WRICH

[deadlifting265]

Yep. It's virtual...

Brilliant, is that going to be the way of every competition now.....as if there is enough comps as it is

[Gorow]

Maybe because I participated last year, I received a long & detailed email about this yesterday. I think all this same info is now on the World Rowing web site as well. Why virtual? Rationale seems to be to increase participation, plus further advance indoor rowing as an eSport---with a stated goal to be included in the Olympic eSports Games in Saudi Arabia in late 2025.

The qualification process is still a bit unclear to me as written. Heats will be introduced as well. Sounds like up to 3 races in one weekend (???)----Opening Heat (all qualifiers in a given region), Top 50 times move on to SemiFinals, then Top 20 times on to Grand Final. But perhaps I am reading this wrong.

Other interpretations??

[Tobias Stoehr]

It was probably less a voluntary decision on World Rowing part than just the fact that their bidding process for WRIC 2025 didn't yield a host and venue.

A successful bid would, if I'm not mistaken, mean that the host would have to pay USD 40,000 to World Rowing (USD 5,000 bid fee, USD 10,000 hosting fee, USD 25,000 commercial fee).

Not sure if fees have always been asked to this extent?

[Cyclist2]

Maybe they will have a hybrid deal, like this year for the US championships, where you can do it from home or go to a designated regatta and do it with a gym full of raucous people. The regatta submits the results and it's integrated with all the other designated regattas and the virtual competitors. I doubt I do it it otherwise; too much tech involved and pretty lonely competition.

[iain]

Also the multi-race structure would be much less convenient for travelers. Either a holiday alone when not erging or have to be away from family several times, neither is ideal. Amazed at the cost given that I would see it as a big plus for the manufacturer I guess that is the difference between having C2 do it and World Rowing.

[Two Pudding Kid]

It looks like it is "virtual environment exclusively".

"The top 150 competitors in each gender and weight category per continental time zone will be invited to enter in the Heats Additionally, the top 10 athletes in each age category who do not qualify directly will have the opportunity to make a wildcard entry. From the Heats, the top 50 competitors in each category will move on to the semi-finals, and the best 20 will compete in the grand Finals." .

Think that for LWT females that wont be so hard, but probably 10 times harder for the HWT males.

Yeah - 3 x 2k in the same weekend isnt anything like one full on 2k TT. Maybe that is more up my street that you might think, although rather like athletics I guess the first one will have to be a bit curtailed in the effort department. Not sure how you would know if you would make the cut down to 50 then 20, (at least with 8 people on a track in athletics you can see where you are). For me personally I doubt I would make more than the semis on a good day.

I am not going to get too excited about this - whether it is my first foray into the 60+ arena or not. Participation will also require me to be lucky to find someone who is prepared to put up with me having a crack at it on both the Saturday and Sunday.

For me I am working on 2k. Currently best is 8:36.5 but hoping to move closer to 8:30 by BRIC, (unfortunately the wrong side of my 60th birthday so will be the oldie in that race).

[Two Pudding Kid]

For those who are itching for some live racing, apart from BRIC which you probably know about:

https://www.iirc.ie/ - a choice of distances for those who can get to Limerick, Ireland

https://ruderei.de/produkt/ergo-marathon-2025/ - yep it is has the title marathon but there is marathon relay 4 x 10k and 1 x 2195m and halfmarathon as well.

Would love to be out there but unfortunately family responsibilities are going to make it very difficult.

PS The 2nd Irish race is a big birthday for me - got to figure something out!

[Two Pudding Kid]

https://www.concept2.de/indoor-rowers/i ... a-kalender

Following on from your mention of Starnberg here is where to look for races in Germany, only it isnt updated yet.