This weekend marked the first rowing World Cup of the 2016 season, and Canada did not come away empty handed.

Athletes from 47 countries gathered in Varese, Italy, for competition in cold weather, while rain and flat water caused delays in Sunday's programme.

The conditions are getting a bit tougher for these crews as the wind picks up slightly. Clean blade work will go a long way <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WRCVarese?src=hash">#WRCVarese</a> —@WorldRowing

Despite the conditions, Canada's rowers hauled in four medals, putting them at 27 World Cup points.

Zeeman wins Canada's only gold

In a surprising twist in women's single sculls, Pan Am gold medallist and Rio-bound rower Carling Zeeman from Cambridge, Ont., won gold. Zeeman finished sixth in this event in 2015 and was up against Olympic champion and race-favourite Mirka Knapkova from the Czech Republic.

However, when Knapkova failed to make the A-final, the race came down to the final sprint between Zeeman and Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus.

Zeeman pulled ahead and finished first with a time of seven minutes, 49.410 seconds. Karsten finished with silver while Ireland walked away with bronze.

"Every 500 metres I looked across and everyone was in a straight line," Zeeman said. "I know I have a very strong finish, so I knew I could make a move."

Yyeesssss Carling! "And Carling Zeeman has just gone absolutely mental" <a href="https://twitter.com/Zee_monsta">@Zee_monsta</a> unreal race and HUGE move!!! —@Dylan_wing

Look at that sprint in the W1x! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WRCVarese?src=hash">#WRCVarese</a> <a href="https://t.co/tf01FPIzvK">pic.twitter.com/tf01FPIzvK</a> —@WorldRowing

Sauks snaps oar, still wins silver

Katherine Sauks' pre-race ritual definitely didn't go to plan. She had to swap boats last minute due to equipment issues right before Saturday's lightweight single sculls final, causing a delay in the race.

But Sauks didn't let the distraction get the best of her and wound up on the podium. She won silver, finishing behind race-favourite Marieke Keijser of the Netherlands. Italy won bronze.

"I broke an oar in the warm-up and that is why the race was delayed, so I am especially proud of my result," Sauks said. "I would like to think I could have done better if this hadn't happened, but of course, you never know."

Snapped an oar, didn't flip(!) But still got to race to Silver today thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldRowing">@WorldRowing</a> volunteers & <a href="https://twitter.com/rowingcanada">@rowingcanada</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hustle?src=hash">#hustle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/oarshuffle?src=hash">#oarshuffle</a> —@KMHRocket

Katherine Sauks gives <a href="https://twitter.com/rowingcanada">@rowingcanada</a> its first world cup podium this season: <a href="https://t.co/CAHaKrNU58">https://t.co/CAHaKrNU58</a> | 📷 <a href="https://twitter.com/WorldRowing">@WorldRowing</a> <a href="https://t.co/tyH6UQyYKe">pic.twitter.com/tyH6UQyYKe</a> —@TeamCanada

Less than a second off 2nd gold

The Canadians were the highest ranking crew in the women's eight line up; they finished third at the world rowing championships, are the current World Cup holders, and also have their spot in the 2016 Summer Games.

Canada hit the 500m mark first and held the lead for most of the race, leaving the Netherlands and Russia to battle it out in the second and third-place positions. But both countries caught up in the final sprint and the Netherlands pushed past Canada to take gold with a time of 6:22:380; Canada won silver at 6:22:620.

"We would have loved to be the ones in the middle of the podium, but it's still early in the season so there is still lots of speed to gain," Canada's Lauren Wilkinson said.

After a gutsy row our women's 8- brings home the silver! Building momentum for gold in Lucerne? I think so! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rio2016?src=hash">#Rio2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/cTOymmEp5d">pic.twitter.com/cTOymmEp5d</a> —@KMHRocket

Canadian Silver medal Women's 8 hoisting Canadian W1x Gold medalist Carling Zeeman! Great races by both crews! <a href="https://t.co/5v63KpvwNc">pic.twitter.com/5v63KpvwNc</a> —@P_Cookson

Men's quad's strong start puts them on podium

Canada pulled in another silver in the men's quadruple sculls. Canada had the early lead but were overtaken by the eventual gold medallists of team Russia. Canada pulled past Poland to win the silver medal with a time of 6:04:920. Canada's men's quad team will be back in Italy soon for a training camp.

MEDALS: Silver for M4x and W8+ at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WRCVarese?src=hash">#WRCVarese</a> to round out the four medals won by Canada this weekend including a silver from LW1x. —@rowingcanada

"There are five people in our quad squad. It doesn't really feel like competition. We race really hard against each other, but we have each other's backs," quad team member Will Dean said of his crew.

"We are working toward the Olympic qualification in Lucerne."