Watch out double, Porter and Wetzel are back

As more national teams get selected for the first Rowing World Cup, competition heats up in the very competitive men’s double event. France may think they’ve staked a dominance on the event. Slovenia may believe they have rights via eight years of experience. But watch out rowers, Canada is adding their strength to the race.

Wetzel and Porter together

Announcing the Canadian national team for the first Rowing World Cup in Linz/Ottensheim, Austria, Rowing Canada has put together one of their most comprehensive squads including the men’s double of Derek Porter and Jake Wetzel. Olympic and World Champion Porter embarked on a post-2000 Olympics comeback last year with Athens silver medallist Wetzel. But an early season back injury for Wetzel, and subsequent operation, put the duo out of contention.

Back on the team Porter and Wetzel will be part of one of Canada’s biggest teams in recent years.

Adding to the list of well-known rowers, Buffy Williams returns to rowing after taking a break following a fourth place finish at the 2004 Olympics. Williams will be joined on the team by her husband, Barney. Since Athens the couple have had a baby studied at Great Britain’s Oxford University and Barney has added two Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race wins to his achievements.

Men's quad: Bergen, Faris, Jarvis and Van Knotsenburg

Uber-coxswain Lesley Thompson-Willie is back with the women’s eight with all intentions to aim for Olympics number seven at Beijing. Also in the mix are current World Champions in the women’s pair, Jane Rumball and Darcy Marquardt.

“We have a nice blend of returning veterans and young talent," said Rowing Canada’s VP for High Performance, Phil Monckton. "I am particularly pleased that we are fielding sculling (double, quads) crews in the heavyweight events."

The heavyweight women’s team will first go to the international regatta in Essen, Germany, the Huegel Regatta, before joining the rest of the team in Austria for the Rowing World Cup from 1-3 June.

Athletes and Coaches

Women's pair (W2-): Jane Rumball and Darcy Marquardt

Women's eight (W8+): Lesley Thompson-Willie, Buffy Williams, Heather Mandoli, Ashley Brzozowicz, Kaylan Vander Schilden, Sabrina Kolker, Romina Stefancic, Katie Reynolds, Sarah Bonikowsky

Women's quad (W4x): Anna-Marie De Zwager, Krista Guloien, Zoë Hoskins, Peggy Hyslop

Lightweight men's four (LM4-): Liam Parsons, Mike Lewis, Jon Beare, Iain Brambell

Lightweight men's pair (LM2-): Terry McKall, John Sasi

Lightweight men's double (LM2x): Doug Vandor, Matt Jensen

U23 medallist Jennerich and Cameron

Lightweight women's double (LW2x): Lindsay Jennerich, Tracy Cameron

The men's eight ready for Ottensheim

Men's eight (M8+): Kyle Hamilton, Andrew Byrnes, Peter Dembicki, Kevin Light, Rob Weitemeyer, Adam Kreek, Dominic Seiterle, Malcolm Howard, Steve Cheng

Men's quad (M4x): Gabe Bergen, Jamie Faris, Steve Van Knotsenburg, Chris Jarvis

Men's double (M2x): Derek Porter and Jake Wetzel

Men's pair (M2-): Barney Williams and Scott Frandsen

Coaches – Mike Spracklen (men’s coach), Bent Jensen (lightweight men’s coach), Laryssa Biesenthal (lightweight women’s coach), Carsten Hassing (senior women’s coach), Terry Paul (national development coach).