Canadian Kyle Wills Prepares for ‘World’s Toughest Row’

While the solo record is less than 31 days, individual rowers like Wills typically take 40-60 days to complete the World’s Toughest Row. Photos: Jack Madeley

Aug 28, 2025

By Mathew Channer

Canadian Kyle Wills (age 33) is set to take on the World’s Toughest Row late next year, solo rowing approximately 3,000 miles (!) across the Atlantic Ocean.

The yearly challenge launches from La Gomera, Spain in early December and finishes in Antigua, with teams and solo rowers battling unpredictable weather, huge seas, and other challenges as they push the limits of human endurance to complete the race.

Wills is the only solo Canadian currently listed to compete in the 2026/27 event. “I think it’s going to be such a cool experience to be alone in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with nothing on all sides,” he says.

Wills is accustomed to setting himself hard challenges, including ultra-marathon running, but has no boating experience. Even though there were lots of ways he could choose to challenge himself, he chose the World’s Toughest Row to shake up his own routine and set himself a completely unprecedented goal.  “I needed a new challenge, something that I had never done before, because I love throwing myself headfirst into something completely out of the box,” he said.

“When I realized you can cross an ocean in a rowboat, I became so intrigued. Even before I really researched into it, I emailed the organizers and paid a deposit, and it’s been full steam since then.”

Rowers often attempt the World’s Toughest Row in teams of two or four, but Wills decided to do it solo to push himself to find his own limits.  “If I’m going to cross an ocean in a rowboat, I wanted to put in every single oar stroke, because that’s how I was able to get myself out of such a dark place to where I am today, following my dreams and passions,” he said.

The ‘dark place’ Wills refers to is a severe period of depression that began in his early 20s and lasted around five years. Eventually, Wills began setting himself physical goals in running and other sports to improve his mood and wellbeing, which culminated in his pursuit of ultra-marathons.

“The only thing that helped bring me out of it was challenging myself to take that next step to be better and feel better,” he said. Today, challenging himself has become a way of life for Wills that has led to his latest and perhaps most ambitious goal of completing the World’s Toughest Row.

Currently Wills is focusing on training, getting to know his new rowboat, and trying to secure sponsorship. For many race hopefuls, getting enough sponsorship to reach the start line is the most critical part of the entire experience. “This is definitely the hardest part right now,” he said.

It is still early in the game for Wills, but he is already getting strong feedback from potential sponsors and has high hopes for securing the sponsorship he needs next year.

Wills is also using the race as an opportunity to raise money for the SickKids Foundation, a cause that is close to his heart. “I had a great childhood growing up, and as I get older, I realize that everything I have gone through pales in comparison to what some kids have to endure,” he said.

Wills hopes embarking on this challenge will inspire other people to believe more in themselves and what they are capable of.

Follow Kyle Wills online and donate to the SickKids Foundation at www.outoftheordinary.ca/