Frosty Rows on Colder Afternoons

31 January 2013Joanna L, Alex ‘14

As the frosty cold of the Mill Bay winter sets in, many sports teams retreat to the warmer environs of the indoors. As the days grew shorter, the nights a little colder, and the wind a little chillier, the rowing team continued to brave the somewhat colder waters of the Pacific in pursuit of the ultimate goal, medals at spring regattas.

Donning several layers, thick socks, a tough attitude, and, of course, protective pogies (rowing ‘gloves’), the rowers continued to brave the winter’s cold, and while this can provide some discomfort, we are often rewarded with flat water for perfect rows and hard training. When the weather fights back, delivering doses of chilly rain or creeping fog, the rowers must, alas, also retreat indoors to continue their toils on the ergs in the newly converted erg room.

Best in Boathouses continue through the winter, with every second Wednesday giving the rowers the opportunity to shoot for gold medal standard and the chance at a shiny new pin for their blazer.

The novices, who started their rowing careers at the beginning of the school year, are working hard to refine their technique in order to be ready to race with the experienced rowers in the spring regattas.

Though the main regatta season is still 2 months away, the late winter also provides a taste of things to come with several regattas to warm up into the racing season. The senior girls face off against our Shawnigan rivals next week in an erg competition, and the BCRC is competing in two upcoming local regattas at Shawnigan Lake and Elk Lake in Victoria. Over Spring Break, some Brentwood rowers will be making their way to sunny California for a training camp in preparation for upcoming CSSRAs in St. Catherines.

For now though, the rowers will continue to battle the cold, until Spring comes around at least. Percy Bysshe Shelley must have been thinking of Brentwood rowers when he wrote “If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”

Joanna L, Alex ‘14

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