RegattaCentral

Rochester Rowing Club takes competition indoors at high-tech 14th Annual Minnesota Power Pull

By Mike Sullivan, Reporter

Posted: Feb 28, 2015 4:11 PM CST

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- Minnesota isn't exactly the ideal location for a rowing tournament in late February, but the Rochester Rowing Club is making the city a destination this time of the year.  The club has been hosting an annual erging competition indoors for well over a decade.

 "The hardest thing is to be motivated working in doors.  We have ten machines connected to each other, and then they can see themselves on the screen where they are in the race," said Rochester Rowing Club Coach David Chan as his athletes row across the digital waters.

While the little boats move along the screen, rowers said something is decidedly different.

"It's really not like being on the water, and it's just kind of an uncomfortable experience overall," said Rochester Rowing Club members Brett Boggust.
Nonetheless, collegiate, junior, and master racers have been taking the Minnesota Power Pull Competition indoors for 14 years.

"The 2000 meter race is a mental race, you're really tired and you want to stop," explained Chan.

"It's really easy to go out really fast, then sort of die, so to speak, halfway through," continued Boggust.

The Rochester Rowing Club is hoping the rest of the city doesn't quit either, but instead gets excited about the sport they love.

"It's definitely something that has a lot of potential to grow, and it's still catching up to speed in the Midwest," said Boggust.

With a rowing location on Silver Lake, the Med City may soon become the Row City.

Rochester Rowing Club hosts regional rowing competition

Posted: Feb 28, 2015 11:30 AM CST

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) -- The Rochester Rowing Club is staying in shape this winter by training indoors, and hosted a competition Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the RCTC Heinz Center. Both rowers and non-rowers drop by to watch, or test their skills on a rowing machine. 

The season doesn't start till May, but that hasn't stopped Coach David Chan from keeping his rowers in great shape during the winter months. What's more, he says, rowing has benefits not only for members of his team but for the Rochester area as a whole.

"Rowing is a great team and individual sport for people of all ages. Rowers are some of the fittest people around. With all the plans for the DMC, the sport of rowing can make our city more attractive for employers, their employees ... and families from around the country," he says.

Collegiate, junior, open, and masters categories all competed, and the event was open to spectators of all ages.

Minnesota Powerpull rowing competition held in Rochester

Posted: Mar 01, 2014 6:54 PM CST

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) --

Rochester Rowing Club's 13th annual Minnesota Powerpull rowing competition was held at RCTC's Heintz Center on Saturday. 

Seventy-five competitors from as far away as Chicago and Duluth met indoors to compete. 

Claire Hillen started racing for the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Team in November.  Her coach, William Juckett, cheered her on to fourth place finish -- a personal best for the budding athlete.

"My job is to sit down there and remind them that they've put in the hard work. They've really dedicated themselves to it and they can do it," said Juckett.  "They just have to make sure they're sticking to it and pulling hard."

For Hillen, the competition is about being on the same wavelength as her competitors come rowing season.

"It's extra practice," said Hillen.  "It's extra feeling in that racing mindset and it just gets you ready for all of those competitions that you're going to be doing in the springtime."

"In winter you don't always think of rowing all that much -- but it's a great, great community sport," said John Bartucz, head coach of the Rochester Rowing Club.

Eric Elftmann is a first-time competitor from the Twin Cities.

"I think, for me, it's just the excitement of this being my first competition," said Elftmann.  "That's the best part for me is just the excitement of being able to try it out."

The Minnesota Powerpull featured 14-races with competitors of all rowing levels.