GOING AND GETTING COLD AGAIN AND DOING THE WHOLE THING OVER. ATTENTION. THESE ROWERS BRAVED THE HEAT TO SHOW OFF A RELATIVELY NEW VERSION OF THEIR SPORT CALLED BEACH ROWING. ROWERS SPRINT ACROSS THE SAND AND HOP INTO A BOAT, ROW OUT AND BACK, THEN DASH FOR THE FINISH LINE. I COMPETED IN FLORIDA, WHERE IT’S REALLY HOT, REALLY HUMID AS WELL, AND DO TODAY’S CONDITIONS COMPARED TO FLORIDA, THEY’RE PRETTY HUMID, I WOULD SAY NOT AS HOT, BUT PRETTY HUMID. I’M GLAD IT’S KIND OF OVERCAST TOO. IT’S OPEN ON THE STERN. U.S. NATIONAL TEAM COACH MARK ORIA SAYS BEACH ROWING IS MEANT TO BE A SUMMER SPORT, AND ROWERS ARE USED TO BEING HOT AND WET. YOU ALWAYS GET WET, WHICH IS THE GOOD PART BECAUSE YOU RUN TO THE TO THE OCEAN, TO YOU RUN TO THE WATER, THEN YOU SPLASH. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF SPLASHING. ALL THAT SPLASHING. RACING WILL TAKE PLACE RIGHT OVER THERE, 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. BOTH TOMORROW AND ON SUNDAY. AND THEN IN 2028, BEACH ROWING WILL MAKE ITS DEBUT AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT I
What are beach sprints? Athletes practice new coastal rowing event ahead of Olympic debut
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Updated: 10:31 AM CDT Jul 28, 2025
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Rowers in Boston competed in an inaugural event aimed at shedding light on beach sprints, which will make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.The Head of the Charles, which is known for hosting an annual fall regatta on the river between Boston and Cambridge, hosted the inaugural Boston Beach Sprints at Carson Beach.In a traditional sprint race, boats are lined up next to each other on the water; getting into the boat happens before the race.However, in this event, rowers start and finish the race on land. Competitors sprint across the beach to boats at the edge of the water, hop in, and row."You're always getting wet, which is the good part," said Marc Oria, U.S. Coastal Rowing Team coach. "Because you run to the ocean, to the water, then you splash. You're going to see a lot of splashing."Learn more in the video above.
BOSTON — Rowers in Boston competed in an inaugural event aimed at shedding light on beach sprints, which will make its debut at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
The Head of the Charles, which is known for hosting an annual fall regatta on the river between Boston and Cambridge, hosted the inaugural Boston Beach Sprints at Carson Beach.
In a traditional sprint race, boats are lined up next to each other on the water; getting into the boat happens before the race.
However, in this event, rowers start and finish the race on land. Competitors sprint across the beach to boats at the edge of the water, hop in, and row.
"You're always getting wet, which is the good part," said Marc Oria, U.S. Coastal Rowing Team coach. "Because you run to the ocean, to the water, then you splash. You're going to see a lot of splashing."
Learn more in the video above.
