In an effort to recruit new members, the Nanaimo Rowing Club is offering opportunities for people to test out a boat and the sport.
Saturday, June 7, was National Come and Try Rowing Day and the club held an event at Loudon Park and Long Lake, the first of a number of free events this month. Richard Parr, the club's head coach, said many probably who didn't row when they were growing up can benefit from taking up the sport.
"We get a lot of people who used to play basketball or soccer or hockey and those are hard on your joints and you turn ankles. In rowing, there's no impact, so that's probably one thing," Parr told the News Bulletin. "And the other thing is, it really is a total body workout, so you're using all your muscles, all your joints, and it's a really good cardio workout."
The club provides equipment and the coach said that all that is needed from new members is an "enthusiasm to learn something new."
While only at the helm for two weeks, he is aware of the controversy about a new boathouse at Loudon Park.
"Any time you build large infrastructure in any kind of town, there's always going to be people on both sides of the fence,” he said. "What's interesting for us, and good I think, is that even the more negative people all agree that we need a boathouse. So I think there is a total 100-per cent blanket community agreement. The biggest issue is … how are you going to do it without cutting down trees without, taking up the whole park, etc.?"
The next drop-in event takes place Friday, June 13, from 6-8 p.m. After that, sessions will take place June 21 and June 28, with both going from 10 a.m.-noon.
The coach said the club has programs that cater to the interests of participants.
"We have a couple of kids who have pretty lofty aspirations – they row 10 times a week, they train another time, they're pretty full on," he said. "We have a couple of our older rowers who row once a week and go for coffee. All of the above is fine. We are the community's rowing club. We're here to support your goals and I think that's a fundamental philosophy of this club."
For more information, visit www.nanaimorowingclub.com.
