Registration Opens For Joe Kessler’s Beach To Beach Power Swim 2025
PRESS RELEASE | St. John, US Virgin Islands | Friends of Virgin Islands National Park has opened registration for the 22nd Joe Kessler’s Beach To Beach Power Swim which takes place on Sunday, May 25, 2025. One of the most beautiful swims in the world, the Power Swim is on the list of the World’s Top 100 Open Water Swims and the World’s Top 100 Island Swims.
Every Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of swimmers take to the azure waters of Virgin Islands National Park on St. John to raise funds for kids’ swim programs, marine conservation, education outreach and more! Last year the 365 registered swimmers aged 6 to 81 years old came from near and far.
Participants choose their distance starting at Maho Bay beach and swimming to Cinnamon Bay, Trunk Bay, or, the full 3.5 miles, to Hawksnest Bay. 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.
As much a community event as a swimming race, the event was renamed Joe Kessler’s Beach To Beach Power Swim last year in recognition of its founder, Joe Kessler. A former Director of Friends of Virgin Islands National Park, Joe passed away alongside his wife, Cristina in an accident shortly before the 2024 race.
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. A synchronized swimming Olympian, Kate swims alongside her young daughters. In addition, the family businesses of Salty Daze Charters and Dazey Drive In are sponsors.
Registration for the 2025 event can be found on the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park’s website at www.friendsvinp.org. Space is limited and registration will close on Wednesday, May 21 or when capacity has been reached. Registration for this popular event often closes in April.
This event is made possible thanks to the local business community and sponsors. Anyone interested in sponsoring the 2025 race should contact Jennifer Stone at [email protected] or (340) 779-4940.
