Every other year Flatwater takes a small group of paddlers on a journey into the unfamiliar. The Flatwater Challenge Series has taken us to The Netherlands (2015), Lake Tahoe (2017), Iceland (2019) and Labyrinth Canyon (2021). Hundreds of miles have been paddled, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised and thousands of lives have been changed for the better because of it. As we began weighing location options for Flatwater Challenge 2023, we had two must-haves kept in mind throughout the process: The 2023 Challenge must be physically and mentally demanding. Like, really hard. Body and soul. And the 2023 location must be naturally wild and spectacular. A great adventure into and through an awe-inspiring territory.  

Welcome, Flatwater Challenge: Vancouver Island! June 19-23, 2023.

This four day, 50 mile paddle will take place off the coast of Vancouver Island in the Broughton Archipelago Marine Park - an undeveloped and largely undiscovered wilderness area. The numerous remote, solitary islands incorporated in the park provide unlimited and unique paddling opportunities. Broughton Archipelago is a mecca for marine wildlife as resident Killer Whales begin showing up toward the end of June and feeding Humpbacks make their way into the area in May. Harbour Seals, Sea Lions, River Otters and Bald Eagles are all part of this incredible rainforest ecosystem. (Much of the popular Netflix show Alone was filmed here.) We will also paddle into, alongside and camp within the Southern Great Bear Rainforest. This spectacular rainforest boasts the largest population of grizzlies on Earth.  

This Flatwater Challenge will be different from the other Challenges in that it will be fully self-supported meaning paddlers will pack and carry their own gear + food for the four days on the water. We will depart from Telegraph Cove, Vancouver Island on the morning of June 20th and not return until the evening of June 23rd. Sleeping will take place at primitive campsites along the journey.

Flatwater Challenge: Vancouver Island promises to be an adventure of a lifetime all while raising much needed funds for Flatwater. Each paddler will be required to raise a minimum of $10,000. Please consider making a contribution to one of our paddlers listed below. 

Flatwater provides mental health therapy in the wake of cancer. We connect individuals with therapists to help clear their mind, heal their body, and find the strength to take on a diagnosis. Since inception in 2010, Flatwater has provided over 57,000 hours of therapy to people in need. To learn more about Flatwater, please visit FlatwaterFoundation.org.