Rowers Choice Partners with USRowing to Create the First-Ever U.S. Virtual National Championship

Rowers Choice, a consortium of Resolute Racing, Finish Line Shell Repair and Sykes USA, has partnered with USRowing to create the first-ever U.S. Virtual National Championship erg competition.

The one-of-a-kind national erg competition is a direct response to the ever-changing Covid-19 virus outbreak. The outbreak has caused regatta cancellations around the world, leaving athletes with little to no options to compete. Rowers Choice has created an outlet for these athletes.

The basic structure of the championship has junior teams consisting of four athletes competing virtually as a team. The open category competes as individuals and is open to all athletes – collegiate and masters age 19 and above. The teams are seeded based on 2,112-meter times and then compete in head-to-head, single-elimination races, facing a variety of distances based on the individual rounds.

www.rowerschoice.com/marchmania

Seeding Round - Henley Royal Round – 2,112 meters

Round of 64 – Head of the Charles – 4,800 meters

Round of 32 – The Ted Nash – 2,500 meters

Round of 16 – Harvard-Yale 4 Mile – 6,437 meters

Round of 8 – Stotesbury Cup – 1,500 meters

Fastest 4 – 750 meters

National Championship – 2,000 meters

Entries are free and open to all. Seeding round times are due on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The competition runs through April 23, with registration closing on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. EDT

"After we heard the news that global rowing was effectively canceled, we wanted to find a way to keep the athletes competing and have them enjoy the sport we love," said Rower's Choice CEO Alex DelSordo. "After a few days of promotion, we were flooded with entries and reached out to USRowing to make this a national championship."

USRowing was actively seeking ways to engage rowers and agreed this platform was best suited for the athletes.

"When Rower's Choice contacted us about getting involved, we knew right away that it was something we wanted to get behind," said USRowing Interim CEO Susan Smith. "This is a time where we're all looking for innovative ways of mixing things up, having some fun, and getting back to rowing. I know it's going to get a lot of us back on the erg."

For more details, to register and submit times, please visit www.rowerschoice.com/marchmania.

Rowers Choice has also collaborated with other companies in the rowing industry to provide prizes or awards to the athletes. To learn more about the competition and the sponsors, please visit their websites - ROWERS CHOICE, USROWING, CONCEPT2, NK, SPARKS CONSULTING, and 776BC.

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