Two of Hong Kong Island's best-loved beaches turn into a race course every September. The Sheko Challenge 2026 runs Saturday 5 September, sending swimmers, runners and paddlers point-to-point between Big Wave Bay and Shek O Back Beach — with a barbecue party waiting at the finish.
In This Guide
What is the Sheko Challenge?
The Sheko Challenge is an annual open-water swim, run and paddle race organised by Open Water Asia, run by ocean conservationist Doug Woodring, with timing handled by Race Timing Solutions. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday 5 September, with the main races — swim, run and paddle — starting at 2pm and a separate 600m kids' swim at 4pm for entrants aged 10 to 17. The course has consistently been ranked among the top 50 open-water swims in Asia by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
The race is point-to-point rather than a loop: competitors start at Big Wave Bay, a beach better known to most visitors for surfing and the Dragon's Back trailhead, and finish at Shek O Back Beach around the headland.
What are the race categories?
The Sheko Challenge is built around three individual disciplines — a 2.2km swim, an 8.5km run and a 9km paddle — all run point-to-point between the two beaches, plus a separate 600m kids' swim out and back from Shek O Back Beach. Entrants can race solo in any discipline, or combine efforts as a team, with team times determined by the sum of members' individual times:
Solo — swimmer, runner, paddler or kids' swim, racing as an individual.
Team of 2 — any pairing of swimmer, runner and paddler, combined time.
Trisolothon — a three-person team covering all three disciplines between them.
Quad Squad — a four-swimmer relay team.
Half/Half — a two-swimmer relay splitting the 2.2km swim course in half.
Why is this race worth doing?
Big Wave Bay and Shek O sit on a stretch of coastline that most visitors only see from the sand, so racing (or paddling, or running) the gap between them is a genuinely different way to experience it. The course avoids the crowded, closed-loop format of Hong Kong's more famous races: it's a straight shot along open water and coastal road, past the same cliffs and headland that make the neighbouring Dragon's Back trail one of the city's most popular hikes. For land-based training between race seasons, see our guides to the best running routes in Hong Kong and where to play padel in Hong Kong; for the wider watersports scene, our guide to watersports in Hong Kong covers where to train for the swim and paddle legs beyond race day.
Dates, venue and how to get there
Sheko Challenge 2026
Entry fees have historically run in the region of HK$250-450 depending on category and how early you register, though 2026 pricing should be confirmed directly on the organiser's registration page before signing up, as fees are subject to change year to year.
Good to know: Shau Kei Wan MTR Station gets busy with race-day traffic on the bus and minibus queues, so build in extra time getting out to Big Wave Bay, especially if you're racing in the 2pm start. Past editions have wrapped up with a beach barbecue and live music at Shek O Back Beach, so it's worth staying on after your own race to watch the later finishers come in.
Frequently Asked Questions
A proper coastal race between two of the city's best beaches
The Sheko Challenge turns a stretch of coastline most people only sunbathe on into a genuine point-to-point race — swim, run or paddle it solo, or split the disciplines with a team. Register early through Race Timing Solutions.