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Head of the Lake Regatta
Lake Washington Rowing Club
910 N. Northlake Way
Seattle, WA 98103
www.LakeWashingtonRowing.com
News Release
For Immediate Release
Quick Facts
History Founded in 1981 by Paul Enquist, an
Olympic gold medal rower from Seattle, the Head of the Lake
Regatta hosted by the Lake
Washington Rowing Club ) has grown to become the largest
fall rowing regatta west of the Mississippi with 2,500 rowers
and some 500 boats competing in 57 separate events.
Where & When
Seattle, Washington
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006
Racing from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Best viewing at Gas Works Park
Participating Crews
2,500 athletes pulling oars in 500 rowing shells from Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and British Columbia, Canada.
Collegiate crews include Washington, Washington State, Oregon State, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Gonzaga, University of Victoria, University of British Columbia.
In addition to athletes representing west coast rowing clubs, athletes from many of the top East Coast rowing clubs including the New York Athletic Club (New York, NY), Potomac Boat Club (Washington DC) and Undine Barge Club (Philadelphia, Penn.) will compete in the 2006 event.
The Course
The modern 3-mile Head of the Lake course begins at the east end of the Montlake Cut and takes crews through the Montlake Cut, Portage Bay, around the spectator viewing area at Gas Works Park, and to the finish line just west of the Fremont Bridge in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. From 1981 - 2003, the original course was set in the reverse direction with crews starting along the east shore of Lake Union, rounding a mark in Union Bay and finishing at the UW's Connibear Shell House.
Spectators
Spectators can view the Head of the Lake Regatta free of charge from anywhere along the 3-mile course. However, best viewing is at Gas Works Park on the north tip of Lake Union where crews enter the final mile of the race. In 2005, regatta officials estimated that over 5,000 spectators attended the regatta.
If You Attend
Spectators will want to take advantage of the free shuttle running from parking at Husky Stadium to Gas Works Park and the finish line in Seattle's Fremont district. While at the finish line area, be sure to experience the Rowing Sports Exposition with everything you need to know about rowing and visit the Fremont Sunday Market - just a short walk away.
Parking
Free parking is available at Husky Stadium (Lot E-12) with a free shuttle running every 15 minutes to Gas Works Park and the finish line in Fremont. The shuttle runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What is a "Head Race"
Head-style rowing regattas are traditionally three-mile regattas on winding courses where crews start at 15-second intervals and compete for time, compared to the 2,000-meter Olympic sprint distance that is rowed in the spring by elite, collegiate and high school crews. Like a NASCAR race, head racing becomes highly competitive when faster crews starting further back in their events compete for position and attempt to pass slower crews on the narrow course.
About the Head of the Lake Regatta
Founded in 1981 by Paul Enquist, an Olympic gold medal rower from Seattle, the Head of the Lake Regatta hosted by the Lake Washington Rowing Club (www.LakeWashingtonRowing.com) has grown to become the largest fall rowing regatta west of the Mississippi with over 2,500 rowers and some 500 boats competing in 57 separate events. In 2005, regatta officials estimated that approximately 5,000 spectators turned out along the three-mile course from the Montlake Cut, through Portage Bay and the north shore of Lake Union for the final major U.S. regatta of the season. The Head of the Lake Regatta is made possible through the generous support of Pocock Racing Shells, Foss Maritime, New Belgium Brewing, Tahoma Glacier Water, Fremont Chamber of Commerce and the Hotel Nexus.
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Media Contacts Only:
Mike McQuaid
McQuaid & Co.
206-286-8200
Day of Event Mobile: 206-683-8988
mike@mcquaidcompany.com
Photo credit © Joel Rogers |
