Welcome to BAIR ISLAND NEWS! The purpose of BIAC's electronic newsletter is to foster better communication with members about the Center's activities and programs, to promote a greater sense of community within BIAC, and to spread awareness of BIAC's activities beyond the membership list.

Your comments and contributions are always welcome! Please email them to the editor, Craig Canine. Thanks!

IN THIS ISSUE

GENERAL BIAC NEWS

  -    A Message from BIAC's New President

  -    A Member's Report from the British Indoor Rowing Championships

  -    Please Remember . . .

PADDLING NEWS

  -    Canoe Racing in Panama

  -    Fifth Annual Winter Challenge

  -    Calling All Keikis!

ROWING NEWS

  -    BIAC and Serra Junior Crews Holding Fund Raisers

  -    Rowing Program Update

  -    Photos from the Fall Regatta

COMING EVENTS

TECHNICAL TIPS

  -   A Goldmine of Erg Training Info

GENERAL BIAC NEWS

A Message From BIAC's New President

BIAC is off to a great start in 2003! We’ve got a great group of folks, both Board members and officers, with lots of enthusiasm and drive to help make this a wonderful year at the Bair Island Aquatic Center.

First of all, you may notice that there are a lot of “officers” running around. This is a new idea this year. In the past, the Center was run pretty much completely by the Board of Directors. Even with the dedicated Board members that we’ve had, this was a heavy burden. Officers are Board-designated volunteers who are being given the training and authority to run the Center on a day-to-day basis. The number of officers is large enough so that I won’t try to name them all here (go to the complete list elsewhere on the BIAC web site). With this enlarged leadership team, we’re hoping that the Center will be able to accomplish more, and meet our goals of providing the community with a great place to learn and practice aquatic sports, such as rowing and paddling.

There will be a number of improvements to BIAC's programs this year. First of all, work has already begun on adding a new junior paddling program (see news item below). We’re tremendously excited about this! Mike Martinez, long-time Board member and program leader of the paddling program, is heading up this effort and will coach the program. We also plan upgrades to the sculling program this year, including more sculling events and activities for new and intermediate scullers. The sweep rowing programs are getting attention, too, with significant dollars being allocated for equipment repair and purchase. We've also planned to purchase an OC-6 (six-person outrigger canoe) in support of the paddling programs.

You’ll be seeing more effort in the membership area, as well. We’re forming a membership team with Jon Robinson, VP of Membership, leading the charge. We’re trying to make it easier for potential members to learn more about the Center, try it out, and join one or more programs. Watch for more announcements about this in the weeks and months to come.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact me or the most appropriate Board member or officer -- click here to see who's doing what in the new organizational structure. We're planning a year of steady growth and improvement at your aquatic center.

- David Abraham, BIAC President

A Member's Report from the British Indoor Rowing Championships

Each winter for some 20 years, the WIRC (World Indoor Rowing Championships), also known as the CRASH-B Sprints, have been an annual ritual in Boston. This mother of all indoor regattas attracts erg monsters from all over the world, including a team of top European competitors, primarily Brits. This past November, for the first time, the U.S. reciprocated by sending a team of 20 Americans, sponsored by Concept2 Rowing and coached by Mike Teti of the U.S. National Rowing Team, to the British Indoor Rowing Championships (BIRC) in Birmingham, England.

BIAC rower Edwin Alderman was there as a member of the U.S. team. A physician, Ed has a substantial background in cardiovascular research and clinical cardiology practice as a faculty member at the Stanford University Medical Center. Until he started using the Concept2 ergometers at his local YMCA a few years ago, he had never rowed before, either on the water or off. Now he's a silver medallist in international competition. Here is Ed's report on this winter's trip to the BIRC:

Members of the U.S. Indoor Rowing team were selected based on verified 2,000-meter time-trial scores that, for the most part, equaled or exceeded the previous year's first place BIRC finishing scores. The team included six members of the U.S. National Rowing Team, plus 14 other Americans in various gender, age and weight classes who met the required scores. I was one of those 14. The 20-member U.S. Team (and a few other Americans who paid their own way) won 22 medals, mostly gold and silver.

The competition was held in England’s largest indoor arena, located in Birmingham, and had more competitors (all European countries included) and spectators than the CRASH-B competition in Boston. After all, where’s to row in northern Europe in midwinter? The U.S. Team met in Boston, traveled to England together, and spent four days in Birmingham before the event adjusting to the time change. In our hotel, we had 20 Concept2 ergs available day and night. We ate as a team, listening to Coach Teti regale us with rowing stories and inspirational nuggets, the most telling of which was the one about “Do your best and whatever the outcome, your family will still love you. . . . However, they’ll love you just a little bit more if you win.”

It was a fabulous trip for the U.S. Team. We were given a rowing wardrobe emblazoned with U.S. Team logos, banquets, and best of all, the opportunity to talk rowing with a remarkable group of people.

I came in second in my race, as unfortunately I had before when matched against the current UK record holder in the men's age 60 - 64 lightweight category (his time 7:01.9 against my 7:04.4). We’ll see what happens this February at the CRASH-Bs, when, I hope, we'll bash at each other in an under-seven-minute race.

I came to BIAC primarily to emerge from the “dark side” of indoor rowing into the open water and visually refreshing vistas of Redwood Harbor (okay, it's an industrial port -- but it’s better than staring at a blank wall with each stroke). On-water rowing is clearly a different beast from indoor rowing, and much more fun. (I should add that erging and rowing all started rather innocently for me on a local YMCA erg 2 ½   years ago as an effort to maintain a modest level of fitness, with no inkling that I would get hooked on rowing.) Thus far, Mike Sullivan has put up with my out-of-scull water immersions and Richard Tzeng, Marsha King, and other members of the Intermediate Sweep Rowing program have put up with my “too fast up the slide” tendencies, inherited from erging. However, if you see a maniac on a club erg who responds to “Hey, Ed,” and if you want info on erg technique and cardiovascular fitness, I am happy to help.

- Ed Alderman

For info on the more technical aspects of indoor rowing from Ed, see this month's Technical Tips column.

Please Remember . . .

-- Because of the wintry weather (and because we have so many active rowers, even in January), the workout room of the boathouse is getting extra-heavy use. As a courtesy to other members, please rack your weights and wipe down all gym equipment and ergs after you use them with the cloths provided just inside the gym entrance.

-- Are you current with your BIAC dues  and storage fees? The Center is consolidating membership information in a new record-keeping system, and a delegation headed by VP of Finance Saghir Munir have started reviewing the books for delinquent dues. If you're behind, you'll be hearing from the Finance team soon.

Thanks!

PADDLING NEWS

Canoe Racing in Panama

The Paddling Program has just received a new boat, called a "Cayuco Canoe," from Panama. This canoe is a type that is designed for the water conditions in Panama, but which would also be perfect for the flat-water race conditions also found in this part of California. On April 11-13, the Paddling Program is sending a crew of four experienced paddlers down to Panama to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the Cayuco Outrigger Canoe race.

Cayuco is the Panamanian word for "dugout canoe" and refers to the process of cutting down a tree and hollowing it out to create a canoe. The race is a three-day, 45-mile cayuco race across the isthmus of Panama by four-person teams. A BIAC paddling team participated in the race two years ago and placed fourth overall. The members of this year's team will be Brett Byers, Dave Jensen, Jon Robinson, and Irvin Taputuarai, currently training in France.

Fifth Annual Winter Challenge

On February 15 and 16, the BIAC Paddling Program will host its Fifth Annual Winter Challenge Race. This year, the race is being held in collaboration with the Wavechaser Paddle Series as the fifth race in the series. This race is regularly the largest OC1 (single-person outrigger canoe) and Surfski race held in Northern California. In past years, competitors from Australia, Canada, Portland, Hawaii, and Los Angeles have participated.

This year we are offering a Juniors Division and will be sponsoring Newport Aquatic Center's Juniors Program for the weekend. First day of racing is at the public boat ramp in Redwood City. Basically a flat-water race, the course will go through Corkscrew Slough. Start time is around 11am on February 15. Sunday's race starts at on the East side of Treasure Island, heads north to Angel Island, continues back south around Alcatraz, then around Yerba Buena Island and finishes by returning back to the Treasure Island Sailing Club.

Calling All Keikis!

The BIAC Paddling Program is planning to start a Juniors and Keiki (children's) paddling program this summer. The Juniors program will be geared towards high-school aged kids, while the Keiki program will focus on kids as young as ten
years old.

The Keiki program will prepare the participants for sprint races of 250 meters. Our goal for the Juniors will be to prepare them to participate in the U.S. Championship Race, from Newport to Catalina, most likely in 2004. In addition, we are hoping to start a "feeder" program that would provide Juniors with a chance to participate in the Olympic flat-water discipline of Canoe & Kayak on a national and international level. More info coming in the months ahead.

ROWING NEWS

BIAC and Serra Junior Crews Holding Fund Raisers

Both the BIAC Junior Rowing Program and the Serra High School Program are currently raising money for their teams.

At 9am on Saturday, February 8, the Serra program will begin a 24-hour ergathon. The program, which consists of 27 varsity athletes and 20 novices, will have two Concept2 ergs going continuously until 9am the next day.

"Please stop by during the event," says Cassandra Cunningham, the Serra rowers' head coach. "And I can't thank everybody enough for all the warm welcomes we've received since moving to BIAC. We really feel at home here." Contact Cassandra for more information on the ergathon.

The BIAC Juniors are raising money to buy a new boat by selling See's Candy for Valentine's Day. The last day for ordering is this Friday, January 31, so click here NOW for information on how to place your order!

Rowing Program Update

January is traditionally the slowest month of the year for rowing clubs. At BIAC, however, things are hopping with seven rowing programs now underway. Overall, around 170 rowers and scullers are actively participating in these programs, generating lots of activity at the boathouse each day of the week.

Things will no doubt pick up even more as the weather warms up and daylight hours lengthen. For now, though, neither darkness of night nor morning chill is stopping plenty of hardy BIAC rowers from participating in more rowing programs than the Center has ever had before. BIAC member David Oliver is the new Board Officer in charge of programs at BIAC. An especially hardy rower himself (after all, he's Irish), David is now or has been active in nearly all the Center's rowing and sculling programs. What follows is his report on the current state of rowing at BIAC.

Adult Advanced Men: This program has anywhere between ten and 25 active members, depending on the time of year. Workouts are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 5:30am-7am. The men are now training for the spring 2003 sprint season, and they hope to send an 8+ to the San Diego Crew Classic in April. More about this program

Adult Advanced Women: Fresh from their experience in competing in the prestigious 2002 "Head of the Charles" regatta last year, the Advanced Women are now preparing for the . They are training with the same schedule as the men (MWF, 5:30am-7am) and have approximately 20 regular rowers. More about this program

Adult Intermediate Program: This group has 11 active members, composed of those who have not rowed since college or who have recently learned through other BIAC programs. The Intermediates are coached by a Stanford rower and practice on Saturdays at 9:30am-12:30pm. More about this program

Adult Novice Coed Group: The Adult Novices have six to eight regular members. We are continually getting enquiries, however, about continuing this program as well as participating in the CAPS (Community Access Program) with local cities to introduce rowing and add members. Currently, the adult novices are having land workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:45am, and water work on Saturdays.

BIAC Junior Program: This is composed of four boys and four girls who are in training for this year's spring racing season (see the BIAC Juniors' season schedule). They practice nearly every day in the mornings with a mixture of land and water workouts. They are currently selling See's candies for Valentine's Day to raise funds for equipment (click here for ordering info), so please support them. More about this program

Serra High School Program: Serra, an all-boys' private high school, has 27 varsity boys who row Monday through Friday at 5:15am-7:15am and on Saturday from 7am -9:30am. The program also includes 20 Novice boys who practice Monday through Friday at 4pm-6pm. On Saturday and Sunday, February 8 and 9, the Serra rowers are having a 24-hour ergathon. Please drop by and support them (see related story).

Sculling: The sculling program runs from early March to late November and consists of beginner instruction on Thursday mornings (6am) and Wednesday evenings (6pm). Help for beginners is currently available on Wednesday mornings (6am), there is an intermediate/advanced group workout on Tuesday mornings (6am). Each year, there have been one or two events every year, a sculling skills trial and a safety boat recovery session. Currently, we have about 50 active scullers. More about this program

- David Oliver

Photos From the BIAC Fall Regatta

Photographer Mike Ng took hundreds of great photos at the Fall Regatta, including at least one (and usually two or three) pictures of every boat that raced.

You can look at these pictures by going to www.paddlerpix.com and clicking on "Photos." The "Order Prints" part of the site isn't working yet, but if you see any pix you'd like to order, contact Mike Martinez and you might be able to work something out. It's fun just to click through all the photos to see lots of great athletes -- and an interesting variety of rowing styles.

COMING EVENTS

Feb. 2 -- Peninsula Indoor Rowing Championships (PIRC). A well-run, officially sanctioned indoor regatta. The BIAC Junior Crew will be racing on the ergs, so come cheer them on!

Feb. 8 -- BIAC Work Party, 9am - 4 pm

TECH TIPS

This month: A Goldmine of Erg Training Info

If you're looking for ideas for erg training programs, data, and whatnot, the Web is a goldmine. Many erg enthusiasts know about and use Concept2's main web site (www.concept2.com). But few U.S. rowers know about the rich training data available on Concept2's UK web site: www.concept2.co.uk (the site is actually sponsored by a separate company that acts as Concept2's European distributor). The race details from the British Indoor Rowing Championships (BIRC -- see story above) are posted, including overall results, splits, pictures, live-action reruns of races, and data downloads of stroke-by-stroke performance of the top competitors.

For a competitor, it’s a highly useful display of race strategies by experienced medal winners in all classes. For training, I use the site's Interactive Training Program section (http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/training.php), supplemented by substantial help from the men’s Stanford University coaches where, by good fortune, I happen to work. I can personally testify to the cross-training effect of good on-water rowing technique (learned at BIAC), which translates on the erg to greater efficiency; and conversely, the stamina and power developed on the erg adds to on-water endurance.

- Ed Alderman

GO BAIR!