At Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA), we recognize that our community is united by water, the foundation of our sport. Today, on World Oceans Day, we celebrate the vital role our oceans play in supporting and sustaining the world of rowing. Through every stroke we take, we embrace the wonder of the open ocean and reaffirm our commitments to continuing the growth of ocean-based rowing events in Canada and around the world. 

In celebration of World Oceans Day, RCA is proud to shine the spotlight on extreme athlete Kyle Wills and OARCA Coastal Rowing sharing inspiring ocean-related stories in our community. 

 

Countdown To Crossing the Ocean

Kyle Wills is a Canadian extreme sport athlete, originally from London, Ontario, taking on The World’s Toughest Row in December 2026. However, Kyle’s path to rowing has been anything but linear. Now living in Vancouver to follow his passion for outdoor adventure, Kyle, 32, reflects on his battle with depression in his early 20s and the role that sport played in transforming his life. “It led me to explore everything I wanted to without regret,” he shared.  

Kyle discovered a passion for extreme sports, taking on everything from 5km races to full marathons. Most recently, he completed the Swiss Alps 100-mile trail race, a gruelling 160-kilometre challenge featuring 10,000 metres of elevation gain and loss.  

Kyle is now preparing for what may be his greatest challenge yet: the World’s Toughest Row, a 4,800-kilometre solo, unsupported ocean crossing from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Over the next year and a half, Kyle will continue to campaign, fundraise, and train in Vancouver for this solo ocean crossing. He reflects on preparing to spend 40–70 days alone at sea, facing relentless Atlantic conditions and over 1.5 million oar strokes: “Rowing across an ocean is about confronting everything that’s ever held me back and proving that with purpose and persistence, we’re capable of so much more than we think.”   

Kyle will be only the third Canadian, and the first in nearly 20 years, to attempt this remarkable feat.   

In addition to experiencing the thrilling nature of open ocean rowing, Kyle is also using this opportunity to try and raise $250,000 for the SickKids Foundation. “I’m doing this to help children around the globe who face bigger battles than my own every single day,” he shared. “They are the real endurance athletes, and they inspire me to keep pushing through every wave, every storm, and every moment of doubt.” 

Follow Kyle’s Journey:  

• Website – https://www.outoftheordinary.ca  
• Instagram – @kylewillsrow  

Coastal Rowing and OARCA

As we mark World Oceans Day here in Canada, RCA is proud to highlight the growing sport of coastal rowing and the clubs helping to bring it to life.  

Coastal rowing is an exhilarating and fast-growing addition to the sport, taking athletes onto the open ocean where ever-changing conditions make for thrilling races and bring rowers closer to nature. Away from the calm lakes and rivers, coastal rowing provides an exciting adventure in open water.  

One of the leaders in growing this discipline is OARCA Coastal Rowing Club, based on the shores of Sidney, BC’s Salish Sea. On World Oceans Day, they’re celebrating in a meaningful way – by welcoming new rowers to experience coastal rowing. As the sport expands across Canada and internationally, clubs like OARCA, with support from RCA, are creating inclusive opportunities for people of all ages to try it for themselves.  

Brenda, OARCA Director, shares her excitement to get people out on the water for their RCA National Come Try Rowing event, as well as the opportunity to educate the community about the health of our beautiful oceans. “We hope that experiencing the beauty of the Salish Sea will inspire people to learn more about global threats to the world’s oceans, local threats to the Salish Sea, and what we can each do to protect them.” 

On World Oceans Day, coastal rowing offers a powerful reminder of how our sport continues to evolve – embracing the open water, respecting its force and beauty, and expanding what it means to be a rower in Canada. 

Learn more about Coastal Rowing HERE. 

 

Upcoming Events

This summer, Canada is hosting various key coastal rowing events that will deliver excitement and top-tier talent:

• Western Canadian Beach Spring Championships | June 21 | Victoria, British Columbia
• Row Ontario Beach Sprints Cup | June 21-22 | Kingston, Ontario
• 2025 National Beach Sprint Selection Trials | July 19-22 | Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia
• Cap Saint-Jacques Beach Sprint | August 16 | Montreal, Quebec
• Cascadia Coastal Championships – Beach Sprints | August 30 | Vancouver, British Columbia

 

More Information 

World Rowing – Coastal Rowing 
World Oceans Day 
What it’s like to be a Coastal Rower