Victoria, British Columbia – April 20th, 2026 – Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is pleased to announce the Senior National Team selected to compete at the 2026 World Rowing Cup I in Seville, Spain. The event marks the first international test of the season, with Canadian crews set to race in the men’s coxless four, women’s quadruple sculls, and women’s double sculls. 

The World Rowing Cup I will take place from May 29 to 31 at the ‘La Cartuja’ High-Performance Center, a world-class facility located along the Guadalquivir River.  

In the women’s double sculls, Avalon Wasteneys and Alizée Brien will make their debut as a new combination. Brien was also part of the women’s eight that placed seventh at last year’s World Championships, while Wasteneys brings Olympic experience and leadership to the lineup.  

“One of the things that excites me most about this new crew with Alizée is how aligned we are in our technical and mental approach to training and racing,” shares Wasteneys. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how that translates when we get on the start line together. On a personal level, it’s very meaningful to see my goal of learning to scull and earning a spot in a World Cup crew come to life so quickly!” 

The pair will look to establish a strong foundation early in the season as they take on a competitive international field in Seville. 

The men’s coxless four of Ryan Clegg, Axel Ewashko, Steve Rosts, and Curtis Ames will look to build on their training progress through the winter and deliver stronger performances this season.  

“I’ve never been to Seville before, so the opportunity to race on the Guadalquivir River at a new venue is exciting,” says Clegg. “Last season we didn’t participate in the World Cup circuit, and this year it’s valuable to go through the new progression system multiple times before World Championships.” 

After challenging races in 2025, the crew has focused on high-volume training and technical refinement at the National Training Centre. The group is also projected to compete at World Rowing Cup II in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, later this spring as part of their continued development. 

The women’s quadruple sculls feature Katie Clark, Kristen Siermachesky, Marilou Duvernay-Tardif, and Shaye de Paiva. Clark impressed last season with strong fourth-place finishes at both the World Rowing Cups in Varese and Lucerne, while Siermachesky and de Paiva return following their seventh-place finish in the women’s eight at the 2025 World Rowing Championships. In addition, the women had another successful result last season with a sixth-place finish in the quadruple sculls. The crew brings together a blend of experience and emerging talent as they begin their 2026 campaign. 

Looking ahead, the men’s coxless four is projected to continue their international racing schedule at World Rowing Cup II in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, working to build momentum and refine their combination through the season.

 

CANADIAN TEAM ROSTER

Men’s Coxless Four (M4-):

Ryan Clegg – University of Western Ontario, Newmarket, ON

Axel Ewashko – University of British Columbia / Brentwood College, Fort McMurray, AB

Steve Rosts – Ridley Graduate Boat Club, Jordan, ON

Curtis Ames – Calgary Rowing Club, Calgary, AB

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x):

Katie Clark – University of British Columbia Rowing Club, Cranbrook, BC

Kristen Siermachesky – Brockville Rowing Club, New Liskeard, ON

Marilou Duvernay-Tardif – Knowlton Rowing Club, St. Jean-Baptiste, QC

Shaye de Paiva – Calgary Rowing Club, Calgary, AB

Women’s Double Sculls (W2x):

Avalon Wasteneys – University of Victoria Rowing Club, Campbell River, BC

Alizée Brien – Montreal Rowing Club, Val-David, QC

Alternates

Martine Nyhof – Mississauga, ON

Terek Been – Montreal Rowing Club, Montreal, QC

Support Staff

Lauren Fisher – Lead Coach Men

Tom Morris – Lead Coach Women  

 

HOW TO FOLLOW WORLD CUP RACING
 
Competition Dates:

• World Rowing Cup I – Seville, Spain: May 29–31, 2026 
• World Rowing Cup II – Plovdiv, Bulgaria: June 12-14, 2026  

• Seville

• Bulgaria 

• Results and Live Stream
• Streaming on CBC

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Colleen Coderre, Communications Lead
Rowing Canada Aviron
T: 613-530-6217
E: coderre@rowingcanada.org
 
Cassie Turkstra, Communications Coordinator
Rowing Canada Aviron
E: cturkstra@rowingcanada.org