GB Beach Sprint and Coastal Team

Find out how to be selected for the GB Beach Sprint and Coastal Team to represent Great Britain in coastal sculling

Trial for the GB Beach Sprint and Coastal Team

Beach sprint is an exciting, fast-paced and spectator-friendly rowing format, with the added jeopardy provided by an unpredictable sea’field of play’. Beach sprint combines running, racing and navigation, and your ability to adapt will be tested alongside your physical abilities. And it’s all over in a matter of minutes!

The format offers a unique opportunity to compete internationally. With three Beach Sprint events now being added to the programme for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (Coastal Mixed Double Sculls, Coastal Men’s Solos and Coastal Women’s Solos), there has never been a better chance to get in, learn fast and progress onto representing your country at the highest level.

There are also opportunities for GB representation within the endurance format, which has it’s own European and World Coastal Championships. These Championships include GB-selected crews as well as being open to club entries.

The rise of GB Beach Sprint Team

In 2022 the GB Beach Sprint Team won five medals at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Wales, two medals at the European Championships in Spain and the Home Nations collectively brought seven medals back from the Commonwealth Regatta. All of these teams were made up of rowers from a mix of river and coastal backgrounds, the majority of whom had only tried the format for the first time that season.

In 2023 our Under 19 Mixed Double won GB’s first World Beach Sprint title and five other boats medaled at the World Beach Sprint Finals, and enjoyed more success at the European Beach Sprint Championships and inaugural Coupe de la Jeunesse Beach Sprints.

Stepping up again in 2024, Great Britain had its best results yet at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, winning three golds and a silver medal across the senior, para and junior squads and finishing second on the medal table.

Interested in international beach sprint and coastal selection?

We’re looking for rowers who want to experience a brand-new side of the sport to trial for the team. There will be opportunities to row for Wales, Scotland, England and GB as a whole – open to both senior rowers and U19s.

If you’re a rower, cox, coach or boat handler and are interested in finding out more about the GB Beach Sprint Team, please register your interest, and we’ll send you the 2025 Selection Policy and Trials Process for the GB Beach Sprint and Coastal Teams (including the ranking policy for club entries to European Coastal Championships). We’re excited to see what you can do!

For those new to Coastal Sculling, the GB Coastal Sculling Academies provide a network of locations across England, Scotland and Wales where rowers can try the format. Those who show potential for future international representation for GB and/or Commonwealth Home Nations teams can be supported to develop the skills they need via our GB Performance Development Academies.