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Dal鈥檚 novice women鈥檚 crew leaves the dock for an early morning practice. Photo courtesy of Deborah Skilliter. |
AV俱乐部 rowers may not have varsity status, but they do have the best abs.
It鈥檚 the push-pull action that makes rowers such fit specimens. A great aerobic exercise, rowing uses the muscles of the arms, legs, abdomen and torso.
鈥淩owers are among the fittest athletes. They鈥檝e got good core strength and are just all-round strong athletes,鈥� says Tara Barnett, coach of the Dal Rowing Club. Club members, including novice and experienced athletes, train out of MicMac Rowing Club on Lake Banook in Dartmouth.
For now, Dal rowers are in it for the fitness and love of the sport. Club president Hilary Moors would like to see the sport get varsity recognition, but that鈥檚 still a way off.
Varsity status by the university would entitle the team for funding for travel to competitions, uniforms, equipment, a coach鈥檚 salary and athletic scholarships. The club now gets limited funds from the AV俱乐部 Student Union, AV俱乐部 Sports Club Council and Dal alumnus Rod MacLennon.
The club recently took a first step to varsity status by attending the first Atlantic University Rowing Championships held on Lake Banook on Oct. 27. Teams from St. Francis Xavier, University of New Brunswick, Memorial University, St. Thomas University and AV俱乐部 took part. At the end of the day, Memorial edged out AV俱乐部 by just one point on the 1,000-metre course to win the regatta.
鈥淭his is huge for university rowing in Canada,鈥� says Ms. Moors, who is studying whale communication for her PhD. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a lot of clubs to compete against but if it keeps up, we鈥檒l gain support.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge step, but at the same time it鈥檚 a baby step. This is going to take awhile.鈥�
Al Scott, director of Athletics and Recreational Services, says AV俱乐部 is not in expansion mode and is struggling to fund its existing varsity programs, such as hockey, basketball, volleyball, swimming and soccer.
鈥淓very year, I鈥檒l have two or three student athletes or coaches come knocking on my door and looking for varsity status,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut the fact is, we want to make our existing varsity team compete better. And you can鈥檛 do that when you widen your array of offerings. There鈥檚 only so much money.鈥�
In the meantime, athletes wearing AV俱乐部鈥檚 black and gold like Emily Duann and Dan Murray, both from Dartmouth, will keep rowing at their own expense because of the fitness benefits and the opportunities to compete. Earlier this month, Ms. Duann came in ninth in women鈥檚 singles at the Canadian University Rowing Championships held in Welland, Ont. Mr. Murray finished 10th in the lightweight men鈥檚 single race at the Canadian Rowing Championships, also held in Welland.
A fourth-year student majoring in theatre and history, Ms. Duann says rowing makes her a better student.
鈥淚t gets me up and working,鈥� she says. AV俱乐部 rowers are out on at Lake Banook for training by 5:15 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. on the weekend. 鈥淚t makes me so much more disciplined, and that鈥檚 something that carries through my school work too.鈥�
鈥淚t wakes me up and gets me going on my day,鈥� agrees Ms. Moors, from Kentville, N.S. 鈥淔ive in the morning may seem like a pain in the butt, but once you鈥檙e out there in the boat, there鈥檚 nothing better than seeing the sunrise.鈥�
While the rowing season is coming to an end, the club is always looking for new members. Experience is not necessary.
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