2010 CrashB's, 1st Heat Senior Womens

For the many years in the paddling off season starting around December, I cautiously  slink over to my Concept 2 Indoor Rowing Machine called the Erg.  Cautiously,  because like any sport, erging is sport specific. You maybe in good paddling shape, but the Erg in less than 5 minutes reminds you that you have not paid homage to it in since last off season. How do you know this: your lower back aches, your breathing is out of sync with your stroke rate, and you find it incredibly hard! So hard that most athletes avoid it. It is simply too hard of a workout machine for most non committed athletes. Most will slide up the lever (resistance) to 10 and take a few pulls for about a minute and quickly realize this is too hard. Those with more information will put the resistance to  5 and give that a go. Soon they realize that this is not only hard but can be pretty, pretty, boring! But those who give it a fair shake, quickly realize, like I did years ago, that there is simply not a better workout machine on the planet then the Erg. Full body workout, heart racing cardio, lactic acid overload in abundance, technique driven, and yes HARD! But the payoffs are enormous!

I bought my first erg for $100.00 from a gym that was going out of business.  Realizing the economy of  this workout, I bought a new one about 5 years ago.  I stumbled upon the World Indoor Rowing Championship web site many years ago. Who would have thought there would be such a thing.   Not being a exposed to rowing at all, I thought this was pretty unique.

So for the past 9 years I have made the journey up to Boston, originally held at the Reggie Lewis Indoor Arena, but now held in the Boston University, Agennis Arena on Com Ave.  Along the way, I encourage most of my paddling buddies to join me for this culmination of our off season training finale.   I  even talked  my wife Betsy to did it one year! So slowly, Mark came onboard, Sean, Chris(who while erging a long time) decided to give it a go, then Tim, Roger, and Joe.

So on February 20, we  all will  make the trip to the ” BIG gym” for a truly heart pounding, lactic acid overload: the Crash’ B’s(World Indoor Rowing Championships).  I will be in the land of giants! These rowers are often huge, lean, with enormous shoulders and thighs. The big guys have a decided advantage since their catch is so much longer than the short guys like me.  Nevertheless, the erg does not lie! Your time is your time! Everyone does  a 2K, on the same  computerized model machines, so no one has the advantage by being in a “faster” ski.

One of the rowers we will run into this day,  is Dan Gorriaran.  Dan will be coaching a group of “real” rowers. Most of us who have done the Blackburn Challenge know of Dan. He has been the overall Blackburn Winner for 5 or 6 years. Dan rows a singles rowing shell. Dan also won the first North American Open Water Championship in 2006. Robert Meenk and Steve Tucker (3-time Olympian) chased Dan for 8 miles with never more than 2 lengths between them. Dan won in a flat out sprint by .07 on the last stroke. While most rowing is done on flatwater, Dan excels in rough ocean conditions where he more often than not gain an advantage.  Sounds familiar, some like it rough.

Dan’s company Hook-Fast Specialities also designed and produces the medals that are given out to the award winners of the Crash B’s.  Dan’s ties to the surfski community go back a few years ago for me when Tim invited me to join him on a joint paddle/row from the Narragansett Rowing Club in Providence to Bill Prichett’s house on the waters of Jamestown.  Bill is also a JRC board member.  This paddle  included many rowers of all types and ages. Dan’s enthusiasm led him to yet another venture.

Championship Medals w/Hammer Award

Just two years ago he wanted to host a race for the rowers in the local waters. After some research he and his board members decided that a race around Jamestown would be the best place to hold such a race. Tim included his input since this was the “old Jamestown Paddle the Bay Race”. Dan looking to increase participation ask Tim and I if we wanted to join the race committee. We enthusiastically said yes! So the Jamestown Counter Revolution(JCR) Race was founded by Dan and other members of the local rowing community. This race is now in its 3rd year. Last year’s  attendance was around 75 watermen made up of mostly rowers but about 25 paddlers, mostly surfskiers.

The synergy between the rowers and the kayak/surfski groups has increased due to the openess of both groups. Wayne Lysobey(Race Director of the L2L) has been very instrumental with his efforts including being a major contributor to this site with his humorous articles on his rowing/racing experience. So rather you are a rower or a paddler we all have the water, the competitive spririt, and openess to others that allows our sports to grow.

So in just a few short weeks, after training on the erg, we will be pulling hard trying to keep it together for the last 500 meters of the Crash B’s.   We know after this event, the Snow Row will kick off the “paddling season” for most of us, followed up by the Narrow River Race and the ROTC.  While erging is worth every minute that  you are on one, the real fun is pulling on an oar or a paddle in the waters here in the Northeast.

Dan taking earlier lead