You Gotta Regatta

My son rows at West Side Rowing over the month of July.  It is a summer camp program and he has been doing it for the past three years.  He loves it.  So mush so that we got him a ERG machine so that he could practice rowing at home...and he actually uses it.  He enjoyed the camp so much that he has decided to try out for the crew team at Nichols.  I think he has an awesome shot at making it.

Last Thursday he had his regatta and his boat came in first.  I have been praising this sport because I feel it is less dangerous.  Lacrosse players get beat up, football players get crunched, snowboarders break bones and my son has even come home from squash with some black and blue marks.  His only injury from rowing has been sore muscles.  This regatta however sowed that crew like all sports can still be dangerous. The first boat my son's boat raced was significantly behind them.  As my sons boat's crossed the finish line, one of the motor boats rammed into the opposed craft and knocked the bow rower into the canal.  She was quickly retrieved and ok.  The crowd was amazed as was I.  It just goes to show you that all sports have risks and all athletes need to be prepared.

Even with this accident, I am a fan.  If you have not been exposed to crew, let me recommend it.  It is a high endurance, high strength sport.  A team sport with no physical confrontation of the team members.  They must all work in synchronicity and it  is a beautiful thing to watch.