It's cool to erg in Mexico

It was just a year ago that gyms across Mexico got the indoor rowing bug. Spurred on by keen rower and coach Santiago Fuentes, indoor rowing-specific gyms not only appeared, but also became trendy. Yes, popular.

Last week the city of Leon, Mexico, hosted the first ever indoor rowing regatta for gyms and indoor rowing businesses. Rowers from four states participated in the event with teams as large as 26 people following the traditional rowing start procedure of “Attention! Go!”. This time however they were linked by telephone to the other competitors across Mexico.

The event included rowers under 14 years of age who covered 1,000 metres, with the rest following the standard 2,000-metre distance.  

Female winner Monica Hernandez
© Santiago Fuentes

Winners of the day were two rowers with not more than a year’s experience. Maximo Fernandez from Leon won with a time of 6:38.0 and Monica Hernandez, also from Leon stopped the clock in 7:36.2.

Almost exclusively the competitors were not on-the-water rowers. “Just one competitor was an on-the-water rower but,” says Fuentes, “He didn’t win his category.”

Fuentes says it was often hard to be heard over the enthusiastic supporters that numbered about 300. “Sometimes just giving the start was difficult for me and racers to hear because of the loudness of the fans cheering their friends and family.”

Already plans have been made for the next competition. Planned for 27 April 2005, Leon again will be the host and 2,000-metre races will be run in the morning followed by a four person team event racing for 10,000 metres. Three new indoor rowing businesses are to open before then and already they have indicated their desire to compete.

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