By Adam Brazeau
CORNWALL, Ontario – Test the waters with seasoned rowers before ever going in.
The Upper Canada Rowing Club is hosting its inaugural indoor rowing challenge on Sunday, Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. to noon at Quest PTS Strength Training & Massage Therapy (1020 Montreal Road).
Instead of on the St. Lawrence River, rowers will be testing their limits indoors in 2 km races on ergometers (rowing machines). But competition isn’t the true spirit of the event, everyone is welcome to participate. The men’s race will kick off the challenge and the women’s race will start at 10 a.m.
“People should participate to have fun, get a different sort of physical challenge, and to encourage the growth of the sport in our community,” said Sylvie Sabourin, club member and event organizer.
The first annual indoor rowing challenge is the club’s way of making a big splash, locally, and raising funds for their ‘Learn to Row’ programs.
“The club’s mission is to make rowing accessible to the general public as it is a great form of exercise, which combines the benefits of fitness and the great outdoors,” she said.
Before the club switched its moniker to represent the Upper Canada area, it was formerly known as the Cornwall Rowing Club, spearheaded by a local resident, Kevin Donnelly.
“Unable to find a permanent home in Cornwall, we’ve now changed our name to reflect our new location in the township of South Stormont, specifically Lakeview Park,” said Sabourin.
The club has over a dozen members and numbers are expected to spike thanks to having a fixed address, which allows them to offer the new, exciting program. Some of their really enthusiastic members will be heading into the water as early as April (rowing season runs until November) and are already dry-training in the gym.
Sabourin said the sport can either be practiced on a casual or a competitive level and as a high school, college/university student or master’s rower.
The cost is $20 per person.
For more information, click here.
