By Rachelle Strelezki (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: July 16, 2014
This fall, UFV Rowing will be conducting their annual Learn to Row program for those interested on campus.
The Learn to Row program is directed toward students wishing to try the sport and meet new friends, or for those who might like to pursue this sport at the varsity level and beyond. The program is held two to three days a week for seven to eight weeks, coached by varsity rowers and supervised by Liz Chisholm, UFV’s head rowing coach. Members will be able to try out their new skills at a regatta with other university novices, including SFU and UBC.
Learn to Row members will be practicing in boats on the water as well as the indoor rowing machines raise their level of fitness and training. Once the Learn to Row program is finished, members can try out for a varsity spot on the team.
Fitness is not initially a critical factor, but any members who wish to achieve a varsity spot must increase their level of physical fitness. Varsity rowers train on the water five days a week, along with other forms of exercise such as weights, cardio, and the use of indoor rowing machine. Varsity rowers are expected to maintain a healthy diet and must be signed up for a minimum of nine credits per semester.
There will be an information meeting September 4 at 5:30 p.m. on the Abbotsford campus, classroom TBA. The first boathouse orientation will be September 6 at 8:30 a.m. at UFV Rowing’s home venue in Fort Langley.
Some UFV rowers went on to the Canadian national team, such as Lisa Roman (gold and silver medals in the World Championships), Alex Janzen (fourth in the National Rowing Championships), Spencer Landsiedel (Team BC athlete in the National Rowing Championships), Mat Morrison (fourth in the National Rowing Championships), and Courtenay Landsiedel (three-time Team BC athlete in the U23 World Championships).
