Viking Key West Challenge | | It's called a "challenge," but succeeding in this tournament is incredibly easy: Just have fun! The Viking Key West Challenge (VKWC) seems to get better every year, bringing more good times, smiling faces and family enjoyment. The 2025 event, held from April 9 to 13, featured 50 boats and over 500 guests. | | “We want to thank all of you for being here – it was another unbelievable four days,” Viking President and CEO Pat Healey said at the Awards Dinner at the Opal Key Sunset Pier. “The fishing was good, the parties were even better and the friendship, camaraderie and fellowship were over the top. That’s what it’s all about – coming together and having a good time and doing what we love.” | | The fleet featured Vikings ranging from 46 to 90 feet and Valhallas from 37 to 55 feet. Anglers released 168 sailfish over the two days of fishing and the Spot Zero Weigh Station was thumping as excited anglers brought their catches – tuna, cobia, dolphin, kingfish and the tournament’s first-ever pompano – to the scales. | | Right Choice angler Lucie Kapusta (above) won Top Angler with eight releases, as well as Top Female Angler. Second went to Brad VandenBerg on Wingman II with a half dozen sailfish releases and a kingfish. Christina Henry on the Valhalla 37 Rehab took Third Place Angler with five releases. | | In the tuna category, Guy Lanciano aboard the 58 On A Roll took First. Jessika Gonzalez (above left) on the 90 Zatara won First Place for dolphin, while Richard Battaglia on The Interview, a 68, and Al West Jr. on the 72 Tami Ann captured First for kingfish and Cobia, respectively. Rob Lopez (above right) on The Provider, an 80, took First for bottomfish. | | The youngsters are always the stars of the show. This year it was 11-year-old Hayden Rickman – never without his cowboy hat – and his brother Kamden, 7, who stole the crowd. Hayden earned Top Junior Angler for four sailfish releases aboard the family’s Viking 48 Dear Rodeo. This was the first time the Rickmans have participated in the Challenge. “We’ve just had a tremendous time,” said a proud Joby Rickman after his son received his award, with Kamden by his side for a photograph with Pat Healey. “Everyone has been so nice and has made us feel so welcome. I can’t say enough about this event,” added mom, Leslie Rickman. “We love being part of the Viking family, and we aren’t going anywhere. We are already talking about moving up to a bigger Viking.” | | Although not a money tournament, the Viking Key West Challenge has great partners who gave away some incredible prizes – almost $40,000 worth. In a drawing, the top prize of a GOST Global Tracking and Security Monitoring package worth $7,500 went to Sea Hawk, a Viking 90; a Spot Zero Mobile Pro Unit valued at $7,000 went to 1st Place team Right Choice (above); and a $6,000 Switlik Coastal Passage Raft was awarded to Top Angler Lucie Kapusta. Prizes were also from FLIR, Simrad, Seatronx, Garmin, Furuno, Icom, KVH, SiriusXM, Yeti, Airmar and others. | | The teams traveled to the southernmost point of the U.S. to compete in an event that is “More Than Just Fishing!” The festivities began on Wednesday evening at Dante’s Key West with registration, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and the Captains’ Meeting. “We have the best owners and the best boats in the world,” said Pat. Friday’s lay day included a Pool Party Lunch, a Duval Street Bar Crawl Poker Run and a Kids Dock Tournament. | | | | |
