Update on the GRP Heavies
Here’s a quick update from the GRP’s most buoyant.
In April, like our rowing teammates, we raced the first National Selection Regatta (ie NSRI) in singles in the Open Mens Single (ie M1x). I managed to win that race. In May, also like our teammates, we competed in NSRII in the Open Mens Double (ie M2x). John and Ben locked up the ‘W’ at this regatta. Now, it’s important to know that while the regattas are called Selection Regattas, this is more of a preliminary selection. In certain events like the pair, it might simply be a nomination to a selection camp for a boat that is not open to trialing. In other cases like our events, which are in fact trials boats, winning the regatta allows you to travel to one of the World Cup races in an attempt to lock down the boat as yours. Basically, if you place sixth or better at one of the World Cups, the boat will not go to trials and will be yours at World Championships that year. If you manage to place fourth or better, then not only do you get to represent the USA in that boat class at Worlds but you also get some funding from USRowing (a feat recently accomplished by our teammate Josh and his boatmate Austin Meyer).
The reason I mention this is many people have inquired when Ben, John, and I are headed off to a World Cup in our respective small boats. While this still may be in the cards, the four of us heavyweights at Craftsbury decided to spend our time in the quad (M4x) for the past month and change. We have a gorgeous boat and four skilled scullers, so we put 2 and 2 together and made a 4x. While a substantial US contingent is overseas right now having just competed in the second World Cup in Aiguebellete, France, we are down in Princeton, NJ, preparing to race the quad in trials tomorrow.
Here’s a video recap of our rowing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvRwy_t16gE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wDPM_OJli4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTi6LiXvtTI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qojszzKvvzw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdMbAndOK2I