New RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series Links Four Regattas Across Ontario this Summer
May 21, 2026 | Row Ontario will launch the RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series this summer, a season-long circuit featuring rowing’s newest Olympic discipline. The four Coastal Beach Sprint regattas will give rowers across the province more ways to engage in one of the sport’s fastest-growing formats.
The Cup Series visits four communities between June and September, with St. Catharines (June 20) and Kingston (August 22) returning as hosts, joined by Ottawa (August 29) and Hamilton (September 19), both welcoming the series for the first time.
Row Ontario held its first Beach Sprint regatta in 2023 at Ashbridge’s Bay in Toronto, followed by another regatta in 2024, two in 2025, and now four Cups in 2026.
“Our aim with the Cup Series is to grow the sport of rowing, and Coastal Beach Sprint rowing is one of the best tools we have to do it,” said Andrew Backer, CEO of Row Ontario. “When we ran our first regatta in 2023, Beach Sprint was brand-new territory. Three years on, there are four Cups on the Ontario rowing calendar, and two communities are hosting for the first time. This format brings energy, and it brings new people to rowing for the first time. Connecting the four regattas into a series also gives everyone a season-long reason to take part, and we’re excited to see how far it can go.”
New for 2026, the Cup Series connects all four regattas into a single competitive circuit that rewards participation, consistency, and excellence. Athletes earn series points by entering the Olympic boat class events: the men’s and women’s solo and the mixed double (Each regatta will run other racing events as well). Points will be tracked throughout the season and series champions will be recognized at the close of the season in four individual categories: U19 women, U19 men, Open women, and Open men. A club champion will also be recognized, awarded to the club whose athletes earn the most cumulative points across the season.
Opportunities to try out rowing in a non-competitive environment will also be built into each event’s festivities.
2026 RowOn Beach Sprint Cup Series
June 20 – RowOn Beach Sprint Cup #1 – St. Catharines (Lakeside Park)
Aug. 22 – RowOn Beach Sprint Cup #2 – Kingston (Grass Creek Park)
Aug. 29 – RowOn Beach Sprint Cup #3 – Ottawa (Petrie Island Beach)
Sept. 19 – RowOn Beach Sprint Cup #4 – Hamilton (Bayfront Park)
The series opens in just under a month with RowOn Beach Sprint Cup #1 in St. Catharines, also a stop on the Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) National Beach Sprint Tour. Entries for Cup #1 are open now through Regatta Central and close June 14.
About Coastal Beach Sprint Rowing
Coastal Beach Sprint rowing will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, after the International Olympic Committee added it to the rowing programme in October 2023. Races combine a beach sprint start, a row out around slalom and turn buoys, and a finish back on the sand. This compact, knockout-style format is easy for spectators to follow from the shoreline. Working with partners, the Cup Series provides race equipment at every Cup, so athletes can participate without owning or transporting coastal boats, lowering both the cost and the barriers to reaching the start line.
About Row Ontario
Row Ontario is the provincial sport organization responsible for the development and promotion of rowing across Ontario, supporting athletes, coaches, umpires, clubs, and communities at all levels of the sport.
Row Ontario Media Contact
Frank Christie | Communications & Events Manager | 289-778-0750 ext. 0 | frank@rowontario.ca
