Time is ripe to row in Algeria

When Algeria hosted the Pan Arab Games in 2004 they used the venue at Tipaza for the rowing events. Three years later this once sparse venue has been developed into a fully fledged training centre.

Complete with boathouse, bathrooms, ergometer room, a sauna and weights room as well as a soon to be opened restaurant and cafeteria, the centre is the darling of Technical Director Mehdi Garidi.

Garidi says the centre hopes to attract teams from other nations in both rowing and kayaking to utilise the facilities, especially in the winter. Garidi also plans to bring international races to the venue. In 2009 they will host the African Championships.

The lake makes 3500m of rowing possible which includes a 2000m race course and Garidi further notes that the course is not far from cross-training facilities including a 25m swimming pool, a 400m running track and, of course, a football stadium.

The Algerian national team is currently training at Tipaza with a new level of intensity. Three of the athletes will be competing at the Beijing Olympics. One of the very first rowers to qualify for Beijing after the July 2007 continental qualification regatta was from Algeria. Dries Chaouki finished third in the men’s single to be one of four African qualifiers in this event. The only available spot in the lightweight men’s double at the same qualification regatta went to Algeria. Kamel Ait Daoud and Mohamed Garidi will be flying the Algerian flag in Beijing.

The World Rowing team values feedback.