In this Daily: One Week to the Paddle Battle and Intrepid Challenge
The 9th Annual Pura Vida Ride Paddle Battle and the Intrepid Challenge 2019 are just a week away, two athletic events that make use of the land and water around Las Catalinas in different ways.
Valeria Salustri, last year's women's elite winner
The Paddle Battle started in the early years of town back in 2011, and is town’s longest running athletic event. Taking place in the bay just off of Playa Danta, the Paddle Battle is an all-day competition of small-to-long distance paddle boarding races for elite men, elite women, and recreational racers that cover distances of up to 10km.
The Intrepid Challenge is an obstacle course race that covers the ocean, beaches, and trails around town. Founded in 2015, Intrepid Challenge hosted its first beach edition in Las Catalinas in 2018, where it has continued to evolve each year.
One of early 2019 Intrepid's obstacles, a challenging net climb | PC: Carlos Brenes
The most recent edition of the Intrepid in early 2019 featured 15 obstacles and a 5k+ loop for racers. This November’s race looks to be the most ambitious Intrepid yet, featuring a quadrathlon with an 11k+ run, a 16k+ mountain bike ride, a 1k+ kayak, and a 1k+ open water swim, with more than 16 obstacles per circuit along the way. Estimates are due to the relative secrecy of the event’s exact challenges, which are closely guarded until race day.
This year's edition of the Intrepid Challenge features a 1km kayak, combining with run, bike, and swim portions to turn the obstacle course race into a quadrathlon | PC: Carlos Brenes
The weekend is full of friendly competition and outdoor adventure around town, where elite and recreational athletes from town and elsewhere can come together over shared appreciation for sports.
Friends of Las Catalinas on Intrepid and Paddle Battle Weekend in Las Catalinas
Jake Jacobs, the owner of Pura Vida Ride and founder of the Paddle Battle, describes the growth of the Paddle Battle as an organic process driven by the racers.
“We weren’t sure what was going to happen the first year,” Jacobs explained, “but there we were and we got a group of paddlers and everyone liked it a lot. It’s really been something that’s taken on a life of its own.”
The Paddle Battle welcomes competitors of any skill levels, which this year includes Costa Rica’s top paddlers in the final race of the national competitive paddle boarding circuit. Jason Abernathy, head mechanic at Pura Vida Ride, says that the Paddle Battle has become a well loved tradition in town.
“A bunch of the guys from the shop get out and race,” Abernathy says. “We know we’re probably not gonna win the elite, cause the pros are really, really good, but we love to have a little competition among ourselves.”
Brian Funcik, last year’s male winner for the recreativo division, echoed Abernathy’s sentiment. “It’s really fun to see everyone in town out on the beach showing their support, and then you get out on the water and you’re racing right alongside people you know from around Las Catalinas.”
The Intrepid Challenge is a younger town event, only in its third edition in Las Catalinas, but brings a mix of familiar faces to town, and a hefty obstacle to overcome even for many of town’s athletes. “I tell you man, there’s a reason they call it the Intrepid Challenge,” said Demian Geneau, manager of Copper & Stone Gourmet Grocery. “But that’s part of the fun right?”
The hefty task of overcoming the Intrepid Challenge is big part of the satisfaction for racers, like friend of town Renae Johnson, who is training for her second Intrepid this year. “The terrain is a challenge, but it’s also really satisfying,” Johnson explained. “I remember struggling through one particularly steep portion with a friend, and even though we were laughing about how bad of an idea it was to participate, you could tell we both secretly loved it.”
After both events, the beachfront of Playa Danta offers a gathering space for competitors to share stories of the event, recover with snacks and refreshment, and connect with other members of the Paddle Battle and Intrepid, celebrating a obstacles overcome and races well done.
Stay in Town for the Weekend
Both the Santarena Hotel and the Las Catalinas Collection have special offers to stay in town for Intrepid and Paddle Battle weekend. Whether competitor, supporter, or just visiting, these two days bring a positive energy of sports and adventure to town that complements the naturally active and social lifestyle in Las Catalinas.
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