SURFERS PARADISE ROWING CLUB
PARA ROWING
At Surfers Paradise Rowing Club, we believe rowing should be for everyone.
That’s why we’re committed to launching a dedicated Para Rowing program on the Gold Coast, creating access for athletes of all abilities.
SPRC are proud to be driving a new vision that supports para-athletes from their first strokes to the Paralympic stage.
The region is home to Australia’s most decorated Para-rower, four-time Paralympian Erik Horrie, whose journey highlights both the incredible potential of para-athletes and the urgent need for better local facilities.
Currently training in Brisbane due to the lack of accessible infrastructure on the Coast, Erik’s story has inspired SPRC to act. We’re proud to be driving a new vision that supports para-athletes from their first strokes to the Paralympic stage.
One of those rising stars is SPRC’s own Sara Tait, who represented Australia in triathlon at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and recently won gold at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships.
Together, Erik and Sara are leading a movement toward a more inclusive future for Rowing.
To make that vision a reality, SPRC is working toward establishing the Gold Coast as the leading centre for Para Rowing.
With the support of key stakeholders and partners, we’re committed to removing barriers and building a club culture where inclusion, opportunity, and ambition go hand
in hand.
Our 2026 plan includes both recreational and high-performance pathways, so every para-athlete, whether just starting or chasing Olympic dreams, has a place on the water.
Our Key Priorities:
• Build a purpose-built pontoon for safe, accessible water entry
• Upgrade club facilities to improve overall accessibility
• Acquire specialised adaptive rowing equipment
• Appoint a dedicated head coach to lead our high-performance program toward Brisbane 2032
We’re excited for what’s ahead and we can’t wait to welcome more para-athletes to SPRC.
