General information

The World Rowing Versa Challenge is now in year two of operation and the 2024 edition will have exciting new Challenges. Following a simple qualification process, ten men and ten women will be invited to compete in the Versa Final, in-person in Prague, Czechia on 23 and 24 February 2024.

In an innovation, four additional athletes (two women, and two men) will be invited by World Rowing as "Wild Cards” entrants to race the qualified athletes in Prague.

Over the two competition days of the WRICH, competitors will race in five different Challenges varying in time, distance, and type. The Versa is intended to test all the skills and strengths required of indoor rowers, exposing them to new and unfamiliar race formats.

Competitors will earn points throughout the first group of Challenges, establishing a ranked Leaderboard that will provide the starting point for the last and final Challenge. The winner of the last and fifth Challenge will be crowned the 2024 Versa Champion.

*Versa athletes are not permitted to compete in any other events at the WRICH or ERICH.

Versa Qualification

Qualification Process

The Versa Qualification is open to any person who can row and submit verified Qualification Scores within the Versa Qualification period on a Concept2 static ergometer (PM3 or later).

Competitors must lodge a qualification time in two different Versa Challenges – one endurance based, and one sprint based.
A score in each qualifying Challenge must be lodged.
The 2 qualifying Challenges must be completed between 3 November (opening 13:00 hrs CET) and 4 December (closing 13:00 hrs CET).
Competitors may make as many attempts at achieving a better score as they wish before the end of the qualifying period.
Competitors can lodge a time in two ways. Either by:
- Submit a 16-Digit Verification Code of your Qualification Score to the entry portal (How-to find your verification code for a PM3, PM4, and PM5). Instruction video link (LINK ) .... or.....
- Search for your score from the Concept2 logbook via the entry portal.
  
  Simply log-in to your Concept Logbook account, complete the Work Out(s), and search for your score from the Concept2 logbook via the Entry Portal. To make a Logbook account go to: https://log.concept2.com/login
  
  Please note for the 2024 Versa Challenge, Concept 2 has made the Qualification Events available as Workout-of-the-Day on select days during the qualification period and available via select shareable links:
  
  Monday 6th November (Endurance)
  
  Tuesday 7th November (Sprint)
  
  Saturday 25th November (Sprint)
  
  Sunday 26th of November (Endurance)
Athletes are required to upload a full video of both workouts on the Entry Portal – irrespective of which way they lodge their time. Video details are outlined in this “Verification Guidelines” document (see above).
Versa Qualification Scores must be submitted and verified via the WR Entry Portal within the qualification period. Late Qualification Score submissions will not be accepted, even if an entry has been made and paid for on time.

Versa Qualification Events

Endurance Qualifier

Description: 1000m on, 0 seconds off, 2024m on, 0 seconds off, 1000m on Scoring:

a. Rank for total time. b. Rank for time on the 2024m interval

Remarks:

Please set the screen as variable intervals distance.
- 1st interval: 1000m, 0 seconds rest
- 2nd Interval: 2024m, 0 seconds rest
- 3rd interval 1000m

Please follow this link to access the Endurance Qualifier on the Concept2 ErgData App: Link: https://workout.ergdata.com/shared/nmh7lfo6

Sprint Qualifier

Description: 10 x 1 min – 30 secs off Scoring:

1 - Rank for total distance in metres during the 1’ min intervals.

2 - Rank for 3rd minute for distance in metres

Remarks:

Overall ranking determines invitation to in-person competition in Prague
Athletes will receive qualification points based on their ranking in each challenge.
Please set the screen as an interval workout.Example Video: https://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm5/how-to-use/setting-time- interval-workout

Please follow this link to access the Sprint Qualifier on the Concept2 ErgData App Link: https://workout.ergdata.com/shared/rx5e9pxo

Versa Qualification Points detail:

Ranking of qualifiers

The position you finish in each challenge is the number of points that you get.
For example: 80 athletes enter in the Versa qualification:
- Challenge 1a; Fastest overall time = 1 point, 2nd overall time = 2 pts, 80th = 80 pts, etc.
- Challenge 1b: Fastest time for 2024m= 1point, 2nd overall time=2points etc
- Challenge 2a: Overall Most Metres = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, etc.
- Challenge 2b: Most metres in 3rd interval = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points etc.

Points from the 4 components are added together to make the final point score.
**Competitors tied with the same point score, will be split by the ranking achieved in Qualifying Challenge 1a.

Invitation to the Versa Challenge Final

Invitation to race in-person, in Prague - is determined by the ranking on the final point score.

First place is the athlete with the least points. Last place is the athlete with the most points.

Should an invited Versa athlete need to withdraw due to illness, the next ranked person will be invited to take their place, and if required for such a reason, World Rowing reserves the right to invite an athlete(s) into the Versa Challenge if required to maintain the operational functionality of the Challenges in Prague

Additional Information for the 2024 Versa Challenge

Following the selection of the 10 men and 10 women, a detailed planning process will be sent to each athlete, followed up by a series of online meetings to provide more detailed briefings prior to arriving in Prague. Four additional athletes (two women, and two men) will be invited by World Rowing as "Wild Cards” entrants to race the qualified athletes in Prague. “Wild Card” invitees do not need to qualify to race in Prague.

The Versa Challenge is an important part of World Rowing`s Indoor Rowing strategy. Athletes will feel engaged and “special” and will be an important part of promoting Indoor Rowing to the broader rowing and non-rowing community, both in the lead up to the event, during the event – and also importantly after the event – as we look to broadly promote the sport. The World Rowing Communications team will engage with each Finalist to develop their personal “story” and to generate interest in their home School, Club and Nation – as well across the wider community.

2024 World Rowing Indoor Championships

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