CSSRAs Day Two

5 June 2014Jeen S, Whittall ’14, Photos by Brian C

Wednesday started off with groans and whines despite a breakfast time of 8 a.m. (a luxury for us rowers). However, before we talk about the rest of the day, let us recap the incidents of the previous evening. Unmentioned in yesterday’s post by Mr. Carr was the now infamous Elevator Incident that involved fourteen of Brentwood Rowing’s finest. Although some do not wish to be named, I can unashamedly admit that I was stuck in an elevator with 13 other sweaty rowers for the better part of one and a half hours. Before you judge and say, "Those kids were probably doing something silly", I am telling you that you are categorically wrong. Stupid maybe, but not silly; silly implies that the action was done on purpose. Apparently fourteen rowers weigh more than 900kg, a fact we only recognized after the elevator wouldn’t move and the door refused to open. I won’t go into any details except to say that the humidity and temperature in that steel box was substantially higher than anywhere else in Canada. 90 minutes later, fourteen dehydrated rowers stepped out with some no longer worried about making the lightweight weighin while others claimed that their experience would probably rival any detox clinic in the world, but all were grateful for three things: the sweet fresh air, the cool refreshing water and most of all, the feeling of camaraderie that was instilled in us during the ordeal. I would just like to say that of all the people in the world to be stuck in an elevator with, I’m glad it was you guys. Moving on to news that people actually read rowing blogs for: Niagara Falls! Straddling the US-Canadian border, the three water features on steroids, collectively known as Niagara Falls, together have the highest flow rate in the world with a vertical drop of more than 150 feet; this fact was completely lost on the athletes. After witnessing this miracle of nature (and TNT blasting), we journeyed to dinner where three senior boys ordered two trays of the Party Pizza, a combined total of 48 slices. The other rowers admonished the defeated warriors for leaving two defiant slices on the tray. Heavyweights are overrated! The cause for celebration and the copious amounts of carbs was the end of our first full day training on the St. Catharine’s Race Course, Martindale Pond. After breakfast, we went out to Henley Island to christen our new Hudson racing shells. The John L. Queen Boat Fund was used to buy a new Straight 4x and a new Coxed 4. Boat House Captains Rielly M, Whittall ’14 and Tara Christensen, Allard ’14 anointed the new 4+ with home water from the finish line at Brentwood and I did likewise with the new 4x. Having rowed for four years and having seen many boathouses and racing shells, I can say that we are blessed to be racing in new equipment and shells. My crew is thrilled to be the first ones to row and race in what is now the Senior Boy’s Quad; giddy would be a good term to use. Three rows, multiple van rides blasting instrumental music – there can’t be profanity if there are no words! – and a plate of nachos later, we are ready for bed after a long day, but not really, my roommates, the Bright and Tight Hockey Double are insistent on watching the Stanley Cup, where the West beat the East. Is this a sign of things to come for us? More news to come tomorrow from my creative cohort Joanna L, Alex ‘14. Jeen S, Whittall ’14, Photos by Brian C

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