Orcas Island Rowing prepared all year for this weekend. The culmination of all the sleepy, dark mornings before school, the freezing runs around Cascade Lake, the regattas, the workouts, the painful blisters and the endless training all have come together. Our group of 15 dedicated rowers ventured down to Vancouver Lake, Wash. to boldly challenge the best rowers at the USRowing Northwest Junior Regional Championships held May 18-20.

Coaches Tina Brown, Dave Rosberry and Martin Taylor displayed years of experience by masterfully managing 16 races, prepping launches, preparing rowers and final equipment tweaks to enhance the rower’s every advantage in the 2000 meter races. The expertise paid off with an overall strong performance from the entire team.

Brown was impressed with the “depth of strength from such a young team, which will make next year that much more fun…look out.”

Varsity rowers performed well with Garret Pietsch and Jay Zier rowing to a gold medal in the Men’s Second Varsity 2x with Captain Jake Zier earning a bronze in the Men’s Varsity 1x and also qualifying for USRowing Junior Nationals in Tennessee this June 8-10.

However, the shocker Sunday was the Men’s High School 8x rowing to a silver medal in one of the most eclectic and flamboyant boats ever floated by OIRA. As if straight off the funny farm, Captain/Cox Max Blackadar, complete with pink fuzzy gorilla suit and red and white Canadian jester’s hat, Jake and Cameron Schuh in matching red, white and blue skin tight USA unitards, Jay donning a wild colored frazzle hat, bare chested Mikail Van Maren in a Hawaiian coconut bra along with semi-embarassed crew members Liam Nutt, Sky Bear Aguilar, Zach Wolford and Pietsch stunned the rowing world with the improbable finish. Many in the boat have never rowed in an 8x seat boat before since OIRA does not even own one, they had to borrow one. On top of that, OIRA cannot even practice 2000 meter races since Cascade Lake is only 1000 meters long.

Novice rowers performed well too with a bronze medal earned by Devon Mann in the Women’s Lightweight 1x and Sky Bear Aguilar and Liam Nutt capturing a bronze in the Men’s Novice 2x.

“Devon had a great time, her skills increased and she built a lot of confidence,” said novice parent Katie Blaine, who was thrilled after attending her first regionals.

Confidence, building skill and fun regattas is what crew is all about. For more info, visit www.orcasislandrowing.org.

Tina and Captains Max and Jake now begin the hurried process of training for nationals.