Athlete Feature: Rowan Reef

Rowan Reef: Calgary’s Jump Rope Leader Bringing Competition and Community Together

Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Rowan Reef has spent the last 12 years perfecting his craft and reshaping the landscape of competitive jump rope in Canada. From his early days on the competition circuit to his role as a national coach and club founder, Rowan’s journey showcases not just impressive athleticism but a dedication to building a community around the sport he loves.

Competing and Coaching

Rowan has made significant athletic achievements as a competitor in the sport. In 2017, he made an international mark in Orlando, securing a third-place finish in Single Rope Freestyle in the junior division. Most recently, in 2023, he ranked 10th in Double Dutch Single Freestyle, 5th in Pairs Wheel Freestyle, and 22nd in Single Rope Freestyle at the World Jump Rope Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the Canadian national level, he claimed first place in Single Freestyle in his category last year. His contributions to the sport as both a coach and competitor were recognized with the prestigious 2023 National Coach of the Year Award, and he was also awarded the Taylor Eleniak Memorial Scholarship by Rope Skipping Alberta.

For the past four years, Rowan has been coaching a local competitive team in Calgary, channeling his expertise into mentoring the next generation of jump rope athletes. Additionally, in 2023, he launched the Mount Royal University Jump Rope Club, Alberta’s first college jump rope team. This club has become a gathering place for people to connect, learn, and build community around jump rope. For Rowan, this club is about more than competition—it’s about creating a space where people come together to learn, share, and build friendships. Many of the club’s members say their favorite part is meeting new people and learning tricks that shift their perspective on jump rope, showing just how influential Rowan’s club has become in expanding the sport.

Teaching Across Canada and Beyond

Committed to sharing his expertise and love for jump rope, Rowan has taught in every Canadian province with a competitive jump rope community, and has taken his skills across the border into the US, teaching in Idaho and Seattle, with Ohio next on the list. Rowan’s knack for connecting with athletes of all ages and his infectious enthusiasm have turned him into a sought-after instructor.

With Rowan Reef leading the way, jump rope in Canada is gaining visibility and respect. Whether in competition or through his coaching, he’s showing that jump rope is about both athleticism and building connections.