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C.R.A.S.H. - B Sprints |
Over two thousand competitors and thousands of spectators came together today for the 2008 C.R.A.S.H. - B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship. Ranging in age from 14 to 90, from as near as Boston to as far as New Zealand, men and women came together to row the 2000 meter erg piece at the Agganis Arena in Boston. A few members of the Exeter Crew community made the trip, including Lane Pertusi ‘09 (pictured top), Josh Sans ‘09 (middle), coach Marshall Moore, (bottom), coach Becky Moore, and coach Sally Morris.
After his race, Pertusi noted “It’s really exciting to be part of such a big event with so much energy and to see everyone together like this. I guess it’s also kind of nerve racking for the same reason.” When compared to erg tests at Exeter, he thought “I think it’s better at Exeter since I have my friends and teammates I’m competing with to push me.” Nevertheless, Pertusi thought that going to C.R.A.S.H. - Bs was a “good experience.”
The Charles River All-Star Has-Beens Sprints began in the early 80s by a number of US Olympic and World Team rowers as a regatta to “break up the monotony of winter training.” Since then, C.R.A.S.H. - Bs have grown into one of the largest indoor rowing competitions in the world, attracting world class rowers on an international scale. Past winners at the indoor championship include the late Olympian Andrew Sudduth ‘79, who won the event three times in the mid 80s. Matthias Siejkowski of Germany, the current 2000m men’s heavyweight world record holder (at 5:37.0), won an astonishing seven times between 1989 and 2001. American Lisa Schlenker set the current women’s lightweight world record (at 6:56.7) at C.R.A.S.H. - Bs in 2000. This year, Henrik Stephansen of Denmark set a new world record in the men’s lightweight at 6:02.2.
Check the C.R.A.S.H. - Bs website for full results from the races.
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Dock Repairs Ongoing, CRASH-B Sprints |
Last fall, the club crew season was cut short by two weeks when Exeter’s Facilities Management Department discovered major structural problems in the retaining wall next to the docks. Instead of reinforcing the wall with pilings, the corrugated sheet metal alone held back the weight of the entire shoreline. Surprisingly, this inappropriate construction held for decades before any serious instability was noticed. Though the discovery abbreviated the fall season, any delay would have pushed the reconstruction process into the spring season, potentially disrupting the practice schedule.
With little more than a month until crews hope to get back on the Squamscott, construction efforts are well underway. A new retaining wall supported by a reinforced concrete slab (pictured left) will provide much greater support and stability. All in all, the construction is on schedule to be completed in time for the start of the spring season in the last week of March. Hopefully the ice will clear by then!
In the meantime, a number of Exeter rowers have been training in preparation for the CRASH-B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship this Sunday. The event will be held at the Agganis Arena in Boston, and is free to all spectators. Entrants from the Academy include Lane Pertusi ‘09, Josh Sans ‘09, Will Scheffer ‘09, Nick Cushing ‘09, Ryan Jones ‘09, and coaches Sally Morris, Rebecca Moore, and Marshall Moore. For further information and complete seeding information, head over to the CRASH-B Sprints website. Planning to attend? Let others know on the forums.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Safir ‘08.