Nelson rowers got some Olympic advice at a competition last weekend in Vernon.
The Nelson Rowing Club sent six athletes to Lap the Lake Regatta.
Steve Knight's single boat crossed the finish line in first in 21.10 seconds, followed by Rich Newton at 22.20 in a double with Roza Kalesnikoff of Vernon. The Nelson women's quadruple sculls finished at 27.45.
Rowers manoeuvred their boats around three challenging turns on a 3.5-kilometre course against some fair wind and rough water conditions. Everyone raced together at 15 second intervals — quads first, then doubles, then singles — but was judged by category. No distinctions were made for gender or rowing experience.
"Having all the boats on the water at the same time made it more exciting and more challenging since you have to manoeuvre around each other when passing," said Nelson instructor Kim Shea, who was part of the Nelson quadruple along with Chantal Boisvert, Karee Ann Stuart, and Jenn King.
Dave Calder, a four-time Olympian who won silver at the 2008 Beijing Games and also holds nine national titles, nine World Cup medals and three World Cup championships, took part in the race and led a coaching clinic that Nelson's rowers took part in.
The Nelson Rowing Club hosts the Nelson Sprints Regatta on Aug. 6 at Lakeside Park.