BTB holds its second annual BTB Love Belize Sea Challenge to promote attractions of Belize’s coastline

The second Belize Tourism Board (BTB) Love Belize Sea challenge, a grueling six-day adventurous extreme race covering over 218 miles of sea paddling. The challenge commenced at Punta Gorda on May 22nd and concluded at the Rainbow Beach in Corozal Town on Monday, May 27th as the kayakers crossed the finishing line amid thunderous cheering and applauses from the spectators.

Besides providing a truly unforgettable lifetime experience the race aimed to promote Belize as a key tourism destination for paddlers and kayakers; underscore Belize’s rich and effervescent culture and history, including food, music and tradition, of the communities along the coastline; create environmental awareness with paddlers and fans on the important of protecting Belize’s natural and cultural resources and provide visiting teams with a unique Belizean experience and opportunity to see Belize from a closer and local perspective.

On day one from Punta Gorda, the contenders travelled to Abalone Caye to Monkey River and to Placencia. On the second day, paddlers travelled from Placencia to Hopkins by road, due to rough seas and inclement weather, where they then resumed their journey to Dangriga. On the third day the paddlers went from Dangriga Town to Gales Point Manatee Bar Mouth to Old Belize then Belize City. The Fourth day covered the distance from Belize City to St. George’s Caye to Caye Caulker and San Pedro. On the fifth day the participants travelled from San Pedro to Blackadore Caye and rested in Sarteneja. The final day took the paddlers from Sarteneja to Rainbow Beach in Corozal Town where the crowd came out in large numbers to welcome them.

There were three different categories of competitors, namely Male, Female and Mix teams with cash prizes totaling over $30,000 dollars. At the end, when the tally for the overall time count was made the event organizers issued the following results:

MALE TEAM CATEGORY

First Place winners – Private Belize Adventures, who completed the race in 34 hrs 23 min

Second Place winners – Recinos Imports BDF Recce, who completed the race in 35 hours 17 min

Third Place winners – Belize Coast Guard, who completed the race in 35 hrs 18 min

MIXED TEAM CATEGORY

First Place winners – Belize Coast Guard Charlie, who completed the race in 38 hrs 58 min

Second Place winners – Dibary Jaguars, who completed the race in 39 hrs 1 min

Third Place winners – Belize Hotel Supplies

WOMEN CATEGORY

St. George’s Caye Resort BDF, who were the only women to complete the race.

Prior to the race, the BTB launched a major promotional campaign both at home and abroad. Among these included the following:

• A co-op marketing in Europe through tour operator Pioneer Expeditions with a holiday package and a digital campaign with Adventure Travel Magazine.

• North America Market - Earned Media with outreach to kayaking magazines, social media content and an influencer engagement in country.

• Awareness at travel trade events and social media platforms for social content before and during the race.

• Countrywide media tour to promote the event. This included presentations on both radio and television stations.

• During the challenge, there were booths at race points for BTB branding and engaging with the public.

BTB is proud to be a part of this historic event which explored, promoted and conserved our beautiful Jewel, Belize a Curious Place!


Clockwise from top: The kayakers departed Punta Gorda early in the morning on May 22. During their trip to Placencia they had to battle the rough seas. Paddlers approaching the finishing line. BTB’s PR Manager, Jocelle Stephen, and other members of BTB staff presented medals to the winners. First place winners were Private Belize Adventurers and the St. George’s Caye Resort BDF were the only women group to complete the race.


Private Belize Adventures wins BTB and Love FM second annual Belize Sea Challenge

The second annual Belize Sea Challenge took place from Wednesday, May 22nd through Monday, May 27th, starting from Punta Gorda Town Toledo, and ending in Corozal Town. The challenge saw 16 teams taking on 218 grueling miles in the six-day race. Organized by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and Love FM, the event saw teams competing in the male, female, and mixed category, beginning every day as early as 5AM from each point of departure. After kayaking along the Belizean Caribbean coast, Team Private Belize Adventures claimed the top prize in the male division with a total of 34 hours and 23 minutes. In second place was Team Recinos Imports BDF Recce Squadron, clocking a cumulative 35 hours and 17 minutes. Taking third place home the Belize Coast Guard Alpha with a cumulative time of 35 hours and 18 minutes.

All top teams in the various categories proudly accepted their prizes, and all participants who finished received a medal. Congratulations to all the participants of this year's BTB Love Belize Sea Challenge. The third challenge is already schedule for the last weekend in May 2020. A BIG thank you goes out as well to all the organizers and sponsors for making the event possible once again to bring awareness about the need to protect and preserve Belize's marine natural resources.

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