Officials from the only coastal rowing club in Australia believe the emerging sport could be showcased at Noosa at the 2032 Olympic Games.
Coastal Rowing and Touring Australia secretary Peter Watson said the discipline was relatively unknown around the nation, but it was set to grow rapidly.
He said it was a thrilling activity, which combined skill and endurance, with a bit of luck.
“It’s pretty exciting,” he said.
“The Olympic committee has given a very strong indication it is on the radar for inclusion as an Olympic sport … it looks like it’s going to get up for Los Angeles (2028), which would mean it will be one of the sports in 2032.”
Mr Watson hoped Noosa, which will hold the Australian championships in late August, would host coastal rowing during the Brisbane Games.
“Hopefully, we will see the Sunshine Coast as the centre of the sport going into those Olympics,” he said.
“We reckon if we play our cards right … we’d have to be the place to put it on.”
He said Los Angeles and the Sunshine Coast were prime locations for the sport’s inclusion at the Olympics “because of the beaches and what we can offer in launching areas.”
“If you look at our north facing beaches, we’ve got a few at Caloundra, Mooloolaba and certainly Noosa.
“We want to push the thought that Noosa can be the venue.”
It’s also hoped Sunshine Coasters can compete in coastal rowing at the Games.
Mr Watson is eager to promote the sport to the next generation, with school visits initially.
“We want to encourage young people who want to be potential Olympic athletes to get into the sport,” he said.
“And we’re trying to encourage the schools to help coach.”
“Hopefully, we can bring the kids through the ranks and build them up.”
Mr Watson will meet with Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien, who was the Prime Minister’s representative for the 2032 Olympic bid committee, on August 17 to try and promote the sport in the region.
What is coastal rowing?
Crews consist of singles, doubles and coxed fours, and race formats include sprint and endurance (4km).
Crews race from the beach into the ocean and back, with one crew-member sprinting from the boat to the finish line up the beach.
The boats are larger than flat-water rowing boats, but athletes use the same sculling action and they still have sliding seats.
Coastal Rowing Australia has three branches, at Brisbane, Townsville and its main base at Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club.
“Noosa is the heart and soul of it (coastal rowing in Australia) because we row three times a week here,” Mr Watson said.
“We row down Noosa River, over the bar, and off and out.
“That’s where we get most of our fun, because you get some really good swells coming over that bar and you can catch them in.”
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He said the upcoming Australian championships, scheduled for August 21-22, had attracted interest from around the country.
“Coastal Rowing Australia is the only club in Australia dedicated to coastal rowing but rowing clubs throughout Australia are now starting to get coastal boats and they’ll have it adjunct with flat-water rowing,” Mr Watson said.
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Mr Watson, 73, said the sport was for everyone and many flat-water rowers had turned their hand to coastal rowing.
“It’s a sport which is more open to all ages and for recreation and competition,” he said.
“That’s why it’s pretty exciting for us. We’ve been saying how much we enjoy it and now all of a sudden, other people are starting to say it is pretty special.”
“They’re now saying: ‘I want a bit more excitement.”
“They come on board and adapt to this idea of catching waves and having a lot more excitement in the way we get out there and enjoy the ocean.”
He also said the sport provided several opportunities to travel the world, COVID-permitting. He has toured Italy, Spain, New Zealand and England.
European countries, including Italy, Great Britain, Ireland and Spain are particularly strong at coastal rowing.
