Reactions from Day 1 at the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals

Racing was fast and furious in Pembrokeshire for Day 1 of the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals – and the rowers loved it. Here are their reactions after the first day of racing.

Coastal Men’s Solo (CM1x)

Joel Naukkarinen (FIN)

“That was fun. The conditions are tricky and quite heavy. I haven’t been that exhausted after the first half of the sprint before. I didn’t expect that.

“The strong sidewind makes it difficult with navigation, but I did quite well with it. There’s still room to do better, but I’m happy with that.”

Coastal Women’s Solo (CW1x)

Helen Glover (GBR)

“It was quite windy out there so I had to keep looking around, but it was good, good fun. I feel like we’ve been ready for a while.”

Emma Twigg (NZL)

“That was crazy, the whole day’s been crazy, but a lot of fun.

“It’s been really interesting, we’ve learned a lot. That was my first race in a single, probably the third time I’ve been in a coastal boat, so learning a lot and don’t really have any expectations. Just here to have fun.”

Coastal Mixed Quadruple Sculls (CMix4x+)

Robin Goeritz (GER)

“It was difficult. A little too quick for us. It was happening in an unexpected order, and our boat dolly was turned and we had to move it the other way, so a big disadvantage. There’s a lot to improve but I guess we can take it as a chance.

“It’s an unexpected sport. That can be a nice aspect of it and it can also be a little bit cumbersome.”

Ben Mason (NZL)

“We weren’t overly prepared for that, because we didn’t realise we were actually racing until a couple of minutes before, so it was a bit of a shambles. But we kind of got it together pretty quick and did a good race. Even under the pressure we were still able to execute everything, which was good to see.

“Every race we’re just learning so much, and new things, so every race will be a benefit to execute more things better and faster, and just learn each time.”

Eric Ehrenberger (SWE)

“Pretty hard, but it’s nice to be back in the competition. Our start was a little bit rushed and we got a little problem, but otherwise we did pretty well.

“I looked at the side and they (Italy) were still a few metres behind but you never know, they might be world-class sprinters. You just run as fast as you can.”

Dineka Maguire (IRL)

“That was good, it’s always good to get a win.

“I raced the women’s double last weekend (at the 2022 World Rowing Coastal Championships), we had a crash and we were a bit disappointed. But hope to improve on our time for this week.”

Niamh Doogan (IRL)

“No race is ever the same. You don’t know what’s going to happen, who’s going to fall out, what seat’s going to come off, what blade you’re going to grab, who’s going to run. It’s exciting.”

Under 19 Coastal Men’s Double Sculls (CJM2x)

Shane Rafferty (IRL)

“It was good. A bit to work on, but considering it was our first time doing this it was just fun. We were working on the steering and trying our hardest to push into it.

“Normally you’d just go in a straight line, but in this you do 90 degree turns, you do 180 degree turns, it’s all over the place so you need to be really focused a lot more and be more attentive. You can’t just be focused on pushing hard, you have to be thinking while you’re pushing.

“The run for us is fine, it just hurts your lungs more. For Aidan you have to run into the boat, and you’re already tired, and for me I’m already dead from rowing and then I’ve to run up the beach. It makes it more of a hybrid sport, more to be doing rather than just focusing on one aspect.”

Aidan Kearney (IRL)

“Very different, a very good fun environment compared to the river rowing, where it’s very serious and everything. Now there’s a great atmosphere and everything around.

“There’s a lot more variables, there’s not just one thing; there’s so many aspects that can determine a winner.”

Beer Florijn (NED)

“It was nice, not that much waves, but it was fun. I don’t prefer more waves, because in the Netherlands we often have flat water and we didn’t train with much waves – but I like the experience of the waves.

“It’s much different from normal rowing and when you catch a big wave and you surf back to the beach it’s very exciting.

“(My brother and sister, Finn and Karolien) don’t give me tips that often. They just tell me that I have to row hard. In our family we don’t think about it pretty much, we just race and then we’ll see what it brings.”

Under 19 Coastal Women’s Double Sculls (CJW2x)

Annalie Duncomb (USA)

“To win gold, that’s our goal – but to really just get a good experience out of it, a good race time. It would be nice to medal, but just as good as we can do, we’re going to be happy no matter what.”

Annelise Hahl (USA)

“I’m pretty new to this. It’s phenomenal. I spent a week with her (Annalie Duncomb) family training and we grew very close. We click.”

Anniek van Beusekom (NED)

“It was amazing. Honestly I was really scared because the Italian girl’s (Adriana Vurro) really fast on the land, and we got a really good turn at the end so we were going fast at the end.

“I just think this is the most amazing thing ever to do, it’s such a weird sport and I love it. I’m really happy, it was really cool.”

Under 19 Coastal Mixed Double Sculls (CJMix2x)

Adam Wallberg (SWE)

“It was hard to decide a course. I think we’re happy with the results.

“We thought the weather would be worse, but it’s actually fine.”

Marta Bruhn-Karlsson (SWE)

“It was hard, very tough. The wind is a bit different from the last race we did in the time trial.

“It’s really beautiful out there. It’s difficult with the different tides.”