The FISA World Rowing Championships began today in Gifu, Japan - a day ahead of the predicted schedule that was revised due to a nearby typhoon.
Two Canadian crews rowed in heats on this opening day of the Worlds at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course.
In their first race together in a pair, Chris Jarvis of St. Catharines, Ont. and Malcolm Howard of Victoria, B.C. qualified for the semi-finals after finishing second in 6:26.44. Italy was first in the heat in 6:26.44.
"It's a very competitive field in the pair," said Jarvis, who rowed in the 2004 Olympics in the same event, but was disqualified after his boat moved into another lane. "It feels just as exciting as the Olympics."
Howard and Jarvis began rowing together in Boston this year where they both attend nearby universities, but only began seriously training together this summer.
Howard has rowed for Canada since 1999 when he attended his first World Juniors, he was also on Canada¹s Under-23 team and won silver last year at the non-Olympic Worlds in the coxed four. "The development process has really helped, I've improved every year. I still get nervous, but I remind myself that a bit of nervousness makes you go fast," said Howard.
The men's four of Rob Weitemeyer of Coquitlam, B.C., Peter Dembicki of West Vancouver, B.C., Andrew Ireland of Hamilton, Ont., Kristopher McDaniel of Cobble Hill, B.C. finished third in today's heat. They will have to row in a repechage to further advance.
The U.S. boat, rowing with members of the 2004 Olympic gold medal men's eight, won the heat in 5:52.45, Denmark was second in 5:53.53 and Canada finished third in 5:54.40.
"Today we didn't have the greatest race," said Weitemeyer of the crew that formed less than a month ago. "But there are probably five crews that are in the hunt for medals and we're among those boats."
Tomorrow, the Canadian men's eight, containing seven members of the 2004 Olympic boat, will make its first appearance at this regatta. The eight will face Belarus, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands and Croatia in its heat.
"I'm pretty excited to see how fast we are going," said Joe Stankevicius of Dundas, Ont. "We get a certain measure in training, but it's not exact. Having other eights beside us will help us raise our game on the day of the race."
Also racing tomorrow are the lightweight men's and women's quads.