Jupiter Waterman’s Challenge – Winter 25’/26’ Recap

This past weekend, the Jupiter Waterman’s Challenge brought together an incredible community of watermen and waterwomen for a true test of endurance, skill, and ocean knowledge. With 50  participants spanning multiple disciplines, the Winter 25’/26’ edition delivered an unforgettable day on the water.

The race featured a 10-mile downwinder from South Jupiter to North Jupiter, starting at Phil Foster Park, running through Juno Beach, and finishing strong at Corners Beach. Conditions pushed competitors to dig deep, rewarding smart line choices, stamina, and adaptability across changing wind and water states.

What makes the Jupiter Waterman’s Challenge so special is its inclusivity across disciplines. This year’s event featured competitors in Kiteboarding, Downwind SUP, Wing Foil, Parawing, Surf Ski, and Outrigger Canoe (OC1), bringing together athletes from all corners of the water sports world.

HERE IS A LINK TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS FINISH TIMES

🏆 Podium Finishers

Men’s Kite

🥇 Tomas Souza – 3:02
🥈 Wilber Yanez – 3:13
🥉 Carlos Perez – 3:34

Women’s Kite

🥇 Emily Bruns – 3:15
🥈 Julia Strube – 4:05
🥉 Glen Chami – 4:22

Men’s Downwind SUP

🥇 Nicolas Reeser – 3:10
🥈 Robbie Allen – 3:15
🥉 Nate Jermain – 3:16

Wing Foil – Men

🥇 Sebastian Ruiz Velasco Aguado – 3:26
🥈 Steve Barnes – 3:36
🥉 Blaze Walsh – 3:45

Wing Foil – Women

🥇 Katie Miller – 3:33

Parawing

🥇 Matt Goodwin – 3:25
🥈 Matthew Filippone – 3:57
🥉 Caleb Parshier – 3:59

Surf Ski

🥇 Hailey Nixon – 3:41
🥈 Chris Crawford – 3:48

OC1 – Men

🥇 Ray Nickolaus – 3:51
🥈 Kyle Milton – 3:54
🥉 Joseph Malecki – 3:55

OC1 – Women

🥇 Heather Martin – 4:01
🥈 Alexandra Denisoba – 4:29

Community & Media Highlights

Beyond the race times and podium finishes, what truly defined the weekend was the community energy. From beach support crews to riders capturing the action mid-run, the stoke was high from start to finish.

Special shout-outs to our incredible community for sharing awesome photos and videos that helped document the day and showcase the spirit of the event.

A huge thank you to every participant, volunteer, and supporter who made this event possible. The Jupiter Waterman’s Challenge continues to grow as a celebration of ocean athletes who thrive in open-water conditions and support one another on and off the water.

We can’t wait to do it again. Until next time, see you downwind 🌊🤙