Shark Bite Challenge & Paddlefest

The Shark Bite Challenge is a 2-day event that features outrigger canoe, SUP, paddleboard, surfski, kayak and canoe races and festivities.  The event was founded 9 years ago as the “Caladesi Kayak Challenge”, in an effort to bring more people to the park to experience the exquisite paddling found at the State Parks. The event, renamed to the Shark Bite Challenge, has now grown to host 200 paddlers of all kinds. The challenge has featured a variety of weather and conditions, making it a favorite race among local Florida paddlers., and canoe races. This year, the event has added activities such as SUP tours and lessons, Sea Kayak clinics, outrigger canoe clinics, and a paddle fishing tournament.

The event is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Island Parks. Friends of the Island Parks is a CSO (Citizens Support Organization). Florida Park Service CSOs are volunteer organizations that sponsor events, raise funds, and support the goals of the parks. The Friends of the Island Parks CSO’s main focus is the support of Caladesi Island State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park. The Friends join the Egmont Key Alliance and Friends of Anclote Key in supporting our island parks.

Honeymoon and Caladesi Islands are rare, natural barrier islands that are basically undeveloped. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of Florida’s original coast, to see many types of wildlife that depend on these ecosystems and to learn about these islands that need to be protected.  Caladesi Island was named “America’s Best Beach” in 2008. From the ospreys, owls and eagles that make the island their year long home to the loggerhead turtles that lay eggs on the beaches, the egrets wading in the sea grasses and the manatees and dolphins that swim in the surrounding waters, we can all appreciate and celebrate this natural environment together as Friends of the Island Parks.

For more information, please visit www.sharkbitechallenge.com