CSG Update
On the basis of their erg scores, twenty-three prospective Canada Summer Games (CSG) athletes were invited to a winter camp this past month in Tempe, Arizona. While it was difficult to leave the snow behind, amongst the backdrop of the Arizona State University Campus and the famed Tempe Butte “A”Mountain, athletes were welcomed to Tempe Town Lake amongst crystal blue skies and near perfect water conditions. The course, an engineering marvel designed to protect the town from flooding, allowed athletes in their downtime to run along its over 6km of paved pathways and coaches to make the 5 minute walk for a hamburger.
The ARA wants to thank the athletes in attendance for their commitment to develop each and every workout. There is much to be excited about, but there is little doubt that there is considerable work left to be done. As Coach Mark expressed to everyone in attendance at the camp “Take the next few months to get better; do not just to flog up-and-down the lake or hammer away at the erg. Row hard AND row well, always with a mind for improvement.”
The focus for every CSG Aged Athlete should now be on preparing one’s self for the upcoming selection camp on June 2-4 in Calgary, Alberta. As has been communicated in the past, attendance at the 2017 Winter Camp should in no way imply that an athlete has been selected to the 2017 CSG Team. Final selection to the 2013 CSG Team will be on the basis of erg time and on-water speed. Attendance at the June 2-4 selection camp will be by invite only and will be granted to those athletes who have achieved the aforementioned erg standards. Final selection to the team will be based on water performance in a 1x or 2-.
Heavyweight Men 6:30
Lightweight Men 6:50
Heavyweight Women 7:30
Lightweight Women 7:50
While the standards are aggressive the ARA notes that 23 athletes to date have hit the aforementioned times with another 12 athletes within 15 seconds of these times. The ARA commends all athletes who have achieved / progressing towards these times and are encouraged with all of the great scores that are being recorded all across the province.
ARA Erg Championships
In February of 2017 the ARA Provincial Technical Director challenged rowers from across the province to register for the ARA Erg Championships indicating that he was hopeful that we could get 100 registrants. With the event now only a few days away we are please to inform everyone that a record 175 athletes have registered to date exemplifying the growth our sport is enjoying in our province. Truly remarkable!
This year’s event is slated to take place on Saturday March 11 2017 at the Abbey Field House in Blackfalds, Alberta just north of Red Deer. If you haven’t already registered, but wish to participate you can register at the door for $25.
Those who need one last piece of motivation to register remember that that attendance at the ARA Erg Championships is a requirement in qualifying for ARA Henley Funding. In addition results from the 2017 ARA Erg Championships may be utilized to qualify for the 2017 CSG Selection Camp and as well the 2017 Spring Camp in Invermere, British-Columbia.
Lightweight Rowing
I sure all of our lightweight men reacted with some level of disappointment upon hearing that FISA has dropped the lightweight men’s four from the Olympic Games and are now wondering how this might impact matters domestically. Short answer is no one knows, but for now lightweight men’s sweep rowing continues to be a vibrant part of the national landscape. The lightweight men’s four will continue to be a part of the 2017 CSG racing programme, and lightweight men’s sweep rowing will obviously be a part of the 2017 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. However, it is possible that lightweight men’s sweep rowing will be dropped from the 2017 NRC regatta. Stay tuned for further details.
While the news of the lightweight four is a loss for the men, there is little doubt that this announcement presents a great opportunity for all heavyweight women in our country. In 2020 the women’s four will be raced at the Olympic Games for the first time.
Upcoming Events
* ARA Erg Championships – Saturday March 11, 2017 – Blackfalds Alberta