Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is pleased to announce the full schedule for the 2026 RCA National Beach Sprint Tour, featuring five events across the country. Building on the continued growth of coastal rowing in Canada, the Tour provides expanded opportunities for racing, athlete development, and community engagement, while strengthening pathways to national and international competition.

Beach Sprint rowing continues to gain momentum as one of the sport’s most exciting disciplines. Combining a sprint on sand with high-speed racing on open water, the format challenges athletes with quick transitions, technical boat handling, and explosive power. With its upcoming debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, RCA remains focused on developing athletes, coaches, and officials through initiatives like the National Beach Sprint Tour.

The 2026 Tour begins on June 20 in Ontario with the RowOn Beach Sprints Cup #1, hosted by Row Ontario at Lakeside Beach. As one of the first opportunities of the season for athletes to compete, this event will bring together rowers from across the province and beyond to kick off the summer of racing.

The Tour continues on June 27–28 in Victoria, British Columbia, with the Western Canada Beach Sprint Championships, hosted by Open Aviron Coastal Rowing Association (OARCA) at Cadboro Bay Gyro Park. Set against the backdrop of Vancouver Island’s coastline, the event will showcase the energy and accessibility of Beach Sprint racing on the West Coast.

On August 15–16, the Tour heads to Québec for the Beach Sprint Cap St-Jacques, hosted by Aviron Lachine at Plages du parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques. Located in one of Montréal’s most popular outdoor recreation areas, the event will introduce new audiences to Coastal Rowing while welcoming experienced competitors.

Later in August, the Tour travels east for the Nova Scotia Invitational Beach Sprints Regatta, hosted by Row Nova Scotia from August 28–30 at Rissers Beach in Lunenburg County.

“This regatta will offer something for everyone, both competitors and spectators alike,” shares Rob Richards, Technical Director at Row Nova Scotia. “This tour event will have events for all age groups, including Under 19, masters, and open athletes. We are looking forward to welcoming rowers from the Canadian national rowing team, along with those from home and abroad. Spectators will be treated to fast-paced, exciting and often unpredictable racing where competitors must be fast runners, excellent rowers in the wind and wave, brilliant navigators, and have the strength and endurance to make it across the finish line. This is supercharged and super fun to watch rowing.”

The Tour also heads West on August 29–30 in Vancouver, British Columbia, with the Cascadia Beach Sprints Championships, hosted by Cascadia Regatta Association at Locarno Beach. Bringing together athletes from across the West Coast, this final event will serve as a key competitive opportunity to close out the season.

Bill Myra, President of the Cascadia Regatta Association, shared his excitement:

“The Fourth Annual Cascadia Beach Sprints Championships are unique because they put world‑class racing in a distinctly West Coast setting, framed by a stunning coastline and a passionate rowing community. Beach Sprint rowing is fast, explosive, and unpredictable, where athletes sprint across the sand, launch into the “surf” or a passing cargo‑ship wake and go head‑to‑head on the water, then race back to the beach in front of cheering spectators. It’s impossible not to get caught up in the drama. Cascadia is about showcasing the future of rowing in a way that’s accessible, exciting, and deeply connected to both the place and the people who make it special.”

Each stop on the Tour will also include development opportunities for athletes, coaches, and umpires, helping to build capacity and strengthen the Coastal Rowing community nationwide.

Stay tuned for more information on selection coming soon!
 
International Beach Sprint Competitions in 2026:

• World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals | October 18-21 | Qingdao, CHN