Rowing’s newest and most exciting discipline will debut at the LA28 Olympic Games. Because beach sprints is so new, it offers a unique opportunity for success. No one knows who will be on the podium in four years time.

Beach sprint races are less than 600 meters in total, including a beach start and finish (of up to 50m each way) and a winding route out and back around buoys in the water (250m out and then back). They are usually dual formats, with boats racing on identical courses side-by-side, and as a knockout tournament with heats taking place back-to-back.

The beach sprints competition at LA28 is expected to thrill even audiences that have no prior rowing knowledge. Races are quick, easy to understand and high pressure. Excitement will come from mistakes (such as missing or getting tangled up in a buoy), from watching crews surf the waves back to shore, and from the last gasp dives for the line. Even if you’re not dreaming of the Olympics, beach sprints are also a fun way to experience a different type of rowing. (And when you finish a hard workout, you’ll already be on the beach!)

Málaga’s beaches provide a perfect location to practice beach sprints technique (we are even installing a semi-permanent course), and there are good reasons why our local partner, Real Club Mediterráneo, is one of the leading international clubs in beach sprints. With good weather almost year-round, rowers can train in this discipline even during the colder months, although the sea is a little warmer in the summer.

Whether you already have beach sprints experience or are brand new to this discipline, our camps can be tailored to suit your specific goals. Our beach sprints camps include technique from coastal rowing, plus training on how to run most effectively on the sand, enter and exit the boat and navigate the buoyed course. Contact us to find out more.