2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships

[Ciliconblade]

Hi all,

The 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships entries just launched today. It looks like a rather different format than before, all virtual, with different rounds:

'The journey to the official World Rowing Indoor Championships, presented by Concept 2, finals begins in November 2024, with an open qualification period [9 weeks] extending through January 2025. During this time, rowers can submit their best times in their respective events – to qualify for the Heats.

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.'

It looks like there will be finalist live virtual racing for the Finalists. There will also be an official World Rowing, Continental, and Age group ranking for all participants. Based on rankings, medals will be awarded to the top 3 in all age groups plus medals for the ultimate Grand Final medallists.

It costs €50 for an individual entry but you get a reimbursement of €40 if you do not progress to the Continental Knockout phase.

Anyone thinking of entering?

More details https://worldrowing.com/event/2025-worl ... concept-2/

Thanks

J.

[Big J]

I have been 'head hunted' for this, so I'm now going to be representing Sweden in the 40-49 age category. Given that I've only been on the rower about 15 times since September and then not at all for the previous 3.5 years, I better start working.

I'm getting help with coaching to lead me into the Championships. Target is 1:18 for the 500m and 6:15 for the 2k, but depending on how I progress, I might be able to go a touch quicker.

Nice to have a distraction from the cycling over winter

[Tobias Stoehr]

There are no age categories in the semi final and final round. Everyone is in the same pool with the open athletes.

[Cyclist2]

But it sort of implies that age handicaps will be applied throughout. And it says medals will be awarded to the top three in all age groups. Very confusing, I agree.

It's too bad there isn't a physical location that people without all the tech gear or savvy (like me) associated with virtual racing could attend. That seems a little discriminating to me, even if the location is on a different continent.

[Frankie]

Hi all,

I’m relatively new to C2 Rowing and have some questions..

1. I’m keen on competing in Switzerland for the C2 indoor world titles and want to know the pre requisites for doing so?

2. I’ll be 40 a month after the date of the worlds, do I compete
In the 40-49 or 29-39?

3. Are there prizes for winning?

4. What events will be available? I’m wanting to compete in 100m, 60sec and 500m.

[Dangerscouse]

Hi all,

I’m relatively new to C2 Rowing and have some questions..

1. I’m keen on competing in Switzerland for the C2 indoor world titles and want to know the pre requisites for doing so?

2. I’ll be 40 a month after the date of the worlds, do I compete
In the 40-49 or 29-39?

3. Are there prizes for winning?

4. What events will be available? I’m wanting to compete in 100m, 60sec and 500m.

I don't know all of the answers, but you'll compete in the age bracket of the age you are on the day of the race.

No prizes that I know of, other than bragging rights and medals.

I've never heard of any competitions with anything less than 500m, but that's not to say that there won't be, but I really doubt it.

[stevegaspars]

Where does it state that the age bracket is based on the day of the race? Which race in particular, since there are heats? If it's every race, can you change age brackets mid-competition if you have a birthday?

[Dangerscouse]

Where does it state that the age bracket is based on the day of the race? Which race in particular, since there are heats? If it's every race, can you change age brackets mid-competition if you have a birthday?

I've got no idea about heats and the actual race day as that's a new addition, but I'd assume it has to still be age on the day of the race as it's the fairest, and simplest way. I'd also assume that they've considered this issue and will have details on the registration page.

Trying to manage any other type of option will get unnecessarily complicated imo, but tbh, I've been wrong many many times before and I will be again and again.

[nick rockliff]

Would have entered this had it been a simple one race one day event. Too complicated drawn out affair, lost interest just reading the description.

[Tsnor]

Where does it state that the age bracket is based on the day of the race? Which race in particular, since there are heats? If it's every race, can you change age brackets mid-competition if you have a birthday?

I've got no idea about heats and the actual race day as that's a new addition, but I'd assume it has to still be age on the day of the race as it's the fairest, and simplest way. I'd also assume that they've considered this issue and will have details on the registration page.

Trying to manage any other type of option will get unnecessarily complicated imo, but tbh, I've been wrong many many times before and I will be again and again.

Masters racing OTW does it differently. Your age stays the same across the calendar year. That lets the same boat row with the same people in the same age class for a rowing season. "Competitor’s age is determined as of December 31 of the current calendar year, rounded down to the nearest whole number." Two people would have the same rowing "age" if one was born Jan 15 and the other Dec 15 of the same year.

For the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships WR Rules (Appendix 20) state: “The age of a competitor for indoor rowing events shall be the age at the date of the competition. Where the
competition includes several days, the age shall be as on the scheduled date of the final for the event in which the athlete is competing”.

[Peter65]

I want to ask something about the last day, semifinal and final days.
I am already racing quite a few years in the masters. When I read right we have in the semifinals 20 competitors and 10 in the finals.
But that races are at the same day within a few hours. Why? That does not make any sense. I believe for the masters at least it could be dangerous for our health.
No one of us is used to race full power two races within a few hours! We do not have one day rest like all rowing races in the world and olympics before.
Why not direct final with 20 competitors at the Sunday? What is good about two races? I think the health risk is too high!
Also it does not make sense because in lots a master classes there are not a lot of competitors! With two races within a few hours the racing times will slow down too!
I hope the organization will ask a good doctor and then only organise a final at the last day with 20 competitors!!

[Tsnor]

...
I am already racing quite a few years in the masters. When I read right we have in the semifinals 20 competitors and 10 in the finals. ...
But that races are at the same day within a few hours. ...

Our masters group often rows two or three races on the same day. For example I can be in the Mens 4+, Mens 8+ and Mixed 8+. Other mix a sculling race in with their sweeps.

Up to three races works well in summer when races are sprint length, 1000-1500m, so 2 or 3 races each (1500m max race effort + 2000m staging and return to dock) = 7K to 10K total.

In fall race distances go to 3km to 5km so two races (about 20km) is the practical limit. The races are sometimes close together enough you go from docking one boat to stepping into the next.

Other than providing an excuse for not winning multiple races hasn't been a problem. I don't think you'll see negative health impacts.

[Two Pudding Kid]

Hi all,

I’m relatively new to C2 Rowing and have some questions..

1. I’m keen on competing in Switzerland for the C2 indoor world titles and want to know the pre requisites for doing so?

2. I’ll be 40 a month after the date of the worlds, do I compete
In the 40-49 or 29-39?

3. Are there prizes for winning?

4. What events will be available? I’m wanting to compete in 100m, 60sec and 500m.

Frankie

1. If you are looking at the World Rowing Website I notice it says "Any Concept2 Rower SUI" at the top of the page. I havent a clue why that is there as you must use a static model and there is no need to go to Switzerland unless you have access to a rowing machine there, as it is all virtual.

2. There is some very strange categories but I think you would be in 23-39 which is the biggest age group of the lot.

3. Looks like medals, maybe some sort of ranking or certificate. If you mean like cash or merchandise then no.

4. 500m or 2000m unless you can find 3 others to relay with.

[Two Pudding Kid]

I have no chance of taking part in this but then not sure why i would want to either. Doing 2k on Saturday, and 2 x 2k on Sunday within less than 5 hours would be nigh on impossible and if you dont have your own rowing machine not even the most helpful mate would let you do that.

[jpitchford]

The way I read the WRICH website, the "Grand Final" is for ONLY the Top 20 rowers of each gender, period, irrespective of weight and age classification. I am therefore not in danger of racing three times!