BEN DID GO 10.0 | 2025

September 13, 2025

The Annual Ben Did Go 10.0 will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2025. An epic event that was started by Spencer Pirdy in 2015, has become an annual athletic challenge that continues to grow every year, as watermen and women prone paddle 30 miles through the Channel from Catalina to Newport Beach to raise funds for the BCMSF. In its 10th year, the Foundation plans to raise more than $250,000 with donations from all over the world. The incredible support from the 2023 and 2024 paddle have been joyfully overwhelming. These funds support our international lifeguarding efforts and scholarships to student athletes.

This years paddle procedures will change. Qualifying procedures will be done in a series of events and you will be fully vetted to participate. Please see our timeline below for pertinent dates, information and more.

A celebratory and informational meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 21, at Lido Theatre. More information and timing will be shared soon.

This year, paddlers will NOT be registering at this particular event. You will participate in 3 qualifiers before you are actually registered. There are several events and paddle meet ups for you to qualify at. Once you have completed the three qualifiers, you will be entered into our system, receive your paddler instruction kit and start to fundraise.

Dates for paddler meet ups include:

  • Saturday, May 10 - The Loop (11 Miles in Coronado)

  • Saturday, May 31 - NAC El Morro Classic (15 Mile Newport)

  • Saturday, June 21 - #1 BDG qualifier 

  • Saturday, June 28 - Waterman Challenge (14 Miles San Diego)

  • Wednesday, July 2 - #2 BDG Qualifier

  • Sunday, July 13 - Rock 2 Rock (22 miles Catalina to PV)

  • Wednesday, July 16 - #3 BDG Qualifier

  • Saturday, July 19 - Paddle Laguna Beach (12.5 miles Laguna to Doheny)

  • Saturday, July 26 - #4 BDG Qualifier

  • Saturday, August 2 - #5 BDG Qualifier

  • Wednesday, August 13 - #6 BDG Qualifier

  • Saturday, August 23 or Wednesday, August 27 - #7 BDG Qualifier

  • Sunday, August 24 - Catalina Classic (32 miles Catalina to Manhattan)

The integrity of our event is crucial to our continued success and the high standards that we expect from our paddlers.

“Stay In the water or Stay in the Boat will be instituted this year.”

  • This is a 30 mile paddling endeavor and it’s amazing, and it is hard. But it is a 30 mile paddle intended to represent Ben Carlson and his grit and tenacity and passion for doing rad, hard things. 

  • If for some reason you are unable to maintain the pace or have an illness or injury, if you get in the boat, you are to stay in the boat.

  • This is why the qualification process is so important; so you CAN FINISH, by staying in the water the entire crossing and maintain the pace.