Beach Sprints Reaches New Heights in 2026
Now less than two years away from its debut as an Olympic rowing discipline, coastal beach sprints had a record setting year in Ontario.
The RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series made its debut on the Ontario regatta calendar this year with four regattas throughout the summer, beginning in June and ending in September. The four regattas, up from two in 2025, provided more opportunities for both new and veteran competitors to test themselves in the growing discipline and the response from Ontario rowing community members was significant. New race categories were added, new clubs participated, new beaches were visited, and each regatta surpassed the previous Canadian record for entries in a beach sprint regatta prior to 2026.
A Record Setting Year
- The most entries ever at a Canadian beach sprint regatta coming into 2026 was 56. That number was passed at each of the four regattas (St. Catharines #1 – 67, Kingston #2 – 64, Ottawa #3 – 82, St. Catharines #4 – 74)
- The most total entries in Ontario in a year. Previously 75, now 288.
- The most total athletes in Ontario in a year. Previously 52, now 172.
- The most beach sprint regattas in Ontario in a year. Previously two, now four.
What Was New in 2026
- The Series itself. Beach sprint regattas were formalized into the RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series, the first of its kind in Ontario. Competitors and clubs accumulated points at each event, which awarded both participation and performance, and Series Champions were crowned at the end of the season.
- Athletes. A total of 142 athletes raced in their first beach sprint regatta in 2026.
- Communities. Ottawa made its debut as a host community with RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series #3.
- Beach Sprint Management Tool. In 2026, Row Ontario built one for the discipline: a beach sprint management tool that trains the volunteers, engages the crowd and keeps series records.
A Year of Firsts
- For the first time, a full inclusion category was contested at a Canadian beach sprint regatta. Series Regatta #4 featured the first ever open mixed inclusion doubles category with para rowers teaming with experienced beach sprint competitors.
- For the first time, a dedicated masters category was contested at an Ontario beach sprint regatta. Series #3 and #4 each had masters categories in solos and doubles.
- For the first time, members of eight Ontario clubs – Ottawa Rowing Club, Ottawa New Edinburgh Club, Georgian Bay Rowing Club, Niagara Community Rowing, Brock Rowing Club, Cambridge Rowing Club, Collingwood Rowing Club and Sudbury Rowing Club – participated in a beach sprint regatta.
- For the first time, a beach sprint regatta in Ontario featured international competitors. A total of six US clubs and one Australian club participated in the Series.
Also for the first time, Series Champions were crowned.
2026 RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series Champions
Open Women’s: Autumn Prior – Orillia Rowing Club
Open Men’s: Aubrey Oldham – Leander Boat Club
U19 Women’s: Rose LaFrance – Brockville Rowing Club / Naomi Cousins – Ridley College
U19 Men’s: Merik Sommer – St. Catharines Rowing Club
Club: Brockville Rowing Club
What the Competitors Had to Say
“I had so much fun, I am mad at myself for not signing up for all four events. We have been talking up a storm now and I am now encouraging more people to join in on the fun next year. In addition, I am so inspired, I am trying to figure out how to start a youth program. – Barbara Reid, Collingwood Rowing Club – Masters Women
“Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt at the beach. Coastal racing is very exciting. All those motion and movements really add to the excitement and the adrenaline factor. As a blind athlete, I’m not usually paired with a world class athlete and my partner Raphael is such an amazing athlete! Such a kind and terrific, giving human being. I was very grateful that he would make time for a para-athlete and be totally supportive of adaptive coastal racing. Thank you to everyone who helped and especially to all the boat holders, everyone’s kindness and enthusiasm overwhelmed me.” – Maya Jonas, Argonaut Rowing Club – Para Women
“Definitely for my second beach event I felt more comfortable, having already done it once I had an idea of how everything worked and a lay of the land. I had a great time at the first regatta and this one was just as good. I’m excited to get some more experience and some more racing in.” – Naomi Cousins, Ridley College – Junior Women
“When it came to racing it was challenging but very fun. The distance of the race combined with the obstacles; getting in the boat smoothly and rapidly, high waves, and a hand brake turn around the buoy, can change the outcome of the race which makes for much closer races. The environment, the participants and the music made it a joyful atmosphere and the camaraderie of the beach sprint community should be noted. Throughout the day there were always people from a wide variety of clubs willing to help. I would absolutely recommend other para rowers to give it a try! It’s an opportunity to compete, meet new rowers and try something entirely new from the standard rowing experience. It’s a lot closer races as anything can happen and it’s exhilarating.” – Alex Martel, Sudbury Rowing Club – Para Men
“The racing is great – short and sweet, but I think what made the day so much fun was the team camaraderie. Not everyone likes racing, but we had lots of ONEC rowers join us as boat handlers – an integral job in beach sprints, and they all enjoyed the day as well. ONEC had rowers aged 27-78 trying beach sprints for the first time and they all said they would come back next year! Attending the beach sprints clinic the evening before helped our crew to get comfortable with the boats and the course. – Lucy Askham, Ottawa New Edinburgh Club – Masters Women
“I really like the atmosphere here; there’s a bunch of people just staked out on the beach cheering each other on. There’s always some pressure to perform, but it’s great atmosphere to compete in. We’re at the beach for the day; you’re going to go out and row a few times and it’s going to hurt but you’re going to have a lot of fun with it. It’s really fun being around a new crowd of people too that I didn’t know until today.” – Audrey Boersen, ARION – Open Women
“The time trial in my opinion, and I think this is shared by a lot of experienced athletes, is very important. I’d argue that until you get to those medal finals, it’s probably the most important race of the regatta, so you want to lay it down as fast as you can and as hard as you can, so you can have some time after to recover. You want to have a good result in the time trial and set the tone early and set yourself up for success for the rest of the regatta.” – Aubrey Oldham, Leander Boat Club – Open Men
Thank You!
With thanks to the sponsors of the discipline in Ontario:
- Sport Niagara, for financial support to the series since before 2026.
- Hudson Boat Works, for its solo racing fleet and its support of beach sprints in Ontario.
And to the partners who hosted, equipped and staffed the season:
- Rowing Canada Aviron, for the National Beach Sprint Tour.
- The St. Catharines rowing community: St. Catharines Rowing Club, Ridley Graduate Boat Club, Ridley College, the Canadian Henley Rowing Corporation and all community partners, and the City of St. Catharines.
- Kingston Rowing Club and the City of Kingston.
- Ottawa Rowing Club, Ottawa New Edinburgh Club and the City of Ottawa.
- Swift Canada and Brockville Rowing Club, whose boats contributed to the racing fleet.
- The first aid and safety providers at every Cup.
- The 81 volunteers and officials, many of whom volunteered at multiple events, for their time, efforts, and constant enthusiasm throughout the summer.
