2025 Vikes men’s rowing: Power on the podium. Strength in the shell. Fueled by you.
🚣Thank you for powering every stroke of our journey.
From the dock to the national stage, your support has been the wind at our backs. Whether you contributed to equipment, scholarships, or shared your time and wisdom, you helped us push harder, grow stronger, and achieve more. The Vikes men’s rowing team is honoured to carry your support into every training session, race, and milestone—and we’re excited to show you what you made possible this year.
🥇 Vikes men’s rowing dominate at nationals!
This season, the Vikes men’s rowing team made waves—literally—at the Canadian University Rowing Championships, with five of six boats landing on the podium. With just one athlete graduating, the outlook for next season is already full throttle. But our impact didn’t stop at the shoreline.
- 10 Vikes rowers represented Canada at the FISU World University Rowing Championship in the Netherlands
- Athletes competed in U19 & U23 World Championships in St. Catharines
- Multiple medals earned at the 2024 Canadian Henley Regatta, racing with seven clubs
This is what Vikes excellence looks like—powered by your support.
📈 Program growth: Big boats, bigger dreams
We’ve expanded.
With five eights in the boathouse, we now run a full competitive program with 45 athletes, plus two novice eights on the water every day. The future is strong, and it's growing.
Giancarlo DiPompeo, a standout lightweight rower, led the charge:
- Named U23 Athlete of the Year by Rowing Canada, Rowing BC, and Rowing Ontario
- Honoured with the Tony Zasada Award
- Finalist for UVic Male Athlete of the Year
💪 Why your support matters
Thanks to you and the Vikes Championship Breakfast, we’ve recruited top-tier talent and raised $110,000 for essential equipment, including:
- Al Morrow II (heavy men’s eight)
- Chris Gulka (light men’s double)
You're not just funding gear—you’re shaping futures.
🗣 Voices from the crew
"Being a captain can be overwhelming, but knowing donors are behind us gives us confidence. You're helping build the next generation of Canadian rowing."
- Giancarlo DiPompeo, fourth year
"As fundraising chair, I’ve seen firsthand how much this community cares. Your stories, advice, and support mean just as much as your gifts."
- Max Schiller, first year
🎉 You're invited
Mark your calendars!
- Come watch a practice on our new 25-foot catamaran—equipped with bench seats so you can ride along and meet the crew
- Celebrate 60 years of Vikes rowing with us this November—we’d love to see you there
For more information, and to find out how you could continue to make an impact, please email Aalbert Van Schothorst, head coach at vikesmrow@uvic.ca.
🔎 Headlines you helped create
Learn more about how community support has impacted Vikes Varsity Programs!
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