Excitement is building for the upcoming annual Indoor Rowing Championships, set to be held at the Abbey Centre in Blackfalds on March 1.
The event, hosted by the Central Alberta Rowing Club, runs from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
"Over 100 competitors from all over Alberta and of all ages will participate in the races," said Andy Nokes, the club’s president.
He added that last year, there was a difference of 70 years between the youngest and oldest participants. "There are male and female categories, and a fun relay event to cap off the day."
The races are open to both rowing club members and the general public, he added.
"It's the 20th year that we have hosted it. I think we started off in Red Deer with about six rowing machines, and now we have 15 going at the same time. We also have a good turnout from the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta – it's a pretty exciting event. And our spectators get pretty excited to cheer on their athletes as well," he said.
"It's also a winter event in the rowing world, so it's something to strive for. But at the same time, it's also the entry into the summer competitive season in the sense the times that the athletes achieve are used in the selection of provincial crews."
Looking forward, Nokes added his team recently had a conference call with the Alberta Sprint Racing Canoe/Kayak Association with a view to introducing both sports at the club's Lacombe Lake facility.
"We're pretty excited at kicking this off in June with some combined water sport 'come and try' events," he said, adding it's also an excellent means of recruiting members for the club, and just building overall awareness.
There would also be camps in July, which would offer younger folks the chance to try it all out, too, he said.
Another plan in the works is to host a 'beach sprint' rowing trial - with what are called 'coastal' boats - at Sylvan Lake in August.
Beach sprint rowing competitions involve participants starting out on land, with an athlete running down the sand and into the water before entering the boat. They then row a short distance as fast as they can, and then get out of the boat for a sprint back to the finish line.
Meanwhile, the Central Alberta Rowing Club's history extends back to 2003.
Initially, members rowed on Sylvan Lake’s Half Moon Bay, said Nokes, who joined in 2004. They later settled on Lacombe Lake, which has proven to be the ideal location. They also eventually landed a permanent spot, where a large boathouse was constructed in 2017.
"The great thing about Lacombe Lake is that it's an ideal stretch of water. And we have a good facility there too, with our enclosure to store equipment safety."
In the off-season, the club runs training sessions on rowing machines at Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer.
"There is certainly room for more people to join in the winter training. We have the 15 race rowing machines located there at the moment, and we meet Monday and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m."
Those interested in taking part can email Nokes at president.carc@gmail.com.
"They can try it out, and then decide if they'd like to register for remaining training sessions which will continue right up until the water thaws on the lake."
For Nokes, his passion for rowing stretches back to his high school days in England.
In his career as an engineer, he worked in several places and rowed wherever he was based — Belgium, France, and also for a stint in Houston, Texas.
"It's really an international community."
For more information, find the club on Facebook or email president.carc@gmail.com.
