The Nelson Rowing Club, one of the oldest rowing clubs in BC and likely all of western Canada, is getting ready to host its annual regatta this Saturday.
“Hosting a regatta with race participants from other communities is a daunting task,” said club member Kurt Edmunds, who explained visiting clubs need to trailer their fragile equipment to the race venue and re-rig it for the race events. Nelson always feels honoured to have participants make the journey and effort to attend, he said.
Edmunds said clubs will arrive tonight from Couer d’Alene, Kelowna, Cranbrook, and Vernon to add to the local rowers.
On Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m., rowers will compete in the Nelson Sprints 1,000m race course from the Prestige Lakeside Resort to the rowing club boathouse. Regatta chair Kim Shea said there will be various events for more experienced racers and events for novice rowers into early afternoon.
The club’s presence on Kootenay Lake dates to 1896. Over the years the club has seen very active and some dormant periods. Its revival in the early 1990s saw a resurgence of community interest. Edmunds encourages anyone interested in trying the sport to try the Learn to Row program offered through the Nelson and District Community Complex.