The future of Coastal Rowing in Oceania was on display at Currumbin Creek on the Gold Coast as athletes, coaches and technical officials from across the Pacific came together for a week of development activities culminating in the 2026 Oceania/Australia Beach Sprint Championships. The activities formed part of a coordinated World Rowing Development Programme delivered in partnership with Rowing Australia, the Oceania Rowing Confederation (ORCON), PacificAus Sports, Olympic Solidarity, the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Government.
Running from 30 August to 6 September, the programme brought together participants from American Samoa, Samoa, French Polynesia, Vanuatu and host Australia. The initiative combined athlete development, coach education and technical official training, creating an integrated pathway designed to strengthen Beach Sprint throughout the Oceania region.
The week began with a World Rowing and ORCON Development Training Camp, where athletes trained in coastal single and double sculls under the guidance of World Rowing coach expert Sizwe Ndlovu, Kevin Scott from French Polynesia Rowing Federation, and Spencer Turin from Rowing Australia. The camp focused on technical development, race skills and safe participation in the rapidly growing discipline of Beach Sprint Rowing, which is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games then at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A key feature of this year’s programme was the collaboration with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), which delivered integrity education sessions for athletes, coaches and support personnel. The sessions focused on promoting safe, fair and values-based sport, covering topics such as athlete welfare, safeguarding, ethical decision-making and integrity responsibilities within high-performance environments. By integrating integrity education alongside technical and coaching development, the programme reinforced the importance of building not only capable athletes and coaches, but also strong and sustainable sporting cultures across the Pacific Rowing community.
Alongside the athlete programme, coaches from across the region participated in a Coastal Race Module, providing education on athlete development, coastal rowing safety, event delivery and beach sprint racing techniques. The course was led by Sarah Harris, and it included both classroom sessions and extensive practical work on the beach, helping coaches build the knowledge required to establish sustainable Coastal Rowing programmes within their respective federations.
The development activities also placed a strong emphasis on capacity building. A dedicated Beach Sprint Technical Delegates Training Programme was delivered by Nick Hunter to aspiring event officials and organisers, equipping them with the knowledge and practical experience required to support the growth of beach sprint competitions throughout Oceania. Participants gained hands-on experience in race course setup, beach operations, safety procedures and event management during the championships
The development week concluded with the 2026 Oceania/Australia Beach Sprint Championships, held from 3 to 6 September at Currumbin Creek on the Gold Coast. The championships provided an important international competition opportunity for both emerging and experienced athletes across U17, U19 and Open categories. Particular attention was given to solo and mixed double events, reflecting the pathway towards future Olympic participation in Beach Sprint Rowing. As the sport prepares for its Olympic debut and the region looks ahead to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, events such as these are helping build the athlete, coaching and technical official pathways needed to ensure that Oceania nations are well positioned to benefit from a home-region Olympic legacy.
Complementing the on-water activities, participants also took part in the 2026 Oceania Indoor Rowing Regatta, organised in collaboration with the Oceania Rowing Confederation. The regatta provided an opportunity for athletes from different Member Federations to strengthened the sense of regional community, encouraged friendly competition among participating nations, and demonstrated how Indoor Rowing can support athlete development and provide entry point for the sport in areas with limited access to Rowing infrastructure.
The development activities and championships also highlighted the growing collaboration between World Rowing, Oceania Rowing Confederation (ORCON), Rowing Australia, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Pacific sporting partners in creating meaningful opportunities for Rowing development in Oceania. As Beach Sprint Rowing continues its rapid global growth and prepares for its Olympic debut, initiatives such as the Gold Coast development programme demonstrate how regional partnerships can accelerate athlete development, strengthen national federations and create lasting opportunities for future generations of rowers throughout Oceania.
Acknowledgement
Special thanks to all those who helped bring these activities to life: Alice Bowen, Alice Evans, Billy Johnson, Brayden Williams, Duncan Free, Eddie Moore, Georgia Nemes, James Loveday, Keaton Guymer, Kevin Scott, Spencer Turin, Mitchell Collins, Nick Hunter, Sarah Cook, Sarah Harris, Steven Smith, and Sizwe Ndlovu.
Funding Partners: Olympic Solidarity, Australian Olympic Committee, PacificAus Sports
Photos credit: Bradley Redfern, Rowing Australia
