Fri, Apr 10, 2026 - Sat, Apr 11, 2026
Event Start Times:
Check In/Kick-Off Party - 4/10 5:00PM
Registration is Open!
Join us April 10 - 11 for the toughest firefighter challenge in the US! Test your skill, strength, and stamina on the sugar-white sands of Pensacola Beach. Register a team or challenge yourself and do the course solo. The Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge is a great event to build camaraderie, compete, have fun, and win!
There will be Individual and Team Firefighter Challenges, as well as a new Kids Challenge!
Bring your family to make it a vacation!
We'll see you soon in beautiful Pensacola Beach!
Register for a chance to win a 2-night stay on Pensacola Beach!
Take your Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge experience to the next level! When you register for the Challenge, you're not just signing up to test your strength and endurance, you're also entering for a chance to win a 2-night Pensacola Beach getaway at Portofino Island Resort!
All participants who register by February 15, 2026 will be automatically entered to win a 2-night stay in a 2-bedroom beachfront condo at Portofino Island Resort.
It's the perfect way to turn Challenge weekend into a true Pensacola Beach escape. Bring your family, your crew, or your whole team!
How the Giveaway Works:
- Register for the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge by February 15, 2026
- After completing registration, you'll receive a registration confirmation email
- That confirmation email means you are officially entered into the giveaway
- The drawing will take place on February 17, 2026
- The winner will be contacted on February 17 by the contact information provided during registration
- No extra steps. No additional forms. Just register and you're in!
🔥 Don't Miss Out: Register now for the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge and give yourself a chance to enjoy everything Pensacola Beach has to offer
Competition Information
Obstacles
The course for the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge will be on Pensacola Beach. All obstacles will be in the sand. The obstacles each participant must go through will be:
- Forced Entry
- Charged Hose Pull – Sponsored by Columbia Southern
- Kaiser Sled – Sponsored by Whataburger
- Dummy Drag – Sponsored by Fishbein Orthodontics
- Hose Hoist
Dress Requirements
Each firefighter participant will be required to wear full structural firefighting gear including boots, gloves, air packs (breathing on air), helmets, and masks.
Team Competition Information
Teams will have a seeding round on Friday to determine when they go on Saturday for their actual competition time. The order on Saturday will be: fastest time on Friday goes last on Saturday, slowest time on Friday goes first on Saturday.
For the team competition, the first person will complete the first obstacle, then tag the second person (standing in the staging zone), and so on until the final person crosses the finish line.
Courses
There will be two courses right next to each other – two teams/individuals will be going at the same time. Each team/person is racing for their best overall time, not against the next team/person next to them.
Each person gets one run of the course to score their best time. In the event there is a tie for an overall or award placement, the two teams will run the course again to determine a winner.
The event will be manually timed using two times to verify each run.
Team Categories:
- First
- Second
- Third
Individual Age Categories – Female Divisions:
- Overall
Individual Age Categories – Male Divisions:
- Overall
- 18-25 First Place
- 26-32 First Place
- 33-39 First Place
- 40-49 First Place
- 50+ First Place *New
New* Kids Challenge Award Details coming soon...
Team and individual check-in is on Friday, April 10 from 5-8 pm; at the Gulf Side Pavilion on Pensacola Beach.
You will receive your team packets, shirts, and event information. Free food and drinks will be provided for all paid participants. Guests are $20.
Team Seeding Round
Additionally, the seeding round of the Team Competition will take place Friday night. All teams are guaranteed at least two runs on the course.
The event will be manually scored. Your time will start on “GO” from the announcer and will stop once you cross the finish line.
There will be two timers for each team/person to verify the time.
Following the competition on April 11, starting at 5:30pm, immediately after the competition, participants and guests are invited to attend the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge Social at Bamboo Willies for Food, Drink Specials and Live Music.
All teams are guaranteed two runs on the course. A seeding round on Friday and then the main competition on Saturday.
Friday, April 10, 2026 (Times are subject to change)
- 5 pm – 7:30 pm – Team Check In
- 7:00 pm – Team Seeding Round
Saturday, April 11, 2026 (Times are subject to change and are dependent on # of individuals competing)
- 6:30 am – area opens for teams to set up tents
- 7:00 am- 7:30 am – Opening Ceremony
- 7:30 am- 12:00 pm – Individual Competition
- 12:00pm- 1:00 pm – Break
- 1:00 pm - 2:00pm Kids Challenge
- 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm – Team Competition
- 5:30 pm – Awards Ceremony
- 5:30 pm – Post Event Social (Immediately after the awards ceremony)
The timeline is subject to change, pending the number of teams and participants. The final timeline will be posted at the Team Check-In.
Teams
- 30 Teams Max
- 5 People Per Team – must register at one time
- 4-person team is permitted – one person must do the first and last skill station
- Each team is guaranteed at least two runs on the course
$275 – Opening soon through April 3, 2026
$315 – April 4 – April 11, 2026
Each team participant receives:
- Performance short sleeve event t-shirt
- Challenge Coin
- Friday Night Party Pass (food and drinks provided)
- Saturday Social Food & Drink Passes
Individuals
- 60 individuals max
- Additional $25 if also part of a team
$75 – through April 3
$85 – Price Increase April 4-11
Each individual participant receives:
- Performance short sleeve event t-shirt
- Challenge Coin
- Friday Night Party Pass (food and drinks provided)
There are no refunds for this event
Inclement Weather
The rain makeup date is TBD
- In the event, there is light rain or off-and-on rain, we will continue with the event on April 12
- In the event, there is lightning or predicted storms all day on April 12; we will postpone to TBD
- If the entire weekend is a washout, there will not be another make-up date. We will work with the teams to discount entry into next year’s event if this happens.
- The check-in party and participant goodies will still go on/be given out as scheduled.
Surf & Sand Hotel
Surf & Sand is conveniently located in the heart of Pensacola beach, steps away from dining, nightlife, and shopping. Enjoy complimentary kayaks, paddle boards, and beach cruisers, or hang out by our firepit on our private beach in Little Sabine Bay.
40 Fort Pickens Rd.
Pensacola Beach, FL. 32561
Rate: $179 plus taxes and fees
Includes breakfast
To book, call the property at 850.934.5400 and reference either DeLuna Swim or Firefighters Challenge.
Offer available until March 11
Hampton Inn Pensacola Beach
2 Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
Ph: 850.932.6800
Rates: $173(Inland)-$202(Gulf Front)
Full breakfast buffet included
Good Through March 11th
Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach
14 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, FL, 32561
Rates: $209.00-$229.00 through March 11
Ph: 850.-932-5331
Book Online Here
Fairfield Inn& Suites Pensacola Beach
16 Via De Luna Drive, Pensacola Beach, FL, 32561
Ph: 850-932-1889
Rates are $209/night - Inland View no Balcony and $229/night - Beach Front with Balcony,
Hot Comp Breakfast and Waived Parking Fees upon check in. Lasy Day to book is March 11th
Book your group rate for Firefighter Challenge
The Pensacola Beach Resort
165 Fort Pickens Rd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561
General Information
For more information on the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge, email Amy Marquez at amarquez@pensacolasports.org
Sponsorship Information
For sponsorship information on the Pensacola Beach Firefighters Challenge, email Katie Gardocki at katie@pensacolasports.org
Pensacola Sports Office
1000 College Blvd
Bldg 24
Pensacola, Florida 32504
850.434.2800
Event Photos
Our Sponsors
Pensacola Sports is grateful for the support of its generous partners, sponsors and donors. Thank you for your commitment to growing Pensacola as a healthy place to live, work and play.
