Adaptive rowing distance decision
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Feedback from rowing federations from around the world on the distance of races for adaptive rowers has led to the decision to keep the distance for international adaptive regattas at 1000 metres. Following a review of the international regatta format late last year, the FISA Council put forward a proposal to change the distance raced by adaptive rowers from the current 1000m distance to 2000m to bring the race in line with the standard international distance for rowing. This came about as solutions were discussed to deal with the difficulty of starting adaptive rowing races at the 1000m mark on many race courses and also the unsatisfactory solution of racing adaptive rowers from the start to finishing at the 1000m mark. Recent meetings of FISA’s council, following comments from national rowing federations, has led the Council to keep the 1000m distance through to the 2012 London Paralympic Games. “The Council will offer a forum for discussion of adaptive racing issues at each of the 2010 and 2011 World Rowing Championships so that the many issues facing this fast developing discipline of our sport can be discussed in detail,” stated FISA executive director, Matt Smith. In 2010 the FISA adaptive racing schedule is as follows: - 2010 Rowing World Cup no. 1, Bled, Slovenia – 28 – 30 May, adaptive races will have floating starts from the 1000m mark and race to the finish, or from the start to the 1000m mark – depending on the weather. - 2010 World Rowing Championships, Lake Karapiro, New Zealand – 31 October – 7 November, adaptive races will start at the 1000m mark using a start bridge and race to the finish. Racing will be separated by one hour to give sufficient time to put the bridge in place. The 2011 international adaptive racing season is currently under discussion as there are still some major issues to be decided. The 2011 World Rowing Championships are in Bled, Slovenia and the depth of the lake means that a fixed starting pontoon at the 1000m mark is not feasible. As this is the Paralympic Qualification Regatta and as a floating start is no longer acceptable, another venue will have to be found. The World Rowing team values feedback. |
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