NextGen Partnership
The NextGen program is a development pathway that provides athletes with training opportunities in their province while engaging with RCA Development programs. In 2023 the ARA entered into a partnership with RCA with each entity agreeing to commit resources towards the development of Alberta based athletes.
As noted, last month, the ARA is expanding the program in 2025 and has now formalized a partnership with the Calgary Rowing Club to offer training opportunities to select athletes (primarily under the age of 23) in Southern Alberta. Athletes in Calgary, should expect formal invites to train as part of this program no later than May 12, 2025. For those athletes in Edmonton, the ARA continues to work with the ERC in developing a program that meets the needs of its athletes and hopes to finalize an offering by May Long weekend
Canada Cup Update
Those athletes who have met the requisite standard should expect to see a formal invite to the Canada Cup selection camp by Monday May 12, 2025. As a reminder, athletes have until June 15, 2025 to hit the requisite erg standard which for clarity is as follows.
Heavyweight Men 6:45
Heavyweight Women 7:45
2025 ARA Rowing Camps.
The ARA will be hosting two camps in 2025. The first of which will be hosted by the Central Alberta Boat Club (CABC) on Friday May 30th and Saturday May 31st, 2025. The camp is largely geared towards athletes under the age of 21. There are only a few remaining spots left so we do ask that those who are interested please register ASAP by emailing President.carc@gmail.com
The second on-water camp will be the Lakeland Rowing Camp which will take place from July 18-20, 2025. The 2025 event will once again be open to athletes of all ages and skill levels and are expecting this year’s event to be the best yet. In speaking with Lacombe we are informed that a registration package will be distributed by May long weekend.
Congratulations
At the 2025 Calgary Booster Club Gala seven Alberta athletes were recognized for the athletic achievements over the past twelve months.
Kasia Gruchalla Wesierski was awarded the prestigious Henry Viney Award given to the female athlete of the year. For a full story on the achievement please see the attached https://calgaryboosterclub.com/2025/04/25/gruchalla-wesierski-credits-calgary-for-rowing-success/
Not to be outdone Karissa Riley, Remo Cramer and Gabby Yarema were recognized with the Art Smith Endowment Grant while Orla Bailey, Trynne Mamen and Heidi Wallin were recognized with the Bob Freeze grant.
Congratulations to all!
Rowing Stories
One of the most scandalous stories in Canadian Rowing history involves three time Olympian Harold Backer. In the fall of 2015, Harold went missing after boarding a boat in Victoria B.C heading to Seattle after embezzling millions of dollars from his clients. And one of his biggest victims? A former rowing coach of this writer…Tony Carr. To hear the whole story listen to the events that resulted in his disappearance.
Upcoming Events:
On-Water Season commences at clubs across the province