Oak Hollow Lake in High Point, N.C. will host 443 crews for the North Carolina Rowing Championships, Saturday, April 20, making the Tar Heel State the latest hotspot of growth in the sport.
“It’s juniors, middle school, high school, colleges, and masters,” says organizer Gene Kininmouth of the one-day regatta. “We’re going to be at capacity for our venue. People really want to come to this regatta.”
Raced on a buoyed 1,500-meter course with static refereeing, the regatta has exploded in popularity since its founding 10 years ago.
“What really makes the regatta a success is coaches know exactly what they’re getting into because every race is a straight final,” says Kininmouth. For events with more entries than lanes, organizers create multiple divisions and rowers can race two or more events. “It’s really coach-friendly, really athlete-friendly.”
Last year’s event drew 338 entries. Kininmouth says the regatta doesn’t plan to expand to multiple days. But the demand could be there. This year, the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s championship regatta is the same weekend in Oak Ridge, Tenn., drawing 233 crews from 44 schools, crews who might otherwise race in the North Carolina Rowing Championships, which is open to crews from outside the state.
“In the southeast we do a lot more small-boat racing then probably other parts of the country because we have warmer water and we don’t have the history and tradition” of racing only eights and coxed fours, says Kininmouth.
The North Caroline Rowing Championships feature The Lenny Peters Regatta Lounge, offering single-price admission to an enclosed spectating area serving morning coffee and pastries, sit-down hot lunch, champagne, beer, wine, and cocktails.
“I’m pretty happy with how it’s worked out,” says Kininmouth. “I don’t know that I ever want to be a two day regatta or have it more than 440 but I’ll probably have maybe have a different opinion after this weekend.”
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