Welcome Back, Jonathan!

Jonathan returned from his jaunt across the pond yesterday. Despite jet lag, rumour has it that he'll make an appearance at practice tonight!

Visit his blog at http://pittbritt.typepad.com to watch some videos from the journey, including a snippet from a 60-mile (yes, miles, not kilometers) bike ride he took with his father as a 60th birthday celebration.

Any Writers on Board?

Rena Johnson, Editor of the ERDBA Newsletter, has put out a call for articles and announcements for the next edition of the newsletter. Submissions must be received by February 15, but Rena asks that we let her know in advance so that she can plan the appropriate space and placement.

So -- if there are any Paddlefish interested in writing an article, please let me know (either via e-mail or leaving a comment here on the blog) as soon as possible. I will play matchmaker so that we don't end up with a dozen P'fish writing independently about the same thing. (Remember: Teamwork! Camaraderie! Power!)

For samples of previous ERDBA newsletters, please click here.

DownUnder CoffeeHouse

Don't let the weather stop you from going out this Saturday night.

One of our newest Paddlefish, Steve Hirtle, runs a monthly coffeehouse concert series on the North Side at the Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church, 416 West North Ave, on the corner of West North Ave and Resaca Place in the Mexican War Streets.

He invites you to attend this month's show, Saturday Jan 27 from 7:30-9:30, featuring a night of lively international music with Pittsburgh's best bellydance band, Ishtar, with the eclectic celtic band, Molly in the Crowd, performing Scottish, Irish, and English traditional music on non-traditional instruments, including the tuba and Turkish cumbus. Baked goods, desserts and beverages will be for sale during the concert. See http://www.alleghenyuu.org/downunder for more information and directions.

Any Programmers on Board?

My roommate bought a Wii. This is awful news for my study regimen, but it's apparently great news for my winter workout regimen, at least according to this article from Reuters:

It's official -- Wii use can cause weight loss

Now if only someone would add a Dragon Boat module to the Wii Sports package... hmm...

REMINDER: TRRA Annual Meeting this Wednesday

The Annual Meeting of Three Rivers Rowing Association will be held Wednesday, January 24 at 7:00 pm at the Millvale boathouse.

You will have the opportunity to vote for and meet the new board nominees (including Carolyn N.!) and say thank-you for the years of service to the board members who terms have expired. Also, Rich will report on the "It Takes a Team" campaign, in which the Paddlefish so generously and enthusiastically participated.

Updated January Workout Schedule

Ben revised the January workout schedule; please see the "Training Information" area on the sidebar for the new version, or just click here.

The new version includes notation for RPE or PE. That stands for Rating of Percieved Exertion. 17 is very hard, 11 is fairly light. If you took the VO2 rowing test, your AT can be used in place of 17RPE and low aerobic in place of 11RPE.

2007 PHILADELPHIA C/K RACES

Philadelphia Spring Regatta Canoe & Kayak Race
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Schuylkill River, 10,000 meters
Mass Start at Noon – Start/Finish Philadelphia Canoe Club, $15 Entry Fee
Classes: Unlimited K-1 (ICF Racing Sea Kayak/Surfski), Sea Kayak K-1,
Downriver K-1, Touring K-1, Recreational K-1,
ICF C-1, ICF C-2, Outrigger OC-1, Outrigger OC-2, USCA C-2, USCA C-2 Mixed,
USCA C-2 Standard, USCA C-2 Mixed Standard, USCA C-1.
Age Categories: Men & Women: Junior (11-18), Open (19-39), Master (40+),
Senior (50+), Veteran (60+), Grand Veteran (70+), Grandmaster Veteran (80+)
1st, 2nd, 3rd Place Awards in each age category; plus prizes for all
finishers.
Registration: Race Day, 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM. (2 loop course).
Directions: http://www.philacanoe.org/maps_and_directions.html
Course Map: http://www.swanboat.org/pccracesschedule.html
Contact for Race: Glen Green, chairman@swanboat.org

Philadelphia Canoe Club Open House Canoe & Kayak Race
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Schuylkill River, 8.5 Miles
Mass start at Noon – Start/Finish at Philadelphia Canoe Club, $15 Entry Fee
Classes: Unlimited K-1 (ICF Racing Sea Kayak/Surfski), Sea Kayak K-1,
Downriver K-1, Touring K-1, Recreational K-1,
ICF C-1, ICF C-2, Outrigger OC-1, Outrigger OC-2, USCA C-2, USCA C-2 Mixed,
USCA C-2 Standard, USCA C-2 Mixed Standard, USCA C-1.
Age Categories: Men & Women: Junior (11-18), Open (19-39), Master (40+),
Senior (50+), Veteran (60+), Grand Veteran (70+), Grandmaster Veteran (80+)
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Awards in each age category, plus prizes for all
finishers.
Registration on Race Day: 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM (2½ loop course)
Directions: http://www.philacanoe.org/maps_and_directions.html
Course Map: http://www.swanboat.org/pccracesschedule.html
Contact for Race: Glen Green, chairman@swanboat.org

Philadelphia Fall Classic Canoe & Kayak Race
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Schuylkill River, 10,000 meters
Mass start at Noon – Start/Finish at Philadelphia Canoe Club, $15 Entry Fee
Classes: Unlimited K-1 (ICF Racing Sea Kayak/Surfski), Sea Kayak K-1,
Downriver K-1, Touring K-1, Recreational K-1,
ICF C-1, ICF C-2, Outrigger OC-1, Outrigger OC-2, USCA C-2, USCA C-2 Mixed,
USCA C-2 Standard, USCA C-2 Mixed Standard, USCA C-1.
Age Categories: Men & Women: Junior (11-18), Open (19-39), Master (40+),
Senior (50+), Veteran (60+), Grand Veteran (70+), Grandmaster Veteran (80+)
1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Awards in each age category, plus prizes for all
finishers.
Registration: Race Day, 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM (2 loop course).
Directions: http://www.philacanoe.org/maps_and_directions.html
Course Map: http://www.swanboat.org/pccracesschedule.html
Contact for Race: Glen Green, chairman@swanboat.org

Schuylkill Banks Regatta
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Schuylkill River, 5,000 meters
Mass start for canoes & kayaks (approximately 11:30 A.M.)
Start: Bartram’s Garden/Finish: Phila Art Museum (straight upstream course)
Classes: All canoes and kayaks. $15 Entry Fee
Awards: Medals, plus every entry receives a long-sleeve Tee shirt plus snacks
Registration: Online at http://www.regattacentral.com/ (Sign race waiver
online).
Registration questions: support@regattacentral.com (Deadline for registration
is Thursday, October 11, 2007).
Directions: http://www.schuylkillbanksregatta.org
Course: http://www.boathouserow.org/rega07/banksbridges.html
Contact for Race: Clete Graham, Commodore, Schuylkill Navy, clete@netax.com

Paula

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07017/754205-114.stm

Our amazingly helpful VO2 test doc, Paula Franetti, was highlighted in the Post Gazette Jan 17. She is doing some cool stuff with technology and science.

"Dieting can be lonely, and it's great to have Paula encouraging me, showing me I can do it,"

in other news, we are working to setup a final test date for VO2max for January. We will begin retests in April sometime.

Thanks, Ada!

Ada's color-coded tickets for the weight room are great! We haven't yet seen Jonathan dance through the boathouse singing, "I've Got a Golden Ticket*," but that may be something to look forward to.

Gracias, amiga! I hope your fourth-graders appreciate your creativity as much as we do!


* Caveat: This will make sense only if you're a fan of the original Willy Wonka movie.

Happy Birthday, Laurie!

Another year older -- but at least you don't have to wear a stinky orange vest any more!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, dear Lauuuuuurie,
Happy Birthday to you!

Dance the Night Away at TRRA!

Date: Friday, January 26
Location: Millvale Boathouse
Cost: $5.00 per person

Agenda:

6pm - 7pm: hors d'oeuvres, etc.**
7pm - 8pm: salsa and meringue workshop taught by Colleen and Jeff Shirey
8pm - 10pm: salsa and meringue dancing with DJ Jeff Shirey and/or chance to meet others from TRRA

** Please bring your favorite beverage and/or hors d'oeuvre to share.

Wear shoes that will let you turn as best you can on a carpeted floor!

(Thanks for these details, Lori!)

Team Pittsburgh

On Wednesday January 17, 2007 7:00 PM CC’s Café in Sharpsburg (2218 Main Street, 15215) there will be an initial meeting to discuss Team Pittsburgh. All interested paddlers should attend - attendance is not mandatory for participation.

The purpose of Team Pittsburgh is to develop a highly visible community racing team for competition in national level race events such as Philadelphia Independence Race, North American Club Crew, U.S. Nationals, and like races and festivals. Team Pittsburgh is expressly intended to participate in the inaugural Philadelphia Independence race in 2007.

Futher, the team is established to be a seperate but cooperative entity than/with Pfish, TRRA and SCDBA.
Coaching will be by Ben Ledewitz as the lead coach. Larry Wentzel will serve as the assistant coach. Coaching service is strictly voluntary.

Team Composition
* Founding Team Pittsburgh members must be a member in good standing of one or more of the SCDBA Steel City Dragons or TRRA Pittsburgh Paddlefish.
* The team composition will be roughly split between qualifying members of the Steel City Dragons and the Pittsburgh Paddlefish.
* The team will be a premier mixed team and will be composed of a minimum eight female and a maximum twelve male paddlers plus alternates, drummer, and steersperson.

Team Pittsburgh is established pursuant to the agreement between Ben Ledewitz, Coach, TRRA – Pittsburgh Paddlefish and Larry Wentzel, Head Coach, SCDBA Steel City Dragons Dragon-Boat Racing Team made on January 3, 2007.

Jumping into rivers and dressing-up - favorite pastimes for Pfish folk

As proven in this exclusive TOTC footage released by Ledewitz Studios today...
:)
UPDATED!

Indoor Sprints: Volunteers Needed

TRRA's indoor sprints are coming up soon (Saturday, February 3rd), and your help is needed in making the day a successful one for everyone involved! Please check out the various volunteer opportunities available at http://www.threeriversrowing.org/VolunteerOpportunities.html?OrganizationGUID=ead8766c-e3cf-4d24-a871-f499d881956d and sign up now for one of these jobs: it will be deeply appreciated.

Note that volunteers do not have to be TRRA members. This might be a good way to hook a friend who's been reluctant to commit to coming to practices -- let them come see how friendly everyone is and how much fun doing crazy things like sweating furiously in front of hundreds of people on a winter weekend can be! ;-)

New Member Introduction: Jenny!

Jenny survived her hazing and wrote the following message:

Hello, my name is Jenny. Have we met?

Thanks to Rich's very creative "Hello" sign, I have enjoyed meeting many of the teammates during the last few practices. I am very excited about joining the team, which was a wonderful suggestion by my roommate, Emily. She has loved being part of such a great team, and it only took a few practices for me to understand why. The hardworking, energetic, and friendly attitudes of the team have been very motivating for me. Thank you for being so welcoming, and if we haven't met, please say "hello!"

Welcome aboard, Jenny!

Polar Bear Swim Photos, Continued

Another great Polar Bear Swim photo, this one courtesy of Judy L.

From left, Carolyn, Jonathan, and Bob take the plunge...

Polar Bear Swim Photos

Kathi, Jonathan, Judy, Bob, Mina, and Frank at Mon Wharf, before the Big Jump:

Our fearless trio gets psyched up:

Geronimo! Bob takes the plunge:

Bob, Jonathan and Carolyn, post-swim. They look refreshed and ready for 2007: