VICTORIA - The University of Victoria women's rowing team begins the 2025-26 season at the Western Canadian University Rowing Championship, Oct. 4 in Burnaby, B.C., which will serve as a primer for the upcoming Canadian University Rowing Championship in a few weeks.
The Vikes enter the Year as three-time defending national champions after capturing their 14th Canadian University Rowing Championship banner in 2024. UVic reached the podium in all six events at the CURC, highlighted by the program's first lightweight 4+ gold medal since 2011. The title run extended head coach Jane Gumley's streak to four-straight CURC Coach of the Year honours, while standout
Sai Sai Faubert earned CURC Female Athlete of the Year after winning both the lightweight 1x and 4+.
Gumley, now in her fourth season at the helm, sees a deep roster ready to test themselves again on the national stage once again.
From the coach's desk:
"We've got a big group going to represent UVic at this regatta [Westerns]. We've emphasized taking every opportunity to perform, and that has made practice quite exciting. Our goal for this weekend is to stay focused in our crews and race our best races. We've spent quite a bit of the season working on holding form while fatigue sets in. The big test this weekend will be to see how long we can keep good technique under racing pressure," said Gumley.
Key returners
Sai Sai Faubert
The Oak Bay High School alumna enters her fourth season after a breakout year in 2024, capturing gold in the lightweight 1x and 4+ at CURC on her way to CURC Female Athlete of the Year honours. Faubert also helped the Vikes secure the overall team title. She remains one of UVic's most versatile and decorated lightweight athletes as she heads into the 2025-26 season.
Kate Watson
A Claremont Secondary School graduate, Watson enters her second season after an impressive rookie campaign. She won both the 2x and lightweight 4+ at Westerns before claiming national gold in the lightweight 4+ and silver in the 2x at CURCs. Watson also gained big-race experience as part of the Varsity 8+ crew at Brown Cup and was a finalist for UVic Female Rookie of the Year.
Pepper Howe
The Saskatoon, Sask., product enters her third Year after spending the summer representing Canada at the FISU World University Games in Germany, racing in the double sculls. With UVic, Howe earned gold in the 8+ and bronze in the 1x at Westerns, before collecting CURC silver medals in both the 1x and 8+. She will be a key contributor again this fall.
Sofie Hof
Now in her final season, coxswain Hof brings leadership and invaluable experience to the program. She guided the Varsity 8+ to victory at Westerns and a silver at CURCs. Hof's poise under pressure makes her an essential piece of UVic's top crews.
Newcomers to watch
The Vikes also feature a wave of young talent ready to make an impact.
- Violet Scholz enters her second season after developing as a novice in 2024. She will race in both the Varsity 8+ and 2- this fall.
- Isabelle Harold is set to compete in the JV 8+ and 2-, adding depth across multiple events.
- Elyse Jobling will also line up in the JV 8+ and 1x, showcasing versatility early in her Vikes career.
According to Gumley, all three have shown promise in training and could play key roles as the season progresses.
REGATTA INFORMATION
Western Canadian University Rowing Championship
Saturday, October 4
Burnaby Lake, Burnaby
Results
