GAINESVILLE - The Lake Lanier Rowing Club (LLRC) will host approximately 600 collegiate rowing athletes over the next six weeks who will use the lake for training purposes.
The crews are from 13 colleges and universities situated in colder climates, predominately in the northeast. Club spokeswoman Cynthia Newman says because rowing competition often begins by the end of March, the weather and frozen water render training on home courses nearly impossible. Therefore, a trip to Lake Lanier for spring training has become a yearly ritual for many rowing crews.
The first crew arrived Monday and is from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, near Boston. Approximately 30 athletes and their coaches made the trip.
The first to follow is Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, which will train at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center for a week beginning February 28. The Loyola crew has grown to include 24 men and women novice rowers this year, as well as 15 varsity athletes. They will bring with them a fleet of three "eights", three "fours" (boats designed for sweep rowing with a coxswain) and a double scull.
Brenau University houses and feeds many of the athletes.
Newman says the financial impact on Gainesville and Hall County is more than one million dollars.
Sunday
May 19th, 2024
10:35AM
