Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) has selected five athletes to represent Canada at the 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals from September 29 – October 1, in the coastal town of Barletta, Italy. For RCA’s Team Manager Michelle Boss, the Beach Sprint Finals are an important milestone in the development of the nation’s coastal rowing program.

“We have selected a strong team of rowers to represent Canada at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals,” Boss said. “We know the competition will be fierce in Italy, and we know our team will be giving it everything at the Finals. I congratulate them on their achievements and know the whole Canadian rowing community will be cheering them on.”

Canadian coastal rowing pioneers Sarah Pidgen (Don Rowing Club) and Aubrey Oldham (Leander Boat Club / Don Rowing Club) have qualified to represent the nation again at their fourth consecutive World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals.

Pidgen and Oldham will each compete in the Men’s and Women’s solo events, before joining back together to compete in the Mixed double event. The duo earned the opportunity to represent Canada once again after winning their respective races at the National Beach Sprint Selection Regatta, hosted by Aviron Lachine, in conjunction with Aviron Quebec, last month.

RCA will once again send an Under 19 contingent to the Beach Sprint Finals, fielding a team of three rowers to take on the world’s best emerging coastal rowers. Montreal’s Rowing Club Ella-Rose Duval will compete in the Women’s Under 19 solo event, with Dennis Ovdiyenko (Queen’s University / Don Rowing Club) to compete in the Men’s Under 19 solo event.

Ovdiyenko returns to the national team after competing for Canada at the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Saundersfoot, Wales. He will join forces with John Liu (Hanlan Boat Club) to compete in the Men’s Under 19 double. Liu will also team up with Duval to compete in the Mixed Under 19 double.

The up-and-comers were selected to represent the nation after competing at the RowOn Beach Sprint Championships, held by the Hanlan Boat Club, in conjunction with RowOntario, last month. This event served as the selection event for the Under 19 athletes to represent Canada at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals.

For Duval the opportunity to compete in Italy for the nation is a great honour, and she wants to do everything she can to help Canada be successful at the regatta.

“Representing Canada at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals is an incredible opportunity and privilege. I am honored to be a part of the Canadian team,” Duval said. “When I heard that coastal rowing was being considered as a trial Olympic sport, I knew I wanted to try it! Once I got in the coastal boat, I knew I was in for an exhilarating experience. I appreciate the dynamic nature of coastal rowing compared to flat water rowing. The waves, running, and maneuvering the boat are an adrenaline rush! My goals for the Beach Sprint Finals are to hone my skills and learn from my teammates and the other competitors. But as a fierce competitor, I also want to perform at my best and help Canada become a dominant force in the sport.”

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.

The inaugural World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Shenzhen, China in 2019 were followed successfully in 2021 in Oeiras, Portugal following the postponement from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The third edition of the WRBSF took place alongside the World Rowing Coastal Championships in 2022 in the coastal village of Saundersfoot. The 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals will be the fourth edition of the Beach Sprint Finals.

Preliminary rounds start on Friday, September 29, with quarterfinals, semifinals and finals taking place on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1.

Coastal rowing continues to gain momentum and popularity on the international sporting stage. World Rowing has formally proposed coastal rowing to the International Olympic Committee for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which could lead to significant changes in the global rowing landscape. A decision on this proposal is expected this fall, heightening anticipation within the rowing community.

For more information on how to follow, including up-to-date schedule and results information, visit www.worldrowing.com.

Join the conversation @rowingcanada: #UnitedByWater #WRBeachSprint #WRBSF #BringOnTheWaves

 

2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – Canadian Team:

Senior Team

Women’s Solo (CW1x)

Sarah Pidgen (Don Rowing Club)

Men’s Solo (CM1x)

Aubrey Oldham (Leander Boat Club / Don Rowing Club)

Mixed Coastal Double (CMix2x)

Sarah Pidgen (Don Rowing Club)
Aubrey Oldham (Leander Boat Club / Don Rowing Club)

Under 19 Team

U19 Women’s Solo (CJW1x)

Ella-Rose Duval (Club d’aviron de Montréal)

U19 Men’s Solo (CJM1x)

Dennis Ovdiyenko (Queen’s University / Don Rowing Club)

U19 Men’s Double (CJM2x)

Dennis Ovdiyenko (Queen’s University / Don Rowing Club)
John Liu (Hanlan Boat Club)

U19 Mixed Double (CJMix2x)

Ella-Rose Duval (Club d’aviron de Montréal)
John Liu (Hanlan Boat Club)

Team Support

Michelle Boss (OARCA / Rowing BC) – Coach / Team Manager
Iain Wilson – Coach
Margy Braga (Don Rowing Club) – Team Support