A team of experienced lightweight rowers will represent Canada at the annual Lucerne World Cup early next month (July 7 to 9).
"Next to the World Championships, the Lucerne regatta is the most hotly contested race on the international calendar," said Alan Roaf, Rowing Canada Aviron High Performance Director. "The participation of our lightweights will give us excellent feedback on our preparations so far this season."
Mara Jones of Aurora, Ont. and Tracy Cameron of Shubenacadie, N.S. will face top lightweight women's doubles to try to reach the podium in Switzerland. Both Jones and Cameron were members of last year's lightweight women's quad that won the gold at the World Championships. Cameron also recently won a World Cup race in Germany in a single.
The lightweight double is coached by two-time Olympic medallist Laryssa Biesenthal, who has been coaching since her retirement as an athlete after the 2000 Olympics.
Matt Jensen of Innerkip, Ont and Liam Parsons of Thunder Bay, Ont. will be the lightweight men's double representing Canada on the Rotsee course in Lucerne. The two have raced together before internationally, and Jensen was a member of last year's bronze-medal lightweight men's quad.
Canada will have two entries in lightweight men's single - Jeff Bujas of St. Catharines, Ont. and Doug Vandor of Dewittville, Que. also medalists at last year's Worlds in the lightweight quad.
In the lightweight men's four - Jon Sasi of Vancouver, Mike Lewis of Victoria, Terry McKall of Edmonton, Alta. and Iain Brambell of Victoria, B.C. - will race under the guidance of former Danish lightweight men's coach Bent Jensen. Lewis and McKall rowed for Canada at the World Under-23s last year, and Brambell is a two-time Olympian in this event. Their coach, Bent Jensen, led the Danes to numerous World and Olympic medals in this event.
Selected heavyweight men's and women's crews participated in a World Cup regatta in Munich in late May bringing home a medal in the men's and women's pair events.
Selection continues for Canadas Under-23, World University (FISU), Commonwealth and Junior teams. The World Championships (Eton, England) team will be announced after a time trial to be held August 2.