RegattaCentral

 THE DESERT SPRINTS ROWING REGATTA at TEMPE TOWN LAKE is the largest rowing event in the State of Arizona.

When: Saturday, March 10, 2012; 8:00 a.m. (Heats if needed may start at 7am)
Where: Tempe Town Lake, Tempe, AZ

The waters of Tempe Town Lake will be churning with the blades of hundreds of rowers on March 10, 2012 as Tempe hosts the 11th  Annual Desert Sprints Regatta. Rowing clubs from California, Colorado and Utah are expected to compete against Arizona's best Junior/High School teams, ASU's club team and local Masters men's and women's crews in one of the first regattas of the spring sprint  season.

'The Desert Sprints Regatta has been growing in popularity every year', said Kathy Moum, President of the regatta sponsor, the Tempe Rowers Association. Kathy also explained that the TRA is partnering with the City of Tempe to get a 1000M buoyed course installed in time for the 2012 Desert Sprints. Stay tuned for more updates on that.

The Junior races will be particularly competitive, as collegiate rowing programs are recruiting many of the local scholar-athletes from Brophy Prep, Tempe Junior Crew, Tempe Town Lake Rowing Juniors and Xavier Prep. For the Colorado and Utah teams, this may be the first time they have been able to row on the water in the new year, having prepared through rigorous winter-long workouts on rowing machines and other training regimens.Teams will be competing in a series of 1500 meter (Open and Junior Events) and 1000 meter (Masters and Mixed) races in both sculling and sweep boats.

Spectators are encouraged to watch the races along the lake's north shore, with regatta headquarters and the boats launching from the SRP Town Lake Marina, also located on the north shore of the lake. Sponsorship opportunities are available, including the highly coveted  Trophy Races.  For more information please contact Kathy Moum at 602-430-0206.

Adapted Racing: For the first time the 2012 Desert Sprints will have Adapted Rowing as part of the program. We are looking forward to the development of these races and hope to draw some out f town adapted rowing athletes to race our growing, local racing team representing Rio Salado Rowing Club.