Spartan Adds World-Class Paddleboard Races to Portfolio of Epic Events
The Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O) has formed a strategic partnership with Spartan, and it will return to Hawaii this summer with live racing, featuring two great events. Continuing its leadership in the sport of paddling, M2O will introduce the first annual Bluewater Hawaiian Classic, presented by Florence Marine X, on July 24th. Then, on the weekend of July 31st, M2O Virtual Edition 3.0 will make its triumphant return.
The M20-Spartan partnership will add paddleboarding, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, to Spartan's expansive global “tough fitness” portfolio. The shared goals are to drive M2O’s future growth and advance Spartan’s mission to change 100 million lives.
“We really loved the brand, and knew the Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championships was truly special," said Spartan founder and CEO Joe De Sena. "We’ve made a promise to introduce the brand and event to people across the world.
"This is a proud moment as we take the first step in bringing this epic bucket-list event, known as the world’s Super Bowl of paddling, to a new audience of athletes. We’re excited to work with M2O to grow their global reach and offer the Spartan community another opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and get on the water.”
Florence Marine X, one of M20's partners, was cofounded by Olympian and two-time surfing world champion John "John John" Alexander Florence. The legendary pipe surfer chose to partner with M20 because it aligns with his brand, which creates advanced outdoor gear to inspire people to get outside and thrive.
This Summer's Epic Paddleboard Races in Hawaii
The Bluewater Hawaiian Classic features a 22-mile coastal course on the island of O'ahu. Paddlers will navigate challenging surf and tides linking several iconic downwind runs, from Makapu’u Point to Sand Island. The M2O Virtual Edition 3.0 is a 16-mile paddle race that you can do any time, anywhere, on anything. Live coverage of the virtual edition will take place on the weekend of July 31st, and participants worldwide will have the option to track their paddle live and share their experiences with photos and videos. Over 2,500 paddlers from 65 countries have participated in this virtual paddling event, a testament to the bucket-list status of the M2O race and its broad appeal throughout the global paddling community.
The signature event, the Molokai 2 Oahu Paddleboard World Championship, has sadly been cancelled in 2022, though it will resume in 2023.
M20: The Hardest Paddleboard Race on the Planet
Founded in 1997, the race annually crowns world champions in the following disciplines: traditional (prone), stand-up (SUP) paddleboarding, and recently stand-up foil. Connecting the islands of Molokaʻi and Oʻahu, the 32-mile race crosses the Kaʻiwi Channel, also known as the Molokaʻi Channel and Channel of Bones. Men and women from more than 25 countries face strong currents as they navigate the fastest downwind route over one of the most beautiful and powerful channels in the world.
Top athletes can complete the crossing in less than five hours, riding mid-channel waves that crest more than 12 feet and carrying paddlers hundreds of meters. The annual race is a deeply personal experience, challenging every paddler’s physical and mental endurance.
“It’s been amazing to watch the evolution of the event,” said Shannon Delaney, M2O’s executive event producer. “The success and legend of M2O as the hardest paddleboard race on the planet drives the imagination of paddlers worldwide. While we won’t return to the Molokaʻi Channel until 2023, our events this summer will challenge those who race with us live in Hawaii, and enthuse the thousands who race virtually to aspire to conquer the Channel in the future.”
You can sign up for this summer's races here.
