Coastal Rowing

Coastal Rowing

Beach sprint and coastal rowing in South Australia – the newest, fastest-growing discipline in the sport, now heading to the LA28 Olympic Games.

Introduction to Coastal Rowing

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Rowing have announced the addition of Beach Sprint Rowing to the Olympic program for the 2028 Olympic Games. This inclusion of the emerging discipline marks a significant milestone in the history of rowing.

Beach Sprint Rowing combines traditional rowing skills with running, navigation, and power on a field of play where anything can happen.
Beach Sprint Rowing is an exciting, fast-rowing format of Rowing where your ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape of competition will be tested alongside your physical abilities, and it’s all over in a matter of minutes.

Beach sprint racing starts with a beach run to the boat, a slalom row, a turn, a sprint back to the beach and a run up the beach to the finish line. Races take around two to four minutes and are about 600m in length (500m of rowing and 100m of sprinting).
Coastal rowing boats are used for beach sprint racing. They’re wider and more stable than classic rowing boats with the stern flat to let water flow out of the boat. The unpredictability of beach sprint racing, with athletes having to compete with waves and tides, makes it very different to classic rowing and requires a separate skill set to go with it.

World Rowing will propose Beach Sprint three medal events for LA28:

  • ✓Men’s solo (one athlete)
  • ✓Women’s solo (one athlete)
  • ✓Mixed double sculls (two athletes)

Coastal Rowing Resources

World Rowing Guide

What is Coastal Rowing?

Beach Sprint Competition Regulations

View regulations

Come and Try Coastal Rowing

The Coastal Boats are available for members to borrow. Terms and conditions apply if they are to be used in the ocean. Please book via the booking form and confirmation will be sent if they are available for the time you request.

If you are not affiliated with Rowing SA or a member of a club, but are an SLSSA member, you can still use the boats but you must complete a come and try membership form, for insurance purposes.

For all enquiries about the Rowing SA Coastal boats, please contact Christine Newberry at cnewberry@rowingsa.asn.au

Borrow the Coastal Boats

Request a Coastal Boat for your session. A confirmation will be sent once availability is checked.

Booking form

Coastal Boat Checklist

Download checklist (PDF)

Coastal Boat Calendar

How to Beach Sprint

Check the video below!