Women rowers not fazed by Head of the Charles carousing

Large crowds, howling winds, strong currents, and stiff competition met the Tufts women rowers head-on this weekend when they participated in the Head of the Charles Regatta. But rather than be daunted by these challenging conditions, the Jumbos did what they do best _ compete hard and well.

In the biggest race of the fall season, in front of hundreds of spectators who had decided to sacrifice the warmth of the indoors to experience the once-a-year party that is the Head of the Charles, the first Tufts' boat quietly went about its business. The crew finished tenth in the new college-only division out of a total of 34 boats.

"I'm very pleased," coach Jessica Normand said. "I think that it reflected the amount of work we've put forth all fall."

Led by coxswain Beth Grosart and stroke Loi Sessions (the rower who sits closest to the stern and sets the rhythm for the rest of the crew), the boat looked in sync throughout the three-mile course, fighting unpredictable winds and tight turns.

The team's second entry, listed officially as the Mystic Valley Rowing Association due to a one-boat limit on colleges, finished last in the competition, as it never got comfortable in the new environment.

"It was pretty rough conditions out there," co-captain Maggie Danielson said. "We did, as a team, fairly well."

What sets the Head of the Charles apart from other crew competitions in the fall is the immense fanfare _ unusual for a sport considered by many to be mundane and not conducive to spectators. Along the bank of the river (and on the various bridges overlooking the course), hoards of students and adults, most holding an allegiance for the hometown Crimson team, enjoyed the competition.

The race itself wasn't the only attraction though, as many spent their time eating what was hailed as "The best popcorn in the world" and shopping for Head of the Charles merchandise. After some independent research, this reporter found this seemingly-hyperbolic statement not far from the truth.

"It's just a fun, very exciting event to be at," Danielson said.

The party-scene on the banks of the river couldn't compare with the intensity on the river itself though, pitting some of the best rowers in the world against one another.

"It is always an honor for us to be able to row in the Head of the Charles," senior co-captain Amira Baker-Jud said. "It is a chance for us to race and also to enjoy being rowers, to be inspired by the best in our sport."

With a final time of 18:06.525, the first Tufts boat barely squeaked by Queen's University from Canada to take the tenth spot. Lehigh College won the event, finishing with a time of 17:23.548. West Virginia University and the University of Louisville were next to cross the line. By finishing tenth, the first Tufts boat captured the fastest time out of any of the other NESCAC entries.

The second Tufts boat finished with a time of 19:30.505.

Now, the team looks ahead to a winter of training in anticipation for the spring season which starts in April.

This result "puts us in a good place to start winter training," Normand said.

The team plans on participating in the Crew Triathlon in December _ an event that should motivate the Jumbos throughout the otherwise dreary winter months. The triathlon consists of rowing on an erg machine, running from Cousens Gym to Harvard Stadium and climbing each section's stairs in the stadium.

The lightweight and novice teams also were given the opportunity to experience the Head of the Charles extravaganza, with two Tufts boats entered in the Lightweight Eights on Sunday. Unfortunately, the two entries were out of their league, coming in 20th and 24th respectively out of 24 boats. The novice team's next and final event of the fall is the NESCAC Novice Championships in Worcester this Sunday.