground, St. John Rescue, Landlubber Logistics, Dave & Jerry’s Steakhouse, NBC, Sam and Jack’s Deli, Irie Pops, LCCN, Trunk Bay Snack Shack, Little Olive, Island Media, Sun Dog Café, Swim Capz, Hunter Foods and Shambles Bar & Grill.

Every year, a creative member of our community designs the event logo. The 2025 event logo was designed by avid swimmer and Friends’ supporter, Kate Nesbitt of Salty Daze Charters and Dazey Drive In.  

Information on the Beach to Beach Power Swim as well as the programs it funds can be found on the Friends website at www.friendsvinp.org