2023 Waterman Eco-Challenge by PJ Dougherty

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2023 The 13th Annual Waterman Eco-Challenge was a record year, 298 registrations!  The conditions this July 22nd rivaled 2011, the very first year - an all around perfect 10!  All competitors got out of the water safely, had a blast and together this community raised $6,600.00 for the Janice Causey Memorial Art Scholarship at Narragansett High School.

Waterman Eco-Challenge is hosted each July at Narragansett Town Beach, Rhode Island.  Featured events are a 1 Mile Open Water Swim Race, a 3 Mile Open Water Paddle Race as well as a Dynamic Event Area of sponsor tents & local coastal environmental awareness agency tents.  Proceeds from the event fund the Janice Causey Memorial Art Scholarship at Narragansett High School. 

Waterman Eco-Challenge is hosted in honor of the late Janice 'Mama C' Causey.  Mama C was an art teacher, surf instructor, Eco-Challenge lover and inspired young people to follow their passions.  Our event funds the Janice Causey Memorial Art Scholarship at Narragansett Hight School for college bound art students.  2023 Eco-Challenge raised $6,600.00 and to date has raised over $25,000.00 for Narragansett High School students. 

Waterman Eco-Challenge is such a special day centered around safe, recreational fun for our entire community.  Competitors, local business, spectators and non profits alike all coming together to celebrate each other and our community is what it is all about.  For so many Waterman Eco-Challenge is  'The Best Day of The Summer!'

The day is captured and broadcasted magically by our local talent PJ Dougherty from the ground and from the aerial perspective.  PJ's incredible video of 2023 Waterman Eco-Challenge is playing at the top of this page.

Our coastline is paramount to Waterman Eco-Challenge. The Day hosts local, coastal Environmental Awareness groups in the event area to support and raise awareness to the important work they are doing to keep our waterways clean.  

Waterman Eco-Challenge was founded in 2011 to raise awareness toward ocean and sun safety.  In 2011 to launch Eco-Challenge, Hawaiian Big Wave World Record holder Garrett McNamara & Hawaiian Lifesaver and Waterman Kamaki Worthington spent a week in Narragansett to work with Narragansett Surf Rescue and host the event. The inaugural year hosted perfect conditions and 44 paddlers hit the water!

We are so fortunate to have every Waterman Eco-Challenge captured in the water through the lens of our legacy photographer, Tripp Burman.  

Todd Gianguzzi captures the most amazing still photography in Narragansett & Waterman Eco-Challenge is so fortunate and grateful to have his talents with us on our day.

Waterman Eco-Challenge would not be possible without our incredible sponsors!  We can not be more grateful to all of them for supporting our mission, our day, the fund raising and all of our participants enjoyment!