Over two thousand competitors and thousands of spectators came together today for the 2008 C.R.A.S.H. – B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championship. Ranging in age from 14 to 90, from as near as Boston to as far as New Zealand, men and women came together to row the 2000 meter erg piece at the Agganis Arena in Boston. A few members of the Exeter Crew community made the trip, including Lane Pertusi ’09 (pictured top), Josh Sans ’09 (middle), coach Marshall Moore, (bottom), coach Becky Moore, and coach Sally Morris.

After his race, Pertusi noted “It’s really exciting to be part of such a big event with so much energy and to see everyone together like this. I guess it’s also kind of nerve racking for the same reason.” When compared to erg tests at Exeter, he thought “I think it’s better at Exeter since I have my friends and teammates I’m competing with to push me.” Nevertheless, Pertusi thought that going to C.R.A.S.H. – Bs was a “good experience.”

The Charles River All-Star Has-Beens Sprints began in the early 80s by a number of US Olympic and World Team rowers as a regatta to “break up the monotony of winter training.” Since then, C.R.A.S.H. – Bs have grown into one of the largest indoor rowing competitions in the world, attracting world class rowers on an international scale. Past winners at the indoor championship include the late Olympian Andrew Sudduth ’79, who won the event three times in the mid 80s. Matthias Siejkowski of Germany, the current 2000m men’s heavyweight world record holder (at 5:37.0), won an astonishing seven times between 1989 and 2001. American Lisa Schlenker set the current women’s lightweight world record (at 6:56.7) at C.R.A.S.H. – Bs in 2000. This year, Henrik Stephansen of Denmark set a new world record in the men’s lightweight at 6:02.2.

Check the C.R.A.S.H. – Bs website for full results from the races.

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