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http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/sports/crew/1800s/histy_entry.htmlPretty cool stuff. Navigate around the site as well, a lot of good sports history included. (as if there are other sports besides rowing ::) )Check this out tooBoathouse Row in Philadelphia.
You have the benefit of participating in a sport which is both historic yet relatively constant in its essential components. BTW, that panorama of the Boathouse Row in Philadelphia is pretty neat.
I may have a chance to go down there. My rowing instructor who I've become friends with rowed for Drexel and he goes to Philly often. Rowing crew with a bunch of 20-somethings would probably kill me, but it would be a blast! And maybe I'll learn how to pronounce Schuylkill too. 😀Some may say it's a obsession, which I won't deny, but I've never fallen in love with a sport/activity like I have with this. Everything about it...the history, the beauty, the teamwork, the focus and physical power required, the drive to win medals...is incredible and even spiritual. What really fascinates me is that it is both beautiful and brutal at the same time. Seeing a crew all in sync is like viewing fine art, to look like this while doing it requires giving it everything you got. I liked rowing bowseat just to watch all our oars and bodies move as one. Hard to describe how that feels.
It's funny because to an outsider like me, it seems like a rather uneventful and – dare I say – “boring” sport. I realize that I'm ignorant about the challenges and tasks of rowers so my opinion is made by one who is not in the know, and I'll have to rely on your word for it that it is an exhilarating sport once you're in it. It does seem like a sport that is difficult to start participating in, in the same way that ice hockey is; you can't just start up on your own unless you join a crew which has all the necessary equipment.One thing - you guys still have events in the winter? Seems like it would get awful cold, and almost icy out there!
We can't go out when there is ice. And when the temps get below I think 35 they have an 8 oar rule…meaning you can't go out alone. Like if you are in a single, there has to be at least 3 other people with you.It's the most physically demanding sport I've ever done, and that includes rugby. 2000m may not seem like a long distance, but if you're trying to do it under 7 minutes, it's tough. I guess it can be recreationial and relaxing if you want, but that's what kayaking is for IMO. I can see where this would be boring to some, kind of like marathon or any running for that matter. It's not really that hard to participate. All you need is a boat club nearby. Just pay annual dues and you can use their boats as much as you want. Not many people have their own boat, singles are $8-10k and the 8-man boats are around $30,000. Not something you'd want to strap on the top of your car!And did you know that rowing has the or one of the highest percentiles for college scholarship opportunities?
And did you know that rowing has the or one of the highest percentiles for college scholarship opportunities?
No doubt because the sport is traditionally associated with old-school wealth?
I don't know if it's that. I think it may be because not a lot of people row so the star rowers stand out more. It's kind of weird because it's not like rowing brings in revenue as football would. I think it's more a prestige thing. If Cornell is longing for the days of beating Harvard, they will recruit.
