USRowing has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Hudson Boat Works, the organizations announced on Tuesday. The London, Ontario-based boat manufacturer will be an Official Supplier of USRowing through 2008.
The sponsorship deal includes both training and competition boats for the U.S. National Team and athletes training at USRowing's Princeton Training Center.
"Hudson Boat Works is very excited about being named the official boat supplier of the U.S. rowing team through the Beijing Olympics," said Hugh Hudson of Hudson Boat Works. "It's great to have the best athletes choosing to train and race in our boats." Hudson Boat Works built its first boat in 1981. Since then, athletes have garnered 51 world and Olympic medals rowing Hudson boats, with seven medals coming at the most recent world championships. Many will recall the thrill of watching the U.S. men's eight set a world's fastest time in the heat at the Olympics en route to the first gold in that event in 40 years. The U.S. rowed the same boat to gold again at the 2005 World Championships.
"We are excited to have Hudson Boat Works coming aboard as an official supplier of USRowing," said USRowing Executive Director Glenn Merry. "We have had a strong relationship with Hudson over the past few years and are looking forward to expanding that relationship as we prepare for the 2008 Olympics. In 2004, our men's eight won Olympic gold in a Hudson and both USRowing and Hudson want to build on that success in Beijing."