Eight Canadian NextGen boats are set to take to the water in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida this Wednesday with the opening of the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships.

The competition will feature approximately 700 of the world’s best rowers under the age of 23. Hailing from 53 different countries, they will be racing at Nathan Benderson Park, the site of the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

Last season Canada finished the 2018 World Rowing U23 Championships with gold medals in the Women’s Eight and the Men’s Single.

Among those returning to the team this year are 2018 Women’s Eight gold medallists Isabel Ruby-Hill (Toronto, ON) and Ivy Elling Quaintance (Victoria, BC), and 2018 fifth place finishers in the Men’s Eight Luke Gadsdon (Hamilton, ON), Travis Gronsdahl (Victoria, BC), Nicholas Tavares (Fonthill, ON), Brett Vilk (Grimsby, ON) and coxswain Skylar Presch (Seattle, WA).

Newcomers to the Canadian U23 team include 2017 World Junior bronze medallists Kieanna Stephens (Surrey, BC) and Grace VandenBroek (Douro Dummer, ON) as well as two-time World Junior bronze medallist for the United States Kailani Marchak (Long Beach, California).

Over $35,000 has been raised so far for the 2019 #RCANextGen fundraising campaign, which aims to ensure that athletes do not face financial barriers to represent Canada on the world stage. To make a contribution and help us reach our goal of $50,000, please visit fundrazr.com/RCANEXTGEN2019

How to Follow Racing
Live tracking every day at www.worldrowing.com
All races will be livestreamed on World Rowing’s YouTube channel