Rowing in Vancouver

Me oh my, I’ve been an absent poster for a looooong time.  Shame on me.  But I bring with me a good idea!  And stories!  And photos!  Please forgive my lazy (busy) self, for I have been rowing.

Waaaay back in March, my office posted a memo to all staff that they were seeking participants for the  Corporate Rowing Challenge.  They wanted to put together three to four teams to row in a quad.  Participants would pay a small fee, get a team uniform, train twice a week for 8 weeks with a coach, and would race in the challenge against other companies’ teams.  I was in!  I am on a weight loss mission at the moment which involved a resolution in January to cut portion sizes, replace some of my worst food choices with healthier options, and beef up my commitment to fitness.  This was perfect - a twice-weekly workout that I couldn’t get out of because it would let down the whole team.  Plus, I used to row in high school and it’s sort of like riding a bike — once you learn you always know how, so I wasn’t completely clueless.

Rowing practice took place out at the brand new UBC Boathouse in Richmond.  This boathouse is a little out of the way for a corporate team whose office is based downtown, but it was worth the drive — it is an absolutely beautiful facility.  It’s brand new, has great equipment, and a “dry launch” dock (that means you can put your boat into the water next to the dock and climb in from the dock without getting wet, as opposed a “wet launch” where you wade into the water with your boat from the shore and get soaked up to your knees in the process).  There are few boats on the water that rowers have to avoid.  The facility is also great for hosting other events and weddings, so check it out for your next function.

I had mixed feelings during the course of my training.  It became clear early on that although the rowers I was teamed with were stronger than me (I was the only female on the team), I also had received better training in past when I was in high school and I tend to get frustrated when others are holding me back in sports.  It’s my own problem that I need to work on, but it was frustrating nonetheless.  But somehow, it all came together on race day… we got along well and were in top form in the boat.

We won both of our qualifying heats and won the silver medal in the final, finishing up in 2nd place out of 15 teams!

If rowing interests you, they are running a summer recreational rowing program beginning soon.  Contact the Rowing and Paddling Association of Canada for details.