Friends’ Learn To Swim Program participating in the 21st Annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim for the first time
The 21st Beach-to-Beach Power Swim hosts 365 swimmers ranging in age from 6-81 years
St. John, US Virgin Islands, May 24, 2024 – For the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s 21st annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, 365 participants, ages 6-81, will be swimming down St. John’s North Shore beaches from Maho to Cinnamon or Trunk or Hawksnest on Sunday, May 26. The Power Swim helps raise funds for marine conservation and youth programs like Learn To Swim. In fact, this will be the first time our Learn To Swim program will have a participant, 13 year-old Caylee Daigneault, swimming the short course in the Power Swim!
“To have a swimmer from our Learn To Swim program in the 2024 Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is a full circle moment. The Learn To Swim program shows our kids that the world above and below the water can be full of joy and can create the opportunity to work in marine research and conservation. Her participation in this year’s swim shows that the program is making a difference.” says Tonia Lovejoy, Executive Director, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. “Our Learn To Swim coaches and Friends Staff will be cheering her on!”
In addition to the first ever Learn To Swim competitor, this year’s swim hosts 25 repeat participants with a range of 10-21 Power Swims under their swim caps and five swimmers from Team River Runner. Proving that swim is truly a family event, about 30 families are registered!
Recognized as one of the most beautiful open water swim meets in the world, it’s no wonder that our farthest traveling swimmer braved the 3,762 miles to get here from Washougal, WA. This year we had a long waitlist with about 28 people, but to prioritize safety, the event had to be capped at 365. At 8:00am on Sunday, swimmers will be completing a variety of courses from the start line at Maho Bay Beach:
- 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.
The 2023 unassisted men and women 3.5 mile long course from Maho to Hawksnest was won by Edward Soltis in 1:25:15 and Lindsay Barr in 1:25:55 respectively.
Joe’s Beach-to-Beach Power Swim
Joe Kessler, former Director of the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park passed away with his wife, Cristina Kessler in a tragic car accident this year. The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim was founded by Joe, and we’d like to dedicate the event to him. Without his efforts and hard work, we wouldn’t see the 21st year of the Power Swim, we wouldn’t see our Learn To Swim Participant show off her learned swimming skills, and we certainly wouldn’t be able to proudly say that we have a handful of repeat swimmers who have swam the race for every one of the 21 years.
Event Sponsors
| This event is made possible thanks to the local business community and sponsors. This year’s sponsors are St. John Insurance Agency, Master’s Insurance Group, TOPA Insurance, USVI Tourism, 340 Real Estate, First Bank, Femme Royale, Paradise Lumber, Mongoose Junction, VIBE Jewelry, TOPA Properties, Maho Crossroads, Salt Deck, Salty Daze, Islandia Real Estate, Merchants Bank, Baker, Magras & Associates, St. John Hardware, Windspree Vacation Homes, Tycheros Capital Management, Lime Inn, Lime Out, Wharfside Watersports, Prosolar Systems, High Tide Restaurant, Seaside at Grand Bay, Designs, Gallows Point, Low Key Watersports, Ocean Runner, St. John Physical Therapy, Chelsea Drug Store, Holiday Homes, Alfredo’s Landscaping, St. John Dinghy Rental, Rotary Club of St. John, The Longboard, Synergy Fitness & Wellness Center, Cruz Bay Watersports, The Little Things, USVI Expeditions, Stream 2 Sea, St. John Brewers, Reef2Peak St. John, Tshirt One, Love City Ice, St. John Coastal, Race Impressions, Cinnamon Bay Campground, Kate N’ Design, St. John Rescue, Daily News, Landlubber Logistics, Dave and Jerry’s Steakhouse, NBC, Sam and Jack’s Deli, Irie Pops, LCCN, Shambles Bar & Grill, Trunk Bay Snack Shack, Little Olive, Sun Dog Café, and Hunter Foods. A big thank you to Aaliyah Hodge, who designed the beautiful 2024 event logo. |
Information on the Beach to Beach Power Swim as well as the programs it funds can be found on the Friends website at https://friendsvinp.org/power-swim/
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is the official philanthropic partner of Virgin Islands National Park. Since 1988, Friends has been assisting and advising the National Park Service in assuring VINP’s unique terrestrial and marine resources are protected, the Virgin Islands’ cultural treasures in the park are preserved, and visitors and community are connected to the park through volunteerism, education, and advocacy. For more information: www.friendsvinp.org
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