Joe Kessler's Beach To Beach Power Swim
The 22nd Annual Joe Kessler's Beach To Beach Power Swim will take place on Sunday, May 25, 2025! Participants pick their distance and swim from Maho to Cinnamon, or Maho to Trunk, or the 3.5 mile long course from Maho to Hawksnest!
Every Memorial Day weekend, swimmers take to the beautiful waters of Virgin Islands National Park on St. John to raise funds for kids swim programs, marine conservation, education outreach and more! One of the most beautiful swims in the world, Joe Kessler's Beach to Beach Power Swim includes the beaches of Maho Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Hawknest Bay and Trunk Bay which is regularly on the world’s top 10 beaches lists. The swim is number 23 on the list of the World’s Top 100 Open Water Swims and number 7 on the World’s Top 100 Island Swims.
Race Registration
Registration for 2025 is at capacity. Please register to go on the waiting list as participants do cancel. No registrations will be accepted after May 21.
Race Info
Information on registration fees, course information, practice swims and more.
YP Talk Series
Thursday, May 22 | 6-7pm | NPS Lindpoint Bldg
This is your chance to learn what it takes to be a distance open water swimmer and get some tips from a Power Swim GOAT! Friends 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. A shuttle is available from the National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay at 5:30pm.
2025 Hats
The 2025 Power Swim soft baseball-style caps feature the great turtle logo designed by Kate Nesbitt on the front, they are available in green and brown.
Personal Fundraising
Create your own fundraising page to support the swim and the programs it benefits. The person who raises the most money by June 15, 2025 will win a half day boat trip for up to 6 people courtesy of Salty Daze Charters and the second highest fundraiser will win a gift bag of goodies from the Friends of the Park store.
Become A Friend
Renew or become a member during the month of May and you could win a turtle-y awesome raffle prize!
Volunteer
Volunteers make this event possible! We need volunteers on land to help with beach setup, registration, timing and lunch/prizegiving; and safety volunteers in the water in boats, kayaks and SUPS. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Stone at [email protected] .
In Memory of Joe Kessler
2024 year marked a new moment for the Power Swim. The event was renamed Joe Kessler's Beach To Beach Power Swim in recognition of the events founder, Joe Kessler who had recently passed away with his wife, Cristina. Thank you to Joe and Cristina, for giving us the Power Swim and so much more.
Photo Gallery
Lots of great photos of the race.
Race Results
Race results and times for the Power Swim.
SPONSORS
The support and generosity of the St. John community is awe inspiring. These businesses make extraordinary things possible. We cannot thank them enough!
If you would like to sponsor the 2025 swim, please contact Jennifer Stone at [email protected] or 340.779.4940
