Erg Standards
Everyday our coaches get approached by you the athlete asking, “what is a good erg time?” The coach’s response is often directed back at the athlete wondering what your goals are within the sport of rowing. The ARA has updated its erg standards for 2014, and these standards can be found by go going to www.albertarowing.ca and clicking on the erg -monitoring icon under “Team Alberta”. In reviewing these standards you yourself can determine what an appropriate erg time actually is.
If your goals are a top six finish at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta or to final at the Canadian University Rowing Championships – You should be striving to achieve at minimum the Bronze Erg Standard for your respective weight / age category.
If your goal is for a top three finish at either the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta or medal at the 2014 Canadian University Rowing Championships you should be aiming to achieve the Silver Erg Standard for your respective weight / age category.
If your goal is to represent Canada at an international event in either 2014 or beyond you must be bettering the Gold Erg Standard for your respective weight / age category.
Climb high, Climb far – Your goal the sky your aim the stars.
Western Canada Summer Games
A little over 6 months ago, the flame was extinguished at the 2013 Canada Summer Games and now our focus turns to the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games (WCSG) in Fort McMurray Alberta. Are you an athlete born in 1997 or later? If so, you are eligible to participate at the 2015 Games. To prepare yourself for the 2015 Games we encourage all age eligible athletes to focus on their erg score and developing their technique in the coming year.
While we at the ARA have not established a selection criteria at this time, age eligible athletes interested in participating in this event should at minimum be looking at a 2K erg standard of 8:10 women and 7:10 men. Unlike the Canada Summer Games where there are 30 available spots per province, the WCSG only permits us to select 9 male and 9 female athletes. If you want one of these seats we at the ARA encourage you to start preparing today. The better your erg, the greater your chances are in being selected.
In Training!
In the January 2014 ARA report it was reported that the ARA Provincial Technical Director would race a 2K erg in the Senior Men’s Category if 115+ athletes registered for the event. With 149 athletes registered at time of printing, it is confirmed that Mr. Simonson will don a pair of shorts and pull a 2K.
While our Provincial Technical Director is now in training for the big event, the ARA hopes are that you are too. This year’s event is slated to take place on Saturday March 22, 2014 at the Blackfalds Field House just north of Red Deer. The cost to register is $25. To register simply inform your club coach and they will take care of the rest.
Those who need one last piece of motivation to get off the couch and start training for the 2014 season are reminded that attendance at the ARA Erg Championships is a requirement in qualifying for ARA Henley Funding. Furthermore, attendance at the 2014 Erg Championships is required to be eligible for the 2014 Boat Race in Edmonton.
ARA Coaching Conference
While it is impossible to thank everyone who assisted in making the 2014 ARA Coaching Conference a success, the ARA would like to acknowledge Carol Hermansen and Richard Galway for all their efforts behind the scenes. The ARA also wants to thank our speakers Chris Davidson, Sarah Laing, Tim Fleming, Nick Krause, Alex Marchuk, Christina Fuller, Mark Laidlaw and John Reid for their passionate presentations and the Calgary Rowing Club for use of the facilities. We look forward to seeing everyone in Edmonton in 2015
UVIC
While the ARA doesn’t typically comment on matters inside the Province of British-Columbia we would like to congratulate Albert Van Schothorst on being named Head Coach of the University of Victoria Men’s Rowing Program. Albert is an alum of Alberta Rowing as too is the individual he is replacing – Howie Campbell. Congratulations Albert.
Upcoming Events
- ARA Erg Championships – March 22, 2014