The Flatwater Challenge series began in 2015, when we took our very first team of paddlers to the legendary SUP11-City Tour in the Netherlands. Since then, the series has carried us to Lake Tahoe, Iceland, Antelope Canyon, and Vancouver Island - each destination pushing our community to new physical and mental limits.

But for the 10th anniversary of the Flatwater Challenge, held September 7–16, 2025, we returned to where it all began to take on what proved to be one of the most demanding challenges in Flatwater history: the iconic SUP11-City Tour across Friesland.

Spanning 220 kilometers (136 miles) over five relentless days, this route was a true test of endurance. Paddlers took on 41–48 km (25–30 miles) each day, navigating unpredictable conditions that can shift from calm and sunny to cold rain, fierce wind, and full-on storms. The course winds through open fields lined with windmills, cows, and sheep, and connects eleven historic cities, tracing the original waterways once traveled by ice skaters completing the famed Elfstedentocht.

This challenge tested every mental and physical limit possible, demanding resilience, grit, and a deep sense of purpose. And that purpose delivered extraordinary impact: together, our paddlers raised an incredible $293,803, supporting access to fully funded mental health therapy for individuals and families navigating cancer.

Every mile paddled, every kilometer endured, and every moment of grit contributed to a profound ripple of hope and healing. This challenge will certainly never be forgotten!