| Baltimore Rowing Club Newsletter October 25, 2007 http://www.baltimorerowing.org Yet, if they ever did inspire Upcoming Events
Latest News.
Head of the Charles results.
(Thanks to John Kloss for putting this summary together.) The HOCR was a harder race this year for clubs. The rule changes allowed any club to apply for any and all events in the sweep divisions; this meant that many of the club events where stacked with competitors who did not get the championship draw. Time results that would have won us a medal last year where not quite enough to win us a medal this year ... in most of our events.
P.S. I have to repeat this -- BRC got 2nd in the Women's Club 4+. Here's to livin' with big, mighty women. You make BRC proud. · http://www.hocr.org
Head of the Charles streaming video.
If you have hours to kill, Rock Singewald offers the link below. The entire HOCR is available for streaming. · http://nesports.tv/archive.php Meg Sikora did some searching, scrolling, and pausing, and offers this "greatest hits" list of times for day one (October 20) of appearances by Baltimore crews: Mens Club Four - 3:53.20
row2k pictures from the Head of the Charles.
(Thanks to Sunil Soprey for digging through the galleries for these specific pictures.)
Comcast SportsNet to air a Head of the Charles Regatta highlight show.
Throughout the race weekend, Moody Street Productions was filming every race in the regatta. Comcast SportsNet then squeezed the footage into a highlight show, and it will air on their New England affiliate on these dates: Saturday, October 27 - 1:30 AM (EST)Unfortunately, the Baltimore/Washington affiliate of Comcast SportsNet will have locally flavored programming during those times. In the meantime, make some crab dip, drive over to that friend or coworker you know who has an insane digital or satellite package, and renew your acquaintance. · http://www.row2k.com/news/news.cfm?ID=33226
Head of the Occoquan: Fun racing, good people, colorful trees.
A group of BRC rowers, novice graduates, friends, family, and wayward gypsies will be getting together next Sunday, November 4 to travel down to Sandy Run Regional Park in Virginia to support the Baltimore RC contingency at the Head of the Occoquan. Contact Karen Pfarr (kmpfarr@verizon.net) for more details. The plan is to meet Sunday morning at the boathouse, or somewhere nearby, to carpool back and forth. Details to follow as the head count grows.
Baltimore RC executive committee member leaves a nationwide wake.
Masters rower and invaluable treasurer Paula Merkle has been nominated for a spot on the Masters Rowing Association Board of Directors. Elections will be held on October 28 during the Masters Rowing Association meeting in Philadelphia, PA. Congratulations, Paula! (And yes, that awful pun was intended.)
Lend a hand, hold an office: Run for the 2008 Baltimore Rowing Club Executive committee.
Do you see yourself on the executive committee for the upcoming calendar year? Declare your intent by Friday, November 2. A list of candidates will be compiled and publicized by the following Monday, November 5. · secretary@baltimorerowing.org
2007 Philadelphia Navy Day Regatta.
October 13, 2007. Schuylkill River. Philadelphia, PA. · http://navydayregatta.com
2007 Occoquan Challenge.
October 7, 2007. Sandy Run Regional Park. Fairfax, VA. · http://www.occoquanchallenge.com Congratulations to Stephen Haase and Andrew Haase for their results from the 2007 Occoquan Challenge. Andrew finished first in 1c - Men's AA Master Single, with a time of 0:22:45, and Stephen finised third in event 1i - Men's Veteran Single, with a time of 00:21:42.
Racing shells on the Discovery Science Channel.
"How It's Made", a show on the Science Channel (one of the Discovery Networks) is airing an episode about racing shells. The episide was filmed at Hudson Boat Works. Here is a short blurb, swiped from the Science Channel website: "The racing shell is a high tech rowboat that's built for speed. Long and exceptionally narrow, it's designed to cut through wave drag and leave the competition in its wake."This is season 4, episode 7, and has the witty title of "Racing Shells, Stainless Steel Sinks, Leather, Pedal Steel Guitars". For more information, check this link: · http://science.discovery.com/fansites/howitsmade/episode/episode_02.html This new episode airs Friday, October 19 (Head of the Charles Friday) at 9:00pm, and will repeat the next day at 12:30am, 4:00am, 10:00am, and 10:30pm. If you miss it, try again on Friday, November 2 9:30pm. More listings are available here: · http://science.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=48.14293.121570.16541.x start=10
Try your pen with the Baltimore RC newsletter.
Pad your resume, impress your friends, share your great ideas ... devote yourself to this newsletter! The season may be winding down, but new ideas, links, articles, corrections, YouTube videos, or any other ideas are always welcome. A number of you will try your hand at the erging sessions, but without constant races and water practices, our minds will wander. This is where you come in: a winter full of insightful articles will keep us warm, focused, and eager to hit the water next year. If you went through any of our novice programs this year and stuck with us until now, let us know. Fresh insights are always welcome. Honesty is encourage; pull no punches. · http://www.baltimorerowing.org/about/newsletter.php
Coaching evaluation form still online.
Speaking of fresh opinions and honest answers, the coaching eveluation form is available for submission. Be as anonymous as you want; include your name, or keep your identity a secret. We ask only for real answers and cheerful suggestions. And money. · http://www.baltimorerowing.org Social Events.
Maryland Irish Festival.
Come celebrate Irish culture at the 2007 Maryland Irish Festival: Friday, November 9 through Saturday, 11, 2007 at the Cow Palace at the Maryland State Fairgrounds -- 2200 York Road, Timonium, Maryland 21093. This is the largest Irish festival under one roof in America. Daily fees are $10 for general admission, $7 for senior citizens 65 or over, $5 for young adults aged 12-17. Children under 12 are allowed free of charge. Parking is also free, and the fairgrounds are served by the Baltimore light rail. Contact social chair Kathy Nickel (rowingred@gmail.com) if you are interested in attending, or meeting with other Baltimore RC folk when you get there. · http://www.irishfestival.com/festivalinfo.html Light rail schedule: · http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/lightrail
Fire on ice: Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Led by the mighty Alexander Ovechkin (2005-06 rookie of the year), the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League have started their 2007-08 season with a bang. We are looking into getting tickets to a game on Saturday, November 10, 2007, against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a division rival who won the Stanley Cup championship as recently as 2004. The game starts at 7:00pm and will likely end before 10:00pm. (We looked into Sunday matinee games, but Capitals do not have one until January.) The team is especially making an effort to extend its reach to the Baltimore area this year. Last year, a group of Baltimore RC members traipsed down to the home opener to watch fellow Russian phenom Alexander Semin net his first NHL hat trick. Ovechkin alone is worth the price of admission; he is not simply a great player for the area, but one of the top stars in the entire world. Capitals play in the Verizon Center, which is easy to get to via car or Washington Metro. In fact, you can do both: the arena is along the Green Line, which terminates at the commuter lot at Greenbelt. Parking at Greenbelt is free on the weekends, and trains run well past midnight. If you want to grab dinner before the game, there are a number of restaurants immediately surrounding the arena. (Unfortunately, though the MARC commuter service is also helpful getting to and from DC, its trains do not run on the weekends.) For more information, or to show your level of interest (cold, lukewarm, hot), please contact Adrian Breeman at dwfma@yahoo.com Seating charts, directions, rosters, and endless pictures of Ovechkin are all available at http://capitals.nhl.com Marketplace.
BRC Juniors are selling club Nalgene-style water bottles.
As a fundraiser, rowers in the BRC juniors program are selling Nalgene-style water bottles. These bottles are made with a wide-mouth top and will hold 32 glorious fluid ounces. The juniors are asking $15 for each bottle. Take a look and see: · http://www.baltimorerowing.org/about/brcj_water_bottle.jpg If you would like a bottle, please contact Kathy Nickel -- rowingred@gmail.com -- or any juniors rower. (Juniors are easily identified by their small stature and reluctance to eat vegetables.) If paying by check, please make it payable to "Baltimore Rowing Club". This first run of bottles was limited and will be available on a "first come, first served" basis.
Erg for sale.
Jennifer Morgan has a Concept 2 Rowing Trainer 2002 Model C for sale. $500. Excellent condition, minimal use. Must sell. Will deliver in Baltimore area. morganstrad1@aol.com or 410-796-9991. Heard on the Dock: Head of the Charles edition.
Three things to remember about driving in Boston:
(The Baltimore RC contingency is absorbing race results. Andrew S. turns to John and informs him the Womens Club 4+ came in second, by the tiniest of seconds.)
John: "Are you sure? Are you sure??" Andrew: "I'm double checking, but I'm sure." John (to an equally unknowing Paula): "Do you think he's sure??" John leaves to deliver the good news to celebratorily crying/screaming Womens Club 4+, then goes to officially make sure.
(Coxing the Womens 8+, after getting forced out of his line at Weeks Footbridge)
Sunil: "Starboards--HARD! Starboards--HARD! 2, drop out. Starboards--HARD! 4, drop out. Starboards--HARD! 6, drop out! Starboards--HARD! Starboards--HARD!" (Blessedly, no crunching noises of our Hudson 8+ -- or its rowers, coxswain, or oars -- hitting the bridge.)
(Stroking that same Masters Womens 8+, and being asked to yield by another boat)
Laurie Pipitone: "NOOOOO!!!!!!!" Backsplash: Catching up with Baltimore RC alumni.
Did you find yourself sitting under a tree in Patterson Park wondering, "Whatever happened to ... ?" Well, we do, too.
This week's target: Lars Hansen. As many know, I had to leave the club when I took a job in DC, a job that has since taken me to California. I lived in Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles area) for a few months, and rowed with LARC; it was an interesting experience since they do not have docks or a boathouse. Still, it was a fun club to row with, although they had no real history and were not very competitive (5k was practice). Are you a former Baltimore RC rower who still lurks around reading the newsletter? We would love to hear from you. Hit us up at hotd@baltimorerowing.org Important Reminders
Parking lot safety: walking to and from your car in the dark.
Being that we row in and around a famous American city, replete with the same joys and ills of any other metropolis, you may find yourself walking back to your car under the cover of night. If you are anxious or uncomfortable walking to and from the parking lot without other people around you, do not hesitate to collect a group of people (and/or large rower) and ask for an escort to and from your car. This is especially important now that the colleges and high schools have started their seasons; the extra cars and buses may force you to park in a far corner, away from the boathouse door. If at any time, for any reason, you feel anxious about a situation around the boathouse, in the dark or any other time, again, do not hesitate to walk in groups, or to grab the nearest coach or EC member for help. Keeping your car safe and locked while on the water is one thing (and a good thing), but you are much more important. Ask politely or demand vehemently; either way, those capable of help should come running. Before heading into the house for practice, it is best to hide or obscure these items before you leave arrive at the boathouse; do not wait until you pull in to hide any shiny, valuable items (cell phones, wallets, purses or CDs) in the trunk. Also, the boathouse usually has a handful of lockers available for use during practice. A basic padlock is enough to keep these lockers secure while you are out on the water, and the building is either locked or manned by a responsible coach/EC member during practices.
Erging.
With the fall racing season on its last legs, the ergs are ready to come out of hibernation. Think of all those hours of pain, doubt, and self-hatred. Now is the time to ensure those meters count! Log your meters with our friends at Concept2. To create an account and log your meters, hit http://www.concept2.com and click on Training and Competition, then Online Ranking. And, do not forget to affiliate yourself with BRC. Baltimore has slipped in the "Club Rowing" category, so every stroke counts! (Water meters also count! Concept2 will accept water meters rowed in any "sliding seat boat", so if your seat has wheels, log those water meters, too.)
Equipment issues and repairs.
Any repairs requests or maintenance issues involving Club equipment, including launches, should be addressed to repairs@baltimorerowing.org This will allow all matters to be directly communicated to the BRC repair crew. Please do not email anyone in the executive committee directly; we want to use the 'repairs' email to keep everything in one place. If you are interested in helping out with repairs and you have time, contact our boathouse manager, Bryan McMahon; we can always use the help. Baltimore Rowing Club People
Executive Committee.
Coaching Staff.
Places To Be
The Boathouse.
3301 Waterview Ave Baltimore, Maryland 21230 (410) 355-5649 http://www.baltimorerowing.org
J Patrick's Irish Pub. (Thursday Nights)
1371 Andre St, Baltimore, MD (410) 244-8613 http://home.netcom.com/~leemarsh/jpatrick.html
Harvest Table. (Saturday Mornings)
1000 Hull St, Baltimore, MD (410) 837-0073 http://www.myharvesttable.com
This edition of the Baltimore Rowing Club newsletter has been brought to you by Adrian Breeman, on the backs and necks of those great minds before as well as the creative criticisms and witticisms from rowers like you.
Submissions and corrections are always welcome; give hotd@baltimorerowing.org or http://www.baltimorerowing.org/about/newsletter.php a try.
See you on the water.
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