Flood washes away high school rowing season

High levels on the Ottawa River have forced the Ottawa Rowing Club to cancel this year's high school season, preventinglocal athletes from attendingthis month'snational championships.

River levels have reached the two boat houses, making it impossible for the club to install its docksin before thechampionships the final high school rowingevent of the yearwhich beginin St. Catharines, Ont., on May 31.

• Boat tour, camping seasons delayed by flooding
• Ottawa River continues to rise, breaks 59-year-old record

On top of the club being inaccessible, the frigid, swiftly flowing river also posesa safety concern, said coach Cliff Brimmell.

"We've got too much water on the river," Brimmell said. "It sounds odd."

Indoor training won't cut it

While the issues facing the rowers pale in comparison to residents whose homes are flooded, Brimmell said it's still dishearteningfor young athletes who've put in atremendous amount of training over the winter.

"It's tough for these kids to be inside, coopedup and not to be out doing what they've trained so hard for all year long," he said.

Athletes have been training off the wateron ergometers, or stationary rowing machines. But the machinesare used mostly to keep athletes in shape over the winter months and can't imitate the synchronizationof rowing with a crew of four or eight.

As a result, the treacherous water means they simply don't have enough time to prepare this year.

Grade 11 athletesMackenzie MihoreanandRachel Weber won the juniordouble sculls event at last year's championship, but won't get the opportunity to compete for the senior double sculls title this year.

"All we've been thinking about all winter is this competition," Mihorean said.

'Nothing we can really do'

When the two athletes found out about they wouldn't be going to the championships, they both scrambledto come up with any possible scenario that would allow them to go.

But once the news set in, they decided to switch their focus to next year's high school championships.

"There's nothing we can really do about it at this point," Weber said. "We'll just have to focus on summer now and focus on next year, too."

High school rowing season cancelled amid high waters

5 years ago

Duration 0:50

Coaches and athletes involved in Ottawa's high school rowing teams say missing the national championships is disappointing, but they're turning their attention to summer competitions.

But for Grade 12 athlete Declan McCoy, this was his last chance to represent his high school on the water.

McCoy said he was looking forward to taking part in the tradition of senior athletes trading racing uniforms with rowers from other schools, but despite missing out on the tradition has found one silver lining.

"There's something nice about being able to hang onto my uni and saying goodbye," McCoy said.

2017 flood delayed season

Typically the club is able to open in mid-to-late April, giving high school athletes ample time to prepare for the championships.

The 2017 floods also forced the rowing club to delay the start of the season, but they were able to get athletes on the watersix days before the national championship.

"We did make it just by the skin of our teeth," Brimmell said.

With this year's spring season gone,Brimmell said the focus not just for high school athletes but for the rest of the club as well is nowon the summer season, which begins in June and runs until early August.

"It's going to be business usual, because we are not straying fromany of our scheduled programs. We're going to make adjustments," he said.

Asfor the future, Brimmell said the club isconsidering other options, such as moving boats to the Rideau Riverin case spring flooding becomes a consistent problem.