Top Events
A paddling competition and a swimming race are the top events in the park.
Guide Sections
Use Top Events's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Top Events Details
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Learn About the Park
The annual Beach to Beach Power Swim takes place in late May and brings 350 swimmers together for a race through the bays along the north shore of St. John. The race is really a trio of races, with a short, intermediate, and long course. The Short Course goes from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay and is about a mile long. The Intermediate Course goes from Maho Bay to Trunk Bay, a swim of around 2.25 miles. The Long Course goes from Maho Bay to Hawksnest Bay, a swim of 3.5 miles. Swimmers may choose to tackle the latter solo or as part of a three-person team. Entry fees are broken down into youth and adult classes. Standard registration fees -- which are a donation to Friends of Virgin Islands National Park -- are $30 for youth 17 and under, and $65 for adults 18 and up. Paddle the Park, a standup paddleboard race put on by Friends of Virgin Islands National Park, has three courses that vary in length and difficulty. The Short Course goes from Maho Beach to the floating Park Service fee station and back, a paddle of about one mile. The Open Course goes from Maho Beach to Whistling Cay and back, a paddle of about three miles. The Elite Class goes from Maho Beach to Whistling Cay then around Cinnamon Cay and back, a 5.5-mile paddle. This race takes place in early November, and registration is divided into youth (18 and younger) and adult classes. Registration fees -- which are donations to Friends of Virgin Islands National Park -- are $35 for youth and $70 for adults. To register for either race, visit [Friends of Virgin Islands National Park](http://friendsvinp.org) and register online.
