Jul 10, 2026
Competition
2026 USRowing RowFest National Championships set to begin July 11
The 2026 RowFest National Championships are set to begin Saturday, July 11 at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The nine-day event, running through July 19, will bring together thousands of athletes from across the country for national championship racing, athlete development opportunities, and community events celebrating the sport of rowing.
Held at the championship rowing venue on Ford Lake near Ann Arbor, RowFest features racing for Open, U23, Youth, U17, and Masters athletes across multiple race distances while creating opportunities for rowers, coaches, families, and fans to connect both on and off the water.
International Rowing Challenge
In addition to national championship racing, RowFest is hosting the International Rowing Challenge (IRC), an international U19 competition that provides emerging athletes with valuable international racing experience. The IRC features junior crews from the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia competing across multiple boat classes, offering athletes the opportunity to race against top international competition while gaining experience in both sweep and sculling disciplines.
Racing began Thursday with time trials and continued Friday with A and B Finals in the men's and women's double sculls, men's quadruple sculls and women's four with coxswain. Australia Green claimed the men's double sculls title, while the U.S. Phoenix crew of Cameron Jaffe and Isaac Moos earned bronze. New Zealand captured gold in the women's double sculls, with three U.S. crews finishing fourth, fifth, and seventh.
Australia Green added another victory in the men's quadruple sculls, while the U.S. Bear Force One crew of Charlie Bonney, Henry Pecore, Brian Vann, and Quincy Sweet finished second to earn silver. In the women's four with coxswain, New Zealand won the event in 7:41.41. The U.S. crew of Brooks Bateman, Francesca Park, Lydia Ganser, Saylor Hurd, and Ingrid Thompson took bronze in 7:47.58, while two additional U.S. entries placed fifth and seventh.
The International Rowing Challenge concludes Saturday with A and B Finals in the men's and women's pairs, men's four with coxswain, women's quadruple sculls, and the mixed eights. Results for the event can be found here, and photos of the event can be found here.
Open, U23, and Youth Racing
Competition begins Saturday, July 11, with Open, U23, and Youth crews racing over the traditional 2,000-meter course. Racing continues Sunday, July 12, with championship finals.
Monday and Tuesday shift to 1,000-meter racing for athletes, providing competitors with another opportunity to compete for national titles over a shorter distance.
College Fair
The annual RowFest College Fair returns on Saturday and Sunday, giving high school athletes the opportunity to meet with collegiate coaches and learn more about rowing at the next level. The event is free for participating athletes.
Sunset Sprints
One of RowFest's signature events, the Sunset Sprints, returns with exciting 500-meter racing under the evening sky. Youth, U17, U23, and Open athletes will race Tuesday evening, while Masters athletes will take to the course on Thursday. The event features single sculls and quadruple sculls, with competitors encouraged to wear costumes as they vie for both sprint titles and best-dressed honors.
Masters Racing
Masters competition begins Thursday, July 16, and continues through Sunday, July 19. Athletes ranging from younger masters competitors to the oldest championship age groups will race for national titles, showcasing the lifelong opportunities available in the sport.
To share your rowing story with USRowing, please fill out this form.
For schedules, event information, venue details, and registration resources, visit the 2026 RowFest webpage here. Results and the schedule can be found here.
