Overcast morning brought competitive rowing to Lake Stevens

2000 meters of lake turned into drag strip for rowers BY CHUCK TUCK | JOURNAL REPORTER Saturday morning brought many rowers along with their friends and family to Lake Stevens for the Novice Regatta Meet. The weather report said it was 40 degrees, but to many it felt like there was more of a cold bite in the air.

“This is good weather,” said one father who woke-up early to make the drive from Olympia for the meet. “My son Adam Dahlgren is a senior in high school and has been rowing for three years,” he said.
For many rowers and their families, it takes dedication to be involved in crew.

The novice meet or novice rower is for anyone who has limited or no experience but wishes to learn and compete against other similarly talented athletes.

Lyndsy Clark of the Lake Stevens Rowing Club (LSRC) said that the Varsity and Master’s crews were racing that day as well.

“I’m racing in the varsity doubles, novice eight, and novice single,” Clark said.

Clark commented that she has been enjoying the sport of rowing only for a short time.

“I’ve been rowing since last June, I’m a newbie!” she said.

Clark explained a little about the race explaining that Varsity and Master rowers had a race distance of 2000 meters and some typically start their sprint for finish around the half-way point.

“You asked the easy questions,” she said; as she explained the novice have a 1000 meter race distance.

Aside from the LSRC, other teams in attendance were Ancient Mariners Rowing Club, Bainbridge Island Rowing Club, Lakeside School, Lake Washington Rowing Club, Olympia Area Rowing, and Pocock High Performance Team.

Joy Ward, from Lakeside School out of Seattle, was another parent there to support their child. Ward’s ninth grade son Spencer is in his first season of rowing.

“The kids that do this are in great shape,” Ward said. “They stay fit year-round.”

Ward along with almost all the other parents and rowers seems to agree on one thing, and that is the sport of rowing builds great teamwork ethics and a lot of good friendships are made along the way.

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