Rower's Hope Exposure Pays Off...

In an effort to offset some of the costs of full-time training, rowing’s heavyweight men preparing to represent Canada in Athens next summer are pulling down their racing suits for a 2004 calendar that shows off a lot more than their World Championship medals.

“It’s all about the power and grace of the Olympic figure,” says champion rower David Calder. “It’s tasteful beefcake!”
The calendar includes a month-by-month look at 12 of Canada’s top male rowers, all of them gold medallists from the 2003 World Championships in Milan, Italy.  “Having 12 of the world’s best rowers in our training group seemed like the perfect fit for a calendar,” explains Calder. “The idea kind of snowballed from there.”

The calendar, photographed by Andrea Keenan, is quickly becoming a hit both locally and across Canada.  Calder insists that its popularity goes beyond the rowing community. “This is not just a friends and family thing, we’re getting orders from across the country. Many people who have never rowed, but saw our web site, are anxious to support us.”

The calendars, which would make great stocking stuffers, are available at www.rowingcalendar.ca. They cost $25, and all proceeds go directly to the athletes training to represent Canada next summer in Athens.