Happy New Year!
A Happy New Year to all of our coaches, officials and athletes. We at the ARA hope that we can build upon our successes that our clubs and university programs witnessed in 2018 and make 2019 a year that we won’t forget.
WCSG
The Western Canada Summer Games (WCSG) is a multi-sport inter-provincial competition held every 4 years that provides development opportunities for amateur athletes. The 2019 Games are to be held in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and will represent the first opportunity our athletes have to showcase their talents in the lead-up to the 2021 Canada Summer Games.
While the ARA is beginning to make plans, we hope that athletes born in 2001 or later are starting to make their own preparations. To assist with the planning process, athletes should be aware of the following.
* Selection for the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games will occur in late May / early June via an on-water selection camp and will be done in singles and pairs; designed to provide each athlete with a rank based on their on-water performance.
* Attendance at the 2015 Selection Camp will be by invite only and based on an athletes 2K erg score. To garner an invite to the camp athletes will be required to achieve a 2K erg score of 7:05 (Men) and 8:05 (Women).
* To be considered eligible for the selection camp qualifying ergs must be pulled between March 9, 2019 (ARA Erg Champs) and May 24, 2019.
* Athletes who better the erg standard on or before April 15, 2019 will be invited to an on-water training Camp in Invermere, British-Columbia at the end of April.
* Rowing is a week #2 event at the WCSG implying the regatta will take place from August 13-18, 2019. The event is immediately after the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Athletes who make the WCSG team will be highly encouraged to attend Henley.
* To assist athletes in hitting the aforementioned standard the ARA will be distributing a monthly erg challenge where athletes from across the province can compete against one another and compare their scores via an online google document. The first challenge will be distributed on or before January 15, 2019.
* The WCSG is a high-performance event. Athletes should be attending practice on a regular basis if they expect to represent Alberta in 2019.
* The ARA is open to answer any questions or concerns you may have as you prepare for 2019. The writer can be reached at albertarowing@gmail.com
RCA Coaches Conference
For the first time in 15+ years the 2019 Rowing Canada Coaches Conference will be held in Calgary, Alberta. Participants attending the event can hear from leading experts in the fields of rowing and sport, and represents a great opportunity to meet with your fellow peers from across the country. Those who are interested in attending are encouraged to visit www.rowingcanada.org for registration details.
Upcoming Events
ARA Board Telecon January 16th, 2019
RCA Coaches Conference January 24-27, 2019