Seven athletes will represent Canada at the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Genoa, Italy from September 13-15. Rowers will race on the Ligurian Sea off the San Nazaro Beach.  
 
This marks the fifth appearance at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals for Canadian Coastal Rowing Pioneers, Sarah Pidgen and Aubrey Oldham, who will race in the solo events (CM1x, CW1x) and in the mixed double (CMix2x). 
 
RCA will once again send an Under 19 contingent to the Beach Sprint Finals, fielding a team of five rowers to take on the world’s best emerging coastal rowers. Montreal’s Rowing Club Ella Duval will return to compete in the Women’s Under 19 double event (CJW2x), with her flatwater rowing partner, Rachel Nicolaidis (Montreal Rowing Club). Autumn Prior will compete in the junior women’s solo event (CJW1x).  

Olli Brennan of Kingston Rowing Club will compete in the junior men’s solo event (CJM1x) and then join forces with Kaie Bain (Kingston Rowing Club) to compete in the Men’s Under 19 double (CJM2x).  

The athletes were selected to represent the nation after competing at the RCA National Beach Sprint Selection Trial, held in partnership with Row Nova Scotia, at Rissers Beach in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia this past July.  

Team Lead, Michelle Boss, is looking forward to the competition sharing, “I’m eager to see what the conditions throw at our veterans and watch them thrive in rough water. I’m also particularly excited to see how the young athletes will perform on the world level.” 
 
The World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals is a coastal rowing competition that involves a barefoot sprint on a beach to the competitors’ boats, 250m of slalom racing around buoys, and a final beach sprint from the water’s edge to the finish line. Last year, it was confirmed that Beach Sprint Rowing will be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Since then, entries for both events have been pouring in from across the globe, attracting a mix of Olympians and seasoned coastal rowers. 

The preliminary rounds of the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals start on Thursday September 12 and Friday September 13, with quarterfinals, semifinals and finals taking place on Saturday September 14 and Sunday September 15. 
 
Pidgen, Oldham, Brennan, and Prior will also race in the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships this weekend from September 6-8 to quite literally test the waters prior to next weekend’s competition. 
 
For more information on how to follow, including up-to-date schedule and results information, visit www.worldrowing.com.  

Team Canada Roster

Athletes

Aubrey Oldham – Leander Boat Club
Sarah Pidgen – Don Rowing Club
Autumn Prior – Orillia Rowing Club
Kaie Bain – Kingston Rowing Club
Olli Brennan – Kingston Rowing Club
Ella Duval – Montreal Rowing Club
Rachel Nicolaidis – Montreal Rowing Club

Boat Handlers, Coaches & Support

Michelle Boss
Brad Brennan
Caitlin Pauls   
Iain Wilson
Anneke Winegarden