The Growth of CRASH B's

CRASH B’s supporters
© FISA

The World Indoor Rowing Championships, still known by its original name, CRASH B’s, has come a long way since its opening year in 1982. Now inside the ultra-modern Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, United States, two rows of 40 “model D” ergometers line up facing out towards the audience. Another shorter row of ergs allows last minute entries to compete. This enables 2,000 plus athletes to race all on the one day.

One big television screen and three smaller ones play continual video footage of the competitors. A platform buzzes with the sound of electronics and scoring devices with commentators receiving instant information. Each ergometer has a screen giving individual speed information as well as the competitor’s position throughout the race.

The ergs make a light humming sound and although the machines usually conjure up nothing peaceful in user’s minds, they are painted in a calming, baby blue hue. A separate warm up room is filled with over 100 ergs for pre-race preparation.

Competitors from around the world displaying their country of origin on tee-shirts and jackets mingle with first-time participants. The international competitors fly into Boston especially for this event – arriving two or three days in advance to get over time zone changes and leaving the day after competition to go back to their national training programmes.

Warm-up room
© FISA

This is a far cry from the first event 24 years ago when six “model A” rowing machines was all that was needed. The race was five miles on one of the very first rowing machines made of a bicycle wheel, wooden handle and odometer.

Winner of the women’s event that year and 1984 United States Olympic gold medallist Carie Graves remembers the noise of the machines and the small, but enthusiastic crowd with a keg of beer as the backdrop.

Graves finishes with silver
© Tom Moore

“The excitement in part was because the race was quite ‘camp’ with the coxswains and flags and ‘camp’ in the funny rower kind of way of what are we thinking? Why are we voluntarily hurting ourselves so much and what else can you do but laugh and have fun,” says Graves who has only missed five races in the last 24 years.

The competition was solely for Boston rowers. “It gave those of us in Boston a way to race together and to hang out together for a few sweat laden beer drenched hours while the Charles (River) was frozen, but with the promise of being open by mid February.”

The first prize of a hammer came from the nickname of one of the original organisers, Tiff Wood, who’s story leading up to the 1980 Olympic selection trials has become a book and movie. Legendary coach Harry Parker is remembered for making the call, “You’re hammering the water, Tiff! That’s not rowing, that’s killing fish!”

For a full list of results: www.crash-b.org

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