Goodbye Boulder, Hello NSR #2

In my last few hours in Colorado, I managed to make a trip up to Chautauqua Park in Boulder.  This is where the trees, mountains, trails are and where I should have spent the weekend, instead of being in Denver.  Even in the rain and fog and even with the oppressive altitude, I can understand why people move to Boulder for the outdoors.

At the Chautauqua trailhead; fog encases the mountains

Along the Royal Arch Trail

Along the Mesa Trail

As you might know, National Selection Regatta #2 has already started.  This racing season, 2011, is especially important for USRowing because it is the year before the Olympics, London 2012.  Not only are all the countries using this year at the World Cups and the World Championships to test their speed and check out the competition, but also this is a qualifying year for all Olympic boat categories and all countries.

In order for a country to race in a specific boat category (e.g. W1x, M1x, W8+, etc.), that country must have qualified in that particular boat the year before.  FISA governs the qualification process.  The exact rules are complex and can be found here.  Essentially, the top finishing boats in each Olympic event (not all World Championship events, such as the LW1x and the LW4x, are Olympic events) qualify their respective countries for the Olympics.  The fine print here is that the BOAT and NOT the ROWERS qualify!  Just because you are in the boat this year and qualify the boat for the Olympics does not guarantee you a seat.

In addition, the qualification process puts a lot of pressure on USRowing and at the NSRs to send the top athletes in order to have the best shot of qualifying.

Julie Nichols in stroke, Kristin in bow; photo from time trial
Copyright row2k.com

Miranda in stroke; photo from time trial
Copyright row2k.com

Both Kristin and Miranda will be racing in the finals tomorrow.  You can read about Kristin's races online.  Let's cheer them on!