Salmon Arm’s first Indoor Rowing Regatta gave participants the chance to test their rowing times against international competition without heading out onto the frozen waters of Shuswap Lake.
Each year, the World Rowing Organization sets up a time-frame for these indoor sprints, encouraging a sense of fun competition and commitment to winter training for rowers around the globe. The event gives rowers a chance to pit their skills against clubs internationally, in ‘virtual’ timed sprints using rowing machines to simulate a 1,000-metre race.
In 2018, more than 5,000 people submitted their own times to be ranked globally.
Read More: Indoor Regatta tests rowing skills in the depths of winter
“It was a small but enthusiastic turnout for what will hopefully be the inaugural event for a yearly tradition,” says Shuswap Rowing and Paddling Club president David Miege.
In all, 10 Shuswap competitors ranging in skill, ages 12 to 53, took part in the Indoor Regatta, and Miege feels some of their times may stand a chance in the rankings.
“Some of the results look really good, considering the relative inexperience of our group,” he says. “For example, CrossFit Salmon Arm member Jason Ribi had a great result with the second fastest time in Canada and is currently ranked 23rd out of an international field of 537 entries.”
Miege himself clocked the third fastest time in the 50-59 age group, while his daughter Heidi placed as the fastest time in Canada in the U18 age group, and top 25 per cent worldwide. Thomas Hardy had the fastest Canadian time in the 18-29 lightweight category, Maureen McEwan had the second fastest time in Canada for the 50-59 age group and several other participants managed top 50 per cent finishes in the country.
Read More: Shuswap Rowing and Paddling Club team take silver at White Rock Regatta
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