Cleveland rowers know the Cuyahoga River offers one of the most interesting and challenging race courses anywhere. Beneath the backdrop of the Terminal Tower, gritty piles of gravel, and lift bridges stained with a patina of rust, rowers navigate five major twists and turns, including an S-shaped curve, before reaching the finish line.
Soon, a national rowing audience will be exposed to these challenges too. At last week's ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $3 million Rivergate Park on the Columbus Road peninsula in the Flats, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Cleveland Rowing Foundation announced that they have partnered with USRowing to create a national championship rowing competition.
The first USRowing Masters Head Race National Championship is set for September 16th, 2012 on the Cuyahoga River. Rowers will race in 5,000-meter sweep (one-oar) and sculling (two-oar) competitions.
In a press release, USRowing stated that Cleveland was a natural choice for the inaugural event due to its central location, challenging course and the community's history of support of amateur and national sporting events.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission CEO David Gilbert touted the economic impact that the rowing event would bring to the community. The sports commission has said that it has brought $300 million in economic activity to Northeast Ohio since it was created.
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