Surf Ski Record Broken at Snow Row 2016

This year’s Snow Row was scheduled early this year and fell on the same weekend as the World Indoor Rowing Championships(Crash B’s). So Saturday Greg Lesher, Mary Beth, and myself towed the line for both. As you can see from my video, towing the line for the Snow Row is always full of drama. Our class, the surf skis, from top to bottom of the class is the fastest class. Our heat is combined with sliding seat doubles and a few others. So with only a minute between our class, we had a few rowers lined up directly horizontal across the start line. Fortunately these skilled rowers with some encouragement(us shouting) got their boats position to avoid the oncoming paddlers. Whew!

SnowRow 2016 from Wesley Echols on Vimeo.

The weather was sunny and warm with no wind and no ice flows like last year so everyone was in a good mood. I was hoping for wind and cross chop since I do better in conditions vice flat water. Nevertheless, other paddlers enjoy the flat water. Greg Lesher, while putting massive amounts of training in the Concept 2 Erg, actually has not been in a surfski since November. That made no difference. Greg broke the Surfski Record previously held by Sean Brennan in 2012. Greg went under 29 minutes with a time of 28:48. Greg takes an early lead in the SurfskiRacing.com Race Series as well.

Francisco is alway camera ready!!!!

Mary Beth finished first for the women’s division while first time surfski racer Jen Kreamer placed 2nd only seconds behind. Eric Costanzo who broke the 30 minute barrier also, placed 2nd despite being hit by a rowers blade in the face and in the back rounding the island. Most of us have been hit or nearly hit by a rowing boat in this race. For years I advocated to let the surfskis go in the first heat to avoid any mishaps but it has been intimated repeatedly it really is a “Rowing Race” and surfskis are really just tolerated. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the Snow Row and look forward to it every year. I just don’t enjoy all the drama. Third place went to the “Torch” Bruce Deltorchio. Next race is the Narrow River Race where sometimes we share the water with the University of Rhode Island Rowing Team!