TCI: Mario Rigby ONE DAY away from Caicos Challenge start

#TurksandCaicos, April 29, 2021 – The Caicos Challenge is Mario Rigby’s fifth eco-exploit and it begins on Friday April 30.  The world’s only known, ‘Eco explorer’ will swim, run, hike, climb and kayak across the main islands of the Turks and Caicos in a challenge expected to take him between 5 and 6 days.

It will not be easy, especially when he crosses 40km in a kayak in the open ocean between Grand Turk and South Caicos. 

In a press conference on Monday, held at Grace Bay Club, Rigby expressed his thanks and unraveled a dynamic plan in the Caicos Challenge. 

It will not only be a brutal physical escapade captured on film by TCI’s Li Welch; it will be a promotional pitch to the adventure community of the world about the possibilities in Turks and Caicos.  It will also be a practice for a larger Caribbean-wide crossing, a fulfillment of a childhood dream for Mario Rigby and a fundraiser to support an Eco Explorer’s club bearing his name to be managed by the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund and the Edward Gartland Youth Center. 

Residents are welcomed to get involved when Mario Rigby arrives in Providenciales on May 4.  Rigby, who hails from Blue Hills and is a 2002 TCI National athletics team member will run 5k from Blue Haven to Turks Kebab, his mother’s restaurant in Grace Bay.

Organisers are asking participants to arrive at Blue Haven by 5:30 am; Covid 19 protocols will be enforced. 

Who’s on Board

The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board is proud to partner with eco-explorer and son of the soil Mario Rigby on his upcoming expedition called The Caicos Challenge.

The Caicos Challenge is a grueling expedition over 5-6 days that will cover eight of Turks & Caicos’ main islands. The entire challenge will be done solo by Mario using only human-powered propulsion which includes; swimming, biking, kayaking, running and hiking. This will be an athletic feat that has never been recorded before making Mario the first to ever do so.

As a native of the islands, Mario wants to showcase the beauty, diversity and landscape of Turks and Caicos. He will take his global audience on a journey of sustainability & social impact as he traverses the eight islands. While taking on this extraordinary challenge Mario is committed to giving back to his community and sharing the stories of the people, places and possibilities along his journey.

The Caicos Challenge was officially launched with a press conference on Monday April 26th at Grace Bay Club which was attended by dignitaries, partners and well-wishers. During the event, Director of Tourism Pamela Ewing pledged the support of the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board and expressed how the partnership will assist with promoting our sister islands as well as eco and adventure tourism in the destination.

To find out more information on The Caicos Challenge and to track Mario’s expedition through our sister islands visit http://www.mariorigby.com/caicoschallenge.html

Photo Credits: Grace Bay Club