The Rec. Report
News, Tips and Getting to know the Recreational Rowers of the Don Rowing Club!

Rec Rowers - Don't miss this great cross-training event!

Whether you have never been on skis, are a seasoned cross-country skier or an alpinist (who actually wants a challenge), consider coming out on January 31, 2009 to Mansfield Outdoor Centre (http://www.mansfieldoutdoorcentre.ca/) for a day of Nordic skiing.

If you are new to the sport, we will have some more experienced skiers to provide some directions. Our very own Michael Mendes will teach you how to go down a hill at top speed without fear!

Please forward this any of our rowing, running, cycling, skiing and social friends who may be interested and please contact Van Nguyen (van.nguyen@utoronto.ca) if you are interested in attending. The outline of the day's activities will be as follows:

8:30am - Meet at Starbucks in Port Credit to car pool
10:00am - Arrive in Mansfield
10:30am - 12:00pm - Instructions for those who want to learn how to ski
1:00pm - 4:00pm - Skiing the trails of Mansfield
4:00pm - Find a local pub for a beer

The site will have rentals available. Hope to see you there! (Can you x-country ski as an 8 or a quad? Hmmm.)

Recreational Oarsman and Oarswoman of the Year - 2008

Please join us in congratulating Brian Howe and Gudrun Hahn for being named Recreational Oarsman and Oarswoman of the year - 2008!

Best Quote: "Does this mean I have to get everyone's oars?" - Brian Howe.

Social events - rec volunteers needed!

No one knows how to party like a rec rower. Please lend a hand in organizing an event - whether the event is skiing, bowling, movie night or even just a coffee get together. Please email Scott Timpson if you can lend a hand: timpson@rogers.com

From the coach's corner:

Snow shoveling can be a terrible cross-training exercise. Either talk a non-rowing buddy into shoveling, or do some stretching exercises after shoveling.

Warm up with movements similar to your workout - in this case, shoveling. Start light and build up - 10 minutes minimum. No stretching before any workout, it increases the probability of injury - latest exercise research shows. But do not skip the stretching after; it will do you a lot of good.

Different back and leg muscles are used for rowing and shoveling. You would hate to miss erging because of a back injury, wouldn't you?

Getting to know us:

Every month we will profile a couple of recreational rowers. This month features veteran rower, Nancy Wong and first year rower, Rick Martin.

Introducing...Nancy Wong

Nancy is a regular recreational rower at the Don Rowing Club, with over 4 years of rowing experience. She enjoys both sweeping and sculling and would love to have her own single sometime in the future. When not rowing on the water, she enjoys other sports such as running, rollerblading and skiing and curling in the winter. Nancy is a marketing communications consultant currently working with a global improvement firm.

Best Quote: "There is nothing quite like rowing on the Credit River on a Saturday morning - the calmness of the water, bright sunshine and warm breeze... I just love it."

Introducing...Rick Martin

Rick is a first year rower in the recreational program. He started last April with a burning desire to learn this wonderful sport. He had remarked early on that his goals were to row club doubles and singles before the end of season. After a hard season of training he did manage to get into club singles before the end of August!

Rick's other interest are photography, silversmithing, motorcycling and travel. Rick recently became a new member of the Board of Directors of the Don Rowing Club. He is currently employed as an Air Traffic Operations Specialist with NAVCANADA. Rick enjoys meeting the members of the club and asks that you please stop and introduce yourself to him.

Best Quote: "Is anyone rowing the Credit Cruiser?!"

Let us get to know you. Please contact Nancy Wong for the details: nancy.wong4@gmail.com