In hopes of expanding the sport of rowing, the CMQRA is instituting a new event at this year's championships, the lightweight wopmen's novice freshman pair with coxswain. In an attempt to level the playing field in heretofore untold way, the weight limit of the rowers and the weight requirement for the coxswain has been set at the same number - 125 pounds.
"This allows student athletes to be coxswains or rowers as well, with no difference in weight limits or requirements," "Rowing is the true team sport; what better way to emphasize that than to have coxswains doing the rowing, rowers doing the coxing, everyone doing everything equally? And if both a rower and a coxswain can't make weight, they just switch seats, the problem is solved. And everyone knows that the coxswain is the coach in the boat; this way each crew has three coaches in the boat, and one in the launch. The quality of rowing will be incredibly high."
Regatta organizers expect "incredible racing" in the event. "This is the slowest possible combination we could think of - lighty novice frosh - and everyone knows rowing is a grueling sport. If you think going sub-5:20 for 2k is tough in rowing, imagine what it's like going more like 12 or 13 minutes in the so-called floating leg press!"
Officials were more circumspect; "there goes the 5 minute centers," one was heard to remark.