Jason Au, a third-year lightweight ( <165 lb.) paddler for the Piranhas Dragonboat Racing Crew, finished 3rd out of the 21 competitors registered for the Novice/Recreational 1000m event at the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships in a time of 3:10.2. Competitors raced on 32 ergometers connected to each other by the Concept 2 Race Software System, which allows competitors and the audience to see the relative position of boats as they race down an imaginary course.

As strange as this event may sound, it is one of approximately 75 indoor rowing events held annually in North America. There was plently of pride was on the line, as National Champions were determined by racing the top finishers at this Toronto event against those racing simultaneously in Victoria, B.C. at the Monster Erg Challenge. In addition, the CIRC is a qualifying event for the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Cambridge, Massachusetts, so there was plenty of incentive to perform at this event.

Any water-sport athlete will contest that the ergometer is one of the most punishing workout apparati out there. Despite this, competitors ranging from 8 to 88 were in attendance, pushing themselves to new limits. Rowing presents a great cross-training opportunity for paddlers, and the Piranha contingent at the 2004 CIRC is sure to be larger, as their guinea-pig entrant returned from the event alive.

Final Results (link to CIRC Website)

Place Name Organization Time (min)
1 Hasson, Larry University of 03:07 Medal
2. Oneill, Mike Unaffiliated 03:09 Medal
3 Au, Jason Piranhas 03:10.2
4 van University of 03:10.3
5 Carney, Jason Queens 03:10
6 Seewald, Queens 03:12
7 York, Bill Queens 03:17
8 Petelka, Geoff Queens 03:18
8 Gill, Patrick Queens 03:18
10 Newhouse, Jeff E.L. Crossley 03:19
11 Schuessler, Waterloo 03:20
12 Speers, Jason Guelph R.C. 03:23
13 Reckless, Greg A.R.C. 03:27
14 Desai, Mayur Unaffiliated 03:34
15 Stabel, Chris Unaffiliated 03:34
16 Chacon, Grand Valley 03:37
17 Almas, Al Tillsonburg 03:43
99 Piva, Maxim Ottawa R.C. DNF
99 Ablamowicz, Bishop Allen DNF
99 Fairweather, John English DNF
99 Abramowitz, Rob Unaffiliated DNF